Water and fertilizer alone do not make a pristine lawn. Your turf will run wild if it’s not mowed properly. However, a professional finish will keep it from turning into a literal jungle. There are many reasons to keep your lawn pristine, including a healthy environment and positive vibes. A well-kept lawn can also be the envy of the whole neighborhood, but that’s really just a bonus.
A stunning lawn is its own reward, but how do you get there? Well, there’s using heavy duty mower blades, for one, but what else? You’ll have to read on to find out.
Tip #1: A bit of length is important
Though it may not seem like it, tall grass is actually good grass. We get how tempting it is to go all-out and just shave your lawn short and compact, but that won’t bode well for your turf’s health.
Why? You ask? Because it’s in the grass blade that photosynthesis or food generation occurs. And the shorter you go, the fewer the nutrients the lawn produces for itself. There’s also the fact that short grass won’t do a good job of shading the soil beneath it. During the summer months, the sun could get intense enough to dry the soil on your lawn, making it susceptible to disease and weed growth.
If you insist on cutting the grass short, you will have to make up for cutting off the food source by fertilizing. Otherwise, your lawn will start to look dull and brown. Sure, that should be a recipe to get the neighbors talking, but not in the way that you want.
Tip #2: Mulching matters
Before you fire up that lawnmower, you may want to attach a grass collection bag. No doubt a clippings-free lawn looks a lot more attractive, but those clippings also have a role to play. So hold your horses. This should be the protocol if you mow the lawn regularly. Young, tender blades are absorbed quickly into the ground and enrich the roots with nutrients. Talk about natural lawn care!
Grass collection bags would factor more into the equation when you don’t mow as frequently. That’s fine; we can’t always be on top of our mowing game. But if that’s the case, then your clippings might be too long to be left where they lie.
Better bag those extra-long, nutrient-packed clippings and ready them for mulching. No, leaving them won’t do it because their length could smother emerging shoots making their way to the surface.
Tip #3: Sharp blades can make a difference
Avoid dull mower blades if you want your lawn to look professional. Sharper blades translate to cleaner cuts, which keep the top of your lawn a fresh, vibrant green instead of a dull, lifeless brown. Dull blades can rip and shred grass or even pull them from its roots. They can lead to an unhealthy and disease-prone lawn that your neighbors will be bound to talk about—and not in a good way!
It’s sometimes easy to forget that your lawn is a living thing, too. And though it’s resilient, it also has its limits. So be gentle to your lawn. Provide it the care that it needs and see it return the favor severalfold.
Tip #4: Cutting wet grass is a no-no
Although mowing wet grass won’t damage your lawn, it can cause other problems. The ruts left behind by the mower’s wheels are one. Then there are the wet grass clippings that get stuck beneath the cutting deck. And if you think you can tackle sloped areas after having mowed through a vast wet patch, think again. A dangerous ice-skating experience with spinning blades could be what awaits you.
That said, cutting wet grass shouldn’t be bad when you use the right equipment. By “right equipment,” we mean a mower that’s lightweight enough to mow wet lawns without leaving track marks.
Tip #5: Invest in a quality mower
There’s no need to set aside hours each week to maintain a perfect lawn. No matter the weather, you can get that by investing in a premier lawnmower. Yes, some mowers mow better than others, and these products are exactly what your lawn needs to turn from a barren wasteland (okay, maybe that’s too far, but something like that) to a thriving oasis.
So, there you have it—five tips to take your lawn’s look to the next level! Sure, it requires a certain level of dedication on your end, but the results should be well worth it. And before you get the wrong idea, no, this venture doesn’t have to be expensive.
Quality lawn mowers tend to have hefty price tags attached to them, but there are affordable options on the market, too. Keep their blades sharp and well-maintained, and you should get the job done regardless.
