Source: wikiHow
Three Parts:Readying Your Mower and Your LawnCutting Your Grass EfficientlyCreating Lawn StripesCommunity Q&A
Many homeowners see mowing the lawn as an unwelcome chore, while others view it as an opportunity to beautify their property. When done properly, mowing supports green, healthy grass, and reduces weeds and bare spots.
With a bit of practice, you can even mow eye-pleasing patterns into your lawn!- 1 Use the right mower for your lawn. Gas-powered push mowers tend to be the most common choice for the typical suburban home lawn, but you actually have several options:
- Manual reel mowers are powered only by you pushing them, and are an affordable and environmentally-friendly choice for very small, flat lawns.
- Electric push mowers are quieter and cost less to operate than gas models, but they’re also heavier and more expensive. Corded models in particular are best suited to small lawns (0.25 acres or less).
- Gas walk-behind mowers come in both push-propelled and self-propelled varieties. Either is suitable for lawns up to about 0.5 acres in size.
- Riding mowers cost more than walk-behind models, but will save you time with most lawns over 0.5 acres in size. They aren’t safe for use on steep hillsides, though.
- 2 Keep your mower blades sharp and clear of debris. Dull mower blades cause jagged cuts in your grass blades, which create brown tips and invite grass diseases. If your lawn looks ragged after a mow, it’s probably time for a blade sharpening.[1]
- You can expect to need to sharpen them 1-2 times per year.
- You can remove and sharpen the blades yourself with a few tools and some mechanical know-how, or you can search for “lawn mower sharpening near me” to find local pros.
- Even if your blades don’t seem to need sharpening, inspect them for damage every 3-4 mows, and brush or rinse away any built-up grass debris on the blades and underside of the mower.
- 3 Set your mowing height based on your grass type(s) and climate. Many people mow their lawns too short in an effort to reduce how often they need to mow. This, however, leads to brown lawns and more weeds. Ideal mowing heights vary based on several factors, but usually fall within the range of 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm).[2]
- Measure from the ground to the bottom of your mower’s mowing deck, then from this point up to your blades. This total equals the mowing height.
- Look for mowing guides specific to your lawn type, such as https://www.lowes.com/projects/lawn-and-garden/mow-your-lawn-correctly/project.
- You can also contact your local agricultural extension program for advice.
- 4 Check the fuel and oil levels before starting the mower. It is unsafe to add fuel to a warm mower engine, so give the fuel tank a fill-up before you start mowing. Check the oil level every 2-3 mows as well, and add oil as needed before firing up the engine.[3]
- You’ll also need to occasionally change the oil and clear the fuel lines, or have a pro do this routine maintenance for you. Consider giving your mower a tune-up once a year at the beginning of spring.
- 5 Mow your lawn on its schedule, not yours. Some people mow their lawn like clockwork every Saturday afternoon, but it’s better to mow based on the height of the grass. Use the “1/3s rule” and don’t mow down more than a third of the total height of your grass…
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