Lawn mowing might seem straightforward enough, but there’s a right and wrong way to do it if you want your grass to look sharp and continue growing back healthy, thick, and lush.
Professionals in the industry know the tips and tricks to keep your grass looking its best; not only is hiring a service easier, but it will also deliver results that will make your lawn the envy of your block. So, what are the biggest mistakes most homeowners are making with their lawn care? Read on to find out!
Mowing the Grass Too Short
While it may be tempting to cut your grass as short as possible to increase the amount of time before you need to mow it again, you could be causing major damage to your lawn. The ideal length for grass is between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. This length allows enough nutrients to reach the root of the grass while also maintaining adequate shade to protect the soil and roots from drying out. Shorter than this, and you run the risk of weakening the grass, making it more susceptible to weeds and disease, and any longer, it looks unkept and may invite pests or fungus.
Inconsistent Lawn Mowing
Believe it or not, consistency in lawn mowing service is very important to the well-being of your grass. If you’re mowing your lawn too often or not often enough, the grass cannot reliably get the nutrients it needs. Your grassroots needs access to water, sunlight, and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to grow. When your lawn is deficient in any of these, it becomes weak, discoloured, and more susceptible to disease.
What’s more, regular mowing also helps the grass to grow more vertically (because it’s not being left to sprawl sideways) and promotes new shoot growth, leading to a thicker, lusher lawn.
Lawn Mowing with Dull Blades
Did you know that your lawn mower blades need to be replaced annually? When your lawn mowing equipment is not in good shape, it can’t do a good job. If you’re using dull blades to mow your lawn, you’re probably doing more harm than good. Instead of cutting cleanly, dull blades are tearing and shredding your grass, which weakens the shoots and could impact the roots. Visually, you can tell when your lawn mower blades are dull because instead of a clean, uniform look, you’ll notice uneven areas, patchiness throughout your lawn or even entire clumps of grass getting spit out by your mower.
Overusing the Same Lawn Mowing Pattern
People are creatures of habit, and chances are, you have a preferred way to cut your grass. You start in one spot, mow in the same direction, and finish in the same area. While consistency in mowing service is great for your grass, overusing the same pattern can be detrimental to your lawn. Following the same footsteps every time can create ruts in your lawn and compact the soil underneath, and when soil becomes compacted, it makes it harder for nutrients to reach the root, which could affect growth. Rotating mowing patterns regularly helps prevent this and encourages even, healthy grass growth across your yard.
Why Professional Lawn Mowing Services are the Better Choice
Unless you are the type of person who enjoys regularly spending hours outdoors in all types of weather to maintain your lawn, a professional mowing service is almost always the better choice. These teams understand the intricacies of lawn mowing and keeping your grass healthy, and they have the right tools to get the job done while avoiding these common grass-cutting mistakes.