Mowing Basics that Every Homeowner Should Know
Click here To Call: 540-701-3559
A properly mowed lawn makes it appear healthy and attractive, thus improving the overall quality of your yard. In fact, mowing is an important aspect of landscaping and general care for your lawn. With the right equipment, it should take less than an hour to mow. It is all a matter of using proper tools and performing the best mowing techniques to get excellent results from this essential part of yardwork.
For an average yard with 10,000 square feet of turfgrass, mowing should only take about 30 minutes. This is, however, supposing you use a walk-behind reel or rotary mower. To minimize time spent on mowing, it is recommended to use a larger or commercial mower. For instance, a commercial mower is capable of cutting as much as 30 square feet of grass in just one second. This means, you only need to mow a large area by as much as 15 times in a year. The Basics in Mowing Mowing is the practice of cutting turfgrass to the right height. However, this technique can cause stress on grass plants, so it is important to reduce this negative impact on your lawn by following correct practices. Ideally, you should mow either in the evening or early morning, although the former is more desirable because of the cooler temperature. The intense heat during daytime can be stressful to plants when mowed at this part of the day. It is also worth noting that mowing should not be done when the grass is wet. Your lawn will look much better when mowed while it is dry, not to mention the fact that this can prevent the spread of disease in all your plants. The important thing to remember is to ensure the right length when you cut the grass. Apply the right mowing height by following the one-third rule, which means only a third of the length must be cut to protect the health of the plant. This means, you will have to set the height of cut of your mower blade to trim the top third portion of the grass to promote strong root systems. When you cut the grass too short, this can trigger disease infestation and weed growth. Moreover, loss of moisture can occur since the grass will become more exposed to heat that will absorb water too quickly. To maintain a clean and even cut, the blades of your mower must be sharp. With usharpened or dull blades, this can tear or rip the grass tissue, hence creating a brown or tan cast after you have mowed the area. Tears will also serve as an environment for disease, fungus and several other lawn issues. Mulching is another practice you should apply as part of your yardwork. Also known as grasscycling, mulching provides your lawn with ample nutrients, which minimizes the need for fertilizing by up to 25 percent. What's more, you are doing the planet a favor by reducing the amount of clippings that go to the landfill. Lastly, change the mowing direction to prevent the grass from lying over excessively. Changing the directions whenever you mow also limits the risks of compaction and wear, which is a problem that some homeowners experience. 5 Tips for Preventing Weeds |
|