The sound of a lawn mower in summer is ubiquitous. We all have our routine for when the grass gets tall. But there are some best practices you can follow to bring your lawn from average to something that will make the neighbours jealous.
First things first: ensure your lawnmower blade is sharp and free of rust. A ragged or dull blade won’t cut you grass cleanly, but instead will give an unattractive frayed appearance.
- Change the direction you move in each time you cut your lawn to keep coarse grasses under control and ensure a smooth, even surface.
- Never cut grass when it’s wet! It mows unevenly, and the clippings clog the mower. It will leave clippings that will mat on the grass, blocking much-needed sunlight.
- Never mow off more than one-third of the grass blade at any given time. If you let the grass grow too high, cut it back in stages, removing small amounts each time until the desired height is reached.
- If the lawn is cut too short all at once, root growth will slow and your lawn will be less hardy. Grass should be tallest in summer. Mow to 7 or 8 centimetres (3 inches) in spring and fall. Raise the mower another 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) during hot weather for drought resistance.
