Lawn mowing season is almost upon us! The key to successful mowing is preparation, starting with some things you can be doing now. Use these mowing tips for a healthy lawn to be the envy of the neighborhood.

Mowing Tips for a Healthy Lawn

1. Tune up your mower. Dull blades can shred grass blades rather than cleanly cutting them, which weakens the grass and makes it more vulnerable to disease. Use a grinding wheel to sharpen your lawn mower’s blade at least once a season. This can be tricky to do on your own, so you might want to see if there is a professional who can come tune-up your mower for you right at your house.

2. Timing Matters. Try to mow early in the day, ideally mid- to late-morning. The temperatures should still be cool, but the morning dew should have dried by the time you start to cut.

3. Alternate Direction. You can put less stress on your grass by mowing in opposite directions each week. For example, mow horizontally one week and vertically the next, creating perpendicular lines. If you don’t, your grass can weaken, grow irregularly, and have a not-so-attractive pattern.

4. Mow to the Right Height. Mowing your grass as short as can be might seem like an easy way to get out of mowing again soon, but you are doing your grass an injustice. Abide by the 1/3 rule: set your mower to a higher cutting height to avoid removing more than one-third of the grass blade when mowing. In addition to keeping your lawn luscious, it helps your grass develop a deep root system, effectively keeping out weeds in the process.

5. Make Sure Your Grass Is Healthy. The real key to mowing success is starting with a healthy lawn. That’s what we’re here for! At Shades of Green Lawn & Landscape, we focus on the health of your lawn so you have lively green grass that looks beautiful when mowed. Call us today at 765-771-9998 to learn how we do it and to get a free estimate.