Correct Lawn Mowing Techniques

Planning saves time and gives a superior finish

Clever Lawn Mowing

The correct lawn mowing technique can make a big difference in the overall look of your lawn, as well as helping with proper lawn care over time. It's a relatively simple subject so let's have a quick look at the topic and see how the professionals mow lawns to achieve a quality cut in an efficient time frame.

Outline The Lawn

Begin the lawn mowing process by mowing around the perimeter in a clockwise direction. When using a rotary mower, we mow in a clockwise direction because it tends to throw excess green material back onto the lawn, and not onto the path. Often a second outer ring is a good idea as it provides greater room to turn the mower in the next step.

Straight Cut Lawn Mowing

Straight cut the largest areas first

After you have cut the lawn perimeter, it is now a simple case of mowing the lawn in straight lines to finish the area. Any excess grass that was thrown onto the lawn in the perimeter mowing will now be cleaned up in this step.

As you begin each new mowing path, it is a good idea to quickly check the straightness of the mowing path you just completed. If it's straight, follow exactly next to the same path on the return. If the last path was a little crooked, it is easily fixed by straightening up the next path, and overlapping a little if need be. This simple and easy technique makes a huge difference to the finish quality after the job is done.

Obstacles In The Lawn

Obstacles in the lawn such as trees or garden beds should be treated in exactly the same manner as the outer perimeter.

When an obstacle is approached during the straight cutting, it is simply a case of stopping the straight cut, and cut a perimeter path around the obstacle, if necessary do 2 paths for easier turning of the mower.

When continuing with the rest of the straight cutting, and the obstacle is reached, stop, turn around and do the return path, always aiming to keep the straight lines on the lawn when the mowing is finished. The opposite side of the obstacle will be cut in straight lines after the first side is completed.

Overlapping

Each pass with the straight lawn mowing should be overlapped by a few centimetres to ensure that the excess room between the end of the mower blades and the outside of the wheel is accounted for. That way we don't miss any areas.

Odd Shaped Lawns

Lawns come in a variety of different shapes, and hopefully the mowing involved should have been taken into account during the planning of the lawn for ease of mowing, and general care. It would be impossible to go through every imaginable shape that lawns come in, and we don't have to, because the principle is the same.

The lawn area should be broken down into sections, first cutting the outside perimeter as a whole, and then while mowing in straight lines, mow the largest section first, followed by the next largest section, and so on. This provides for maximum time efficiency, as well as leaving lines in the lawn from what is naturally appealing as the logical mowing pattern for the shape of the lawn.

It may take a few tries to get the correct pattern worked out, but it is most definitely a worthwhile practice.

Mowing Slopes

Despite the extra effort involved, hills should have their perimeter mowed first to ensure a quality finish. After that, it is simply a case of starting at the top and mowing from side to side until the job is finished at the bottom of the slope.

Long or Wet Grass

The pathway to the catcher may become clogged when mowing wet or long grass, this simply requires a few extra stops to either move the clippings from the opening of the catcher to the rear, or emptying the catcher more regularly. This way the excess clippings won't be left on the lawn.

Good Lawn Mowing Practices Are Worthwhile

While the practices of correct lawn mowing techniques may at first seem like making a big deal out of something very simple, but in reality the opposite is the truth.

After a few mowings and following these very simple lawn mowing techniques, the new patterns will quickly become second nature, improving the quality of the finished result, and saving a lot of time from each lawn mowing session. It's definitely a worthwhile addition to our lawn care arsenal.