Mowing your lawn can be more challenging than it seems. For example, you need to use the right mowing technique, or you can damage the grass. Implementing the best mowing practices can help keep you from turning your lawn into a monstrosity. In this article, we explore mowing tips so that your lawn mower won’t ruin the grass.

Can a Lawn Mower Ruin Grass?

Don’t Mow Too Often

Most people make Saturday or Sunday their mowing day. They have free time on the weekend to put effort into their lawn, so they decide to get the job over with and enjoy the rest of the day. However, you should base your need to mow your lawn on its growth, not your schedule.

Growth varies with the weather and the season. Grass grows faster in the summer, especially after rain. In winter, the grass goes dormant and doesn’t require mowing in many states. Turf type and the overall health of your lawn are factors influencing growth and your need to mow.

Don’t Cut Too Short

Many homeowners make the mistake of using the bottom setting on the cutting deck to cut the grass as short as possible. After all, if you cut it shorter, it takes longer to get back to mowing length, right?

Wrong. Mowing your grass blades too short damages the lawn and leaves bald spots and thinning areas. Ensure you mow to a length of two to three inches at most or you will be dealing with dead grass soon.

Don’t Mow Wet Grass

Don’t mow the lawn if it’s wet. The wet grass will fold or bend in front of the mower, resulting in an uneven cut. Damp grass tears, resulting in a ragged look instead of a clean cut.

Cutting wet grass distributes the mulch unevenly, resulting in heavy clumps of grass collecting in areas, providing the ideal conditions for mold growth.

Sharpen the Mower Blades Seasonally

Dull lawn mower blades provide an uneven, ragged cut that looks terrible. Sharp blades ensure you get a manicured look for your lawn after mowing. The mower blades feature construction with steel and require sharpening for an effective and efficient cut.

Take your mower in for a service with an authorized dealer or garden center before the spring. They’ll sharpen the blades and service the engine, ensuring your mower performs optimally during the summer.

Dull mower blades create a brown or white colored cast on the lawn, damaging the grass. Keeping the blades sharp provides a clean cut and eliminates the need for second passes.

Don’t Mow in the Same Direction

How you mow your lawn also affects the look of the grass after mowing. Changing your mowing direction each time you mow your lawn has several benefits for the grass.

Mowing in a different direction increases airflow under the cutting deck, pulling the grass to the cutting blades, leaving an even, clean cut. You’ll reduce soil compaction, ensuring your lawn absorbs water instead of pooling on compacted surfaces.

Mowing in the same direction every time creates ruts in the lawn, creating an irregular sloping effect on the surface. You also cause wear in the same areas due to the mower wheels compacting the soil.

Pro tip – Ditch mowing your lawn yourself. Buy an automated lawnmower from a reputable manufacturing brand. You can thank us later.

Arbor Hills Landscaping Company Omaha | Best Landscaping Company in Omaha, NE

Arbor Hills Trees & Landscaping Services can provide you with everything from detailed maintenance programs to unique plant production, and other services in between. That means we build water features, walls, patios, irrigation, walkways, outdoor kitchens, lighting, and anything else you can help us dream up. Our professionally trained staff can build the landscape of your dreams and keep you from breaking any Home Landscaping Rules.

Click on a heading bar below for more information:

Fire Pit Designs Landscaping Services

Imagine the ambiance created in your backyard landscape by a custom fire pit. In fact, nothing is more inviting on a cool spring night or for fall and winter gatherings of family and friends. A fire pit may be used to provide warmth during outdoor entertaining, but also as a heat source for outdoor cooking or simply roasting marshmallows. Our trained custom fire pit installers are experts in turning your vision into reality. More…

Outdoor Living Landscaping Services

Unlimited Outdoor Kitchen offers a professional outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and outdoor living room design, building, and installation services with FREE ESTIMATES. More…

Retaining Walls Landscaping Services

Enhance the beauty of your landscape with a retaining wall that is customized to coordinate with your home’s exterior. At Arbor Hills, our retaining wall designer will create a functional retaining wall that is aesthetically pleasing for your personal taste, and within your target budget. With the many materials available today, the retaining wall project you’ve been considering is just a phone call away! More…

Stamped and Colored Concrete

It is time to upgrade or replace some of the hardscape features surrounding your home? Stamped and colored concrete is a beautiful and affordable material. It enhances the color and texture featured on your home’s exterior. Stamped concrete in textures from modern to rustic is available to coordinate with your home’s existing design features. Colored concrete can be blended to match or enhance your home’s exterior color scheme. A designer from Arbor Hills will consider all these existing features at your site visit and when designing your project. More…

Patio Pavers Landscaping Services

Concrete pavers are a great way to improve your landscape and garden. In fact, they are super strong and lend themselves to many hardscaping projects. They rarely crack but if they do, each piece is easily replaceable. More…

Landscape Lighting Designs

Outdoor lighting can be nearly as important to the overall look and feel of your home as the landscaping itself. So you shouldn’t short-change yourself by skimping on quality lighting products. We are a full-service landscape and waterscape company that can solve all of your residential and commercial lighting needs anywhere in Omaha and the surrounding areas. More…

Water Feature Landscaping Designs

Imagine the sight and sound of bubbling water as you relax in your outdoor sanctuary. A water feature can give just the right ambiance to your outdoor retreat. Or, if you are looking for a water feature with traffic-slowing curb appeal, a designer from Arbor Hills will help you choose the water feature that best enhances your home. More…

Sod Installation Services

Whether you have just built your home, cleared agricultural land for your personal use or simply want to improve the look of your existing yard, having sod installed is a fast way to create the lush, green carpet of grass you want. It offers instant satisfaction rather than the weeks of waiting and anticipating whether or not your grass seed is going to grow. Plus, using sod offers a host of other benefits. More…

Mulch & Rock Landscaping Services

The concept, to design, to delivery and installation, we have more than 20 years of experience in the landscaping industry in Omaha and surrounding areas. Our services include delivery, full installation, and clean-up of mulch and rock around your beds, trees, and more. More…

Plants & Shrubs Landscaping

Plants and shrubs are the backbone of your landscape, therefore they should be the first things you plant. Proper selection will enhance a home’s appearance and increase property value while reflecting the homeowner’s style and personality. More…

Tree Nursery

Let our trained nursery professionals assist you in selecting the perfect tree or shrub to complete your landscape. We carry a selection that is unmatched in Omaha and the surrounding areas and are willing and eager to explain our favorites. Improved varieties are introduced each year and we always strive to carry the best and newest – varieties more resistant to disease, shade trees better able to withstand storm damage and ornamentals in unique colors, shapes, and sizes you have to see to believe. More…