How to Trim Your Lawn

Some people dream of having the ideal lawn, eagerly imagining push mowers, enjoying the scent of freshly cut grass, and wondering about the best way to mow a lawn. But maybe you're not a lawn enthusiast. Perhaps you're a new homeowner staring at an overgrown front yard. It's clear that mowing time has arrived. So, how do you tackle this task?

A New Development

Our fascination with freshly cut lawns is a fairly recent trend. Throughout most of history, people were primarily focused on surviving hardships like famine and the plague. While foot traffic and grazing domestic animals kept the area near homes clear, the rest of the land was often used for gardening or left to grow wild. In many parts of the world, this still holds true today.

However, in the Western world, maintaining a well-manicured yard has become a popular pursuit. The creation of the manual reel mower in 1830 allowed ordinary people to recreate the manicured landscapes they admired around royal estates and mansions. Today, lawns in the United States alone cover a staggering 25 million acres of land [source: EPA].

Advantages of a Well-Kept Lawn

A well-maintained yard offers more than just visual appeal. A thriving lawn helps reduce soil erosion, prevents nutrient runoff, filters the air, and generates oxygen.

Frequent mowing helps keep away harmful parasites like ticks and chiggers. It also provides excellent weed control, as thick grass creates an environment where weeds have no space to grow.

In this guide, we'll explore the steps to mow your lawn in a way that's both safe for you and beneficial for the grass.

Essential Lawn Maintenance

Identify Your Grass Type

When planning how to mow your lawn, it’s essential to know what type of grass you have. Various grasses thrive at different cutting heights, so adjusting your mower accordingly is crucial. Allowing grass blades to grow taller promotes healthier root systems and natural moisture retention through shading. If you're unsure, it's safer to cut less and avoid trimming more than a third of the blade's height.

How Frequently Should You Mow the Lawn?

After determining how much to trim, the next consideration is how often to mow. If the grass isn’t growing beyond its ideal height due to cold or dry conditions, mowing may not be needed. However, experts suggest regular mowings. Weekly mowing is usually best if the grass grows rapidly due to frequent rain or if your mower has difficulty cutting through taller grass.

Choose the Right Tools

Next, ensure you have the right equipment for the job. Your yard's size plays a key role in selecting your tools. For areas up to 8,000 square feet (around 743 square meters) or approximately 0.18 acres, a manual reel mower could be the ideal option [source: Reel Mower Guide]. These mowers, which require no power, cut grass by rolling it through a rotating cylinder and cutting bar. Alternatives include electric, gas-powered, and tractor-pulled models. Discover how a reel mower works in How Reel Mowers Work.

For larger lawns or taller grass, gas-powered rotary mowers might be the best solution. These mowers use spinning blades to shear off plant tops. Available in both push and riding models, they offer more power than reel mowers but require more upkeep and contribute to pollution. However, they can handle tall grass and debris effortlessly, and many come with a mulching function. Mulch helps your yard by recycling nutrients from the grass clippings, although letting clumps sit on the lawn can block sunlight and harm the grass.

When trimming around structures or in tight areas, additional equipment might be needed. Just as you wouldn’t use a paint roller to paint intricate corners in your home, you can't rely on a riding mower for delicate lawn work. Manual clippers or an electric weed trimmer will be necessary to navigate small or hard-to-reach spaces. Weed eaters come in both gas and electric models.

Once you have your tools ready, it's time to get started. Check out the next page for safety guidelines and expert advice on how to mow your lawn effectively and safely.

Top Lawn Mowing Tips

Most professionals suggest the best time to mow your lawn is in the morning, when the heat of the day hasn't arrived yet. It's also important to avoid mowing right after heavy rains, as the wet grass will make the process harder and result in clumping of the grass and mulch.

Now, let's discuss mowing patterns. For the most efficient mowing, go for overlapping horizontal or vertical lines, and avoid circles or spirals. Experts recommend switching up your direction every few mowings. If you’ve been mowing horizontally for a while, try switching to a vertical pattern to promote a more natural lawn look. Changing up the cutting lengths can help prevent scalping on uneven areas of your lawn.

Lawn Mower Care

A properly maintained mower is key to a great lawn. Keep the mower blades sharp by storing both manual and gas-powered mowers in a dry place, protecting them from the elements to prevent rust and dull blades. Gas mowers need more attention, so make sure to have them serviced and tuned before the start of the mowing season in spring.

Mowing Safety Tips

No matter how well you maintain your mower, it won't matter if you neglect basic safety precautions: