While mowing your lawn may seem like a pretty straightforward task, there’s actually a right way – and a wrong way – to do it. Mowing height, frequency and mow pattern matter, and mowing wet grass and failing to maintain your lawn mower can spell trouble for your lawn. For the best results, make sure to avoid these common lawn mowing mistakes.
Cutting the Grass Too Short
We know that cutting your lawn short may seem like a genius way to stretch the time between mows, but cutting the grass too short is actually harmful to your lawn. It puts stress on the grass, which can lead to yellowing and browning, and leave your lawn susceptible to diseases and insects. Scalping also allows more sunlight to reach the soil, increasing weed growth.
To keep your lawn healthy, we recommend following the one-third rule, which means you never cut off more than a third of the grass height. Learn more about proper mowing heights for Virginia Beach lawns.
Not Mowing Frequently Enough
We get it, life gets busy and you realize it’s been two weeks since you last mowed your lawn. The problem is that mowing an overgrown lawn means you need to make a much more significant cut to get your lawn back to the right height. As we already mentioned, cutting off too much can be traumatic for the grass and may lead to yellowing or browning.
To avoid this lawn mowing mistake, we generally recommend mowing weekly, and, if you fall behind and need to catch up, gradually get your lawn back to the right height over multiple mows.
Mowing Wet Grass
Mowing wet grass is a bad idea, especially in a humid climate like Virginia Beach. Not only can it cause damage to your mower and result in an uneven cut, it can actually cause damage to your lawn. The wet soil is softer, making it easier to pull the grass out at the root, and wet grass clippings can promote fungus growth and the spread of other diseases.
If you must mow wet grass, never use an electric or battery-operated mower. Wait for a break in the rain, make sure your lawn is not soggy, and follow these wet grass mowing tips.
Always Mowing in the Same Pattern
When you mow your lawn in the same pattern every time, it can lead to soil compaction, create ruts, and cause grass blades to grow in a uniform, leaning direction. The other mistake we see frequently is failure to overlap your lines. It won’t damage your lawn, but it can ruin the aesthetics when a line of taller grass is sticking up in between the neatly mowed rows.
To avoid these pitfalls, alternate your mowing pattern so that the rows are diagonal or perpendicular to the last time you mowed, and each time you start a new row, make sure it overlaps a few inches with the one next to it.
Failing to Maintain Your Mower
When you cut your grass with a dull lawn mower blade, you’re actually doing more tearing than cutting. Your grass will look ragged and uneven, and the torn grass can lead to a yellow and brown lawn, as well as diseases and pests. Likewise, an unlevel or clogged mowing deck, or damaged or deflated tires, can all lead to a messy cut.
Be sure to change your mower blade every season, clean the mower regularly, and perform seasonal lawn mower maintenance, like changing the oil, cleaning the air filters, checking and replacing belts, and inspecting the tires.
Not Hiring a Virginia Beach Lawn Care Pro
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is waiting too long to ask for help. The only thing worse than mowing mistakes that take away from the aesthetics of your lawn, is when they cause irreparable and costly damage. If you’re struggling to keep your lawn looking great, or you simply don’t have the time to keep up with the maintenance, there’s no shame in hiring a professional lawn care company.
For dependable, affordable lawn mowing services in Virginia Beach, give Sean’s Lawns a call at 757-650-1380, or send us a message online. We’re a small, family-owned and operated business, specializing in lawn care, poop scooping and leaf removal services, and we can’t wait to make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood.