Lawn mowing is essential in keeping your yard looking good 24/7. It can spell the difference between lush greenery and a totally bland space. Apart from that, it keeps the environment within your property as neat as possible.

In a survey by Angi involving 1250 respondents from various U.S. states, around 94% said they care about their lawns’ appearance. So, if you’re one of these people, lawn mowing is something you should know how to do.

If you’re excited about maintaining an ecosystem or want your home to look appealing, then this article is for you. Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or haven’t tried mowing yet, this guide is straightforward and easy to follow.

Why mow your grass?

Before deep diving into the mowing know-how, it’s important to know why you should mow your lawn in the first place. This way, you’d do this activity beyond mere compliance and see it for what it’s worth.

The following are some significant reasons:

• Good health of your lawn. Grass grows and develops through photosynthesis. This is the process of plants taking in light from the sun and generating nutrients out of it. When you mow consistently, you’re letting the grass be exposed to ample sunlight, making it stay greener and healthier. Look out for the equipment, like the automower and accessories you use, as it plays a role in keeping a healthy lawn.
• Pest control. Long grass would take over if you don’t mow your lawn constantly, allowing fleas, ticks, and other pests to thrive. Mowing once every week, or at least once every two weeks, will eliminate the breeding ground of pests, as they won’t be able to settle in your area.
• Weed management. Regular mowing keeps the lawn at the optimum height. Generally, grass height should be around two and a half to three inches. Cutting too short would lead to dry soil, as the grass won’t be effective in blocking the sun, and dead patches.

The process, timing, and condition of mowing will make a difference in keeping your lawn in tip-top shape.

Mowing for beginners

The following are some steps to maintain your yard for the seasons to come:

1. Invest in the right equipment

Having the right tools for mowing and maintaining your apparatus would make the job simpler. For starters, a lawn mower and leaf rake are non-negotiable. But as you go along, your arsenal of mowing tools should grow as well.

Here are some other tools to consider:

• Leaf blower vacuum. This sucks and collects leaves in a vacuum, which usually has a mulcher inside.
• This creates boundaries along flower beds and passageways.
• Weed eater. This trims those that your lawn mower can’t cut.
• This tool carries heavy elements across your lawn.
• This enables watering the lawn more efficiently.

As your needs become more extensive in lawn mowing, the tools you’d use would need to diversify.

2. Establish a mowing schedule

As a rule of thumb, mowing is done when it’s needed. However, establishing a schedule is significant primarily for the grass. Mowing weekly prevents the accumulation of clippings. On the flip side, you can reduce the frequency in drier months. Well, it all boils down to knowing the type of grass you have so you can understand the circumstances at play.

3. Proper mowing technique

One study found that Americans spend around 32 hours of each month keeping their yards in pristine shape. Four out of ten of these people, however, would ditch lawn mowing as they think it takes up too much of their time. But this shouldn’t be the case if you follow the right strategy.

The first step? Unload and check your equipment. Make sure your stuff is complete to avoid interruptions along the way. Apart from the tools mentioned above, large, reusable bags would also come in handy for carrying the cutting.

Next, in a clean working area, wear proper personal protective equipment. You got to protect your body parts throughout the process. After you’re all geared up, fuel the mower. Walk the lawn to remove stuff the mower might damage, then start mowing the edges, such as borders, fences, and around obstacles. Following this, blow the debris onto the lawn and decide whether to mulch or collect the clippings. Always see to it that there’s a system for mowing and not starting in random places.

Now, we’ve come to the final step – pack up all your equipment. If you want, you can also take a photo of the lawn to compare how it looks like before and after mowing.

Conclusion

Starting your yard maintenance journey entails effort, commitment, and knowledge when it comes to lawn mowing. It’s a part of your home, after all. Invest in the right equipment, establish a mowing schedule, and know the proper mowing technique – get these things right and, in no time, you’ll have a lawn teeming with vibrancy. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you plan and prepare.