Mowing is undoubtedly the most common work among all those carried out on the lawn. If you master the technique, you will have a lot of cattle, as it is essential to keep the meadow in good condition.
From now on mowing will undoubtedly be your most repeated task, reaching its maximum frequency in summer: once a week or even more. You can get an idea of its tremendous importance as it directly affects the appearance of your lawn and its well-being.
It is not a good idea to mow the lawn too low. With this we are reducing the leaf surface and therefore hindering its ability to carry out photosynthesis. Holding it in these conditions will surely take its toll on a weak turf.
Meadows kept at low altitudes have fewer and shallower roots than a normal lawn; they are therefore less resistant to drought. They are also more sensitive to attack by pests and diseases. Weeds won’t miss their chance either.
As a general rule, do not mow below 5cm. It is even advisable to leave it higher in shaded areas and in those periods considered to be stressful: when the heat is extreme or in the winter months.
On warm season lawns, made up of grasses, you can mow a little lower. The bermudagrass, the zoysia or the kikuyo admit minimum heights of up to 2cm.
However, it should not be abused. Keep in mind that a lawn mown at a higher height will also protect the soil from evaporation during the summer, helping to reduce water consumption.
We’re talking about residential lawns here, not sports fields, so I’m assuming you don’t need such small measurements. Make it taller but without compromising its ornamental appearance.
Now I am going to give you another golden rule, so please take note: you should never cut more than a third of the height of the grass at one time.
If you have been busy and have neglected your mowing, it is not worth to cut the grass directly to the size that suits you (for example, the 5cm mentioned above). It would be a harsh punishment for it, simply because it would get too stressed and to top it off you would leave all the yellow leaves uncovered. To avoid this, be sure to remove no more than a third of the total height and repeat the process after a few days.
For this reason, efforts are made to respect the mowing times set by the grass itself, due to its growth rate.
The more or less rapid growth is directly influenced by the species that form it, the amount of available water, the nutrients in the soil, but above all by seasonality.
Thus, you may find that in winter you hardly have to mow (once a month or even not at all), in spring and autumn you have to increase the frequency to 2 and up to 4 times a month and in summer you have to use the mower beyond once a week.
Before executing the mowing, it is convenient to make sure that the meadow is not wet. If it remained wet, even just from the morning dew, the stems would be bent and it would be difficult to cut homogeneity. After a little mowing, the imperfections would appear again.
In addition to compromising the result, the work with the mower would be very complicated. The blades as well as the casing and the catcher would be seen with a mess of adhering weeds.
If everything is soaked, including the ground, then there is no discussion; leave it for another time. You could leave horrible marks, seriously damaging your lawn. In the worst case, you would be helping to compact the soil, complicating the proper aeration of the roots.
The choice of mower has a lot to do with the dimensions of your lawn. Unless you have a huge area, “self-supporting” mowers (those machines that sit comfortably on) or even zero-turn mower will not be necessary, so, if you want to save money but also minimize the risk of damage to your lawn, it’s better not to mow.
Yes, it is convenient that the engine is gasoline so that it has enough power and also frees you from cables. In gardens of a certain size or with steep slopes, it is advisable that the machine has traction or self-propulsion, so you will not have to push.
For a medium garden, with up to 1500m² of lawn, a simple mower like this one will suffice. If you are going to give it “more cane”, we’d suggest more robust models.
Even if you get the best mower on the market, you will not be exempt from its maintenance. The good conservation of the blades must be a priority. Be careful with the stones and the curbs or you will have to start sharpening.
It is also a good habit to disinfect the cutting surface at the end of the work. If you suspect the existence of fungi or mow several plots with the same machine, rather than a recommendation, it will be mandatory.
Having laid out the basic principles, it’s time to get to work. You may already know the procedure, but just in case, let’s review it now…
It is key to describe very straight lines. Always start with the margins, and then go on to trace them lengthwise (always parallel to each other). A good trick is to take advantage of the rut from the previous pass as a guide, so there will be no unpleasant fringes.
Be aware of the obstacles to be able to avoid them. Diffusers or sprinklers that are higher than they should be are a classic. Try not to cut them off with the blades.
Always collect what you have mowed, unless your lawnmower has the “mulching” option. With this system the remains are pulverized and will become integrated into the soil; they do not bother and will also provide important nutrients. If this is not the case, use the collector or box of the mower and remember to empty it frequently, before the residues begin to fall underneath.
To finish “give it the master touch”: trim the edges of the lawn, around your furniture and any other obstacles. You can help yourself with a trimmer or a brush cutter. I assure you that the difference will be abysmal, with no color between a meadow with well-defined edges and another without trimming.
Now you have no excuse. These 5 tips are enough to ensure respectful treatment of your beloved lawn in such an important task as mowing.
Hi my name is Kristina Myers. Welcome to my hobby blog. Well, it's much more than a hobby blog. I couldn't contain myself to just talk about hobbies. I have broadened it right out cover anything that takes place around the home and enriches life itself.
I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
Click to read on