Common Mowing Mistakes You’re Probably Making and How to Fix Them [CNET]

With a few minor changes, your lawn can go from being just part of your property to somewhere you love spending your time.

With a few minor changes, your lawn can go from being just part of your property to somewhere you love spending your time.

For most people, mowing the lawn simply means firing up the mower and going around the yard until the grass is shorter than before, kind of like vacuuming a carpet. But there is a right and wrong way to vacuum, just like mowing. But with the right plan and a few simple tips, you’ll not only have a better-looking lawn, but you’ll also save more time. Here are some tips on when to mow, how to mow and how to maintain your lawn mower that will have you enjoying a cold drink in a lounge chair while admiring your beautiful yard much faster.

Wait until the grass is dry

It may seem obvious during the summer when it reaches unbearable temps during the day to try and get started mowing early in the cool morning hours. But if there’s still dew on the ground, you can lose time and damage your lawn. This is due to the high likelihood that wet grass will clump up in the discharge chute (that flappy thing on the side), requiring you to stop and remove the clog. Plus, your mower tires won’t get great traction either and could put tracks in your yard.

Instead, wait until later in the morning when the dew dries, or mow the lawn late in the day before the evening dew. Also, time your sprinklers to start up in the late evening or at night so there isn’t extra moisture on the grass when you mow. Here are some more watering tips for your lawn.

Read more: The gardening tips everyone needs to know.

Keep it long

For some, a perfect lawn is always well-trimmed and consistently kept short. Unfortunately, while this may look nice, it can be a detriment to the overall life of your grass.

During the hottest days of summer when your yard is competing with sweltering heat, blazing sun, and less rain, it’s best to keep the grass around 4 inches high after a cut. That may seem long, but taller grass retains more water and has longer, healthier roots. So, you’ll have to go to the golf course to see that short grass during the summer months if you want your lawn to thrive year-round.

Go slower

Short on time or just want to get the chore over faster? Then going fast makes the most sense, right? But while it’s tempting to go fast while mowing, it can actually create more work for you. By not taking your time and letting the mower do its job properly, there’s a good chance it will leave some areas uncut and give the lawn an uneven, sloppy look. This means you’ll have to take more time to re-mow it to make the lawn look correct.

Instead, take the path of the turtle — slow and steady. A slower, mid-speed mowing session is faster and better for your lawn than zooming around the grass and ultimately needing to re-mow it later. Also, remember that the choke needs to be lower for slower speeds to run properly.

Be conssitent

Mowing randomly across your lawn can take up more time and lead to an uneven cut. Follow a pattern instead, using this technique:

• Start on the edge of your lawn with the discharge chute pointing toward your lawn
• Mow around the perimeter of your lawn
• When you get to your starting point, make a U-turn so the discharge chute is facing the strip you just cut
• Keep mowing around the perimeter, making sure the discharge chute is pointed toward where you just mowed.

In the end, your lawn will end up with a nice pattern and the discharge chute won’t clog.

Prep your mower for the next round

Regular maintenance on your mower is important to ensure it is reliable and does a great job each and every time you take it out. Spending a little time after you finish mowing will keep your mower in tip-top shape and lasting longer. Start by turning the mower over and rinsing the blades and discharge chute with a garden hose before putting it away. This will prevent grass from building up, drying out, and being much harder to remove.

If the air filter on your push mower looks dirty, give it a good wash with some mild dish soap and rinse it with the garden hose. Set the filter aside to dry so you can put it on right before mowing next time.

One of the best time savers is keeping your lawn mower blade sharp. A dull blade will require you to go over the same patch of lawn more than once to cut any raggedy bits left behind. A sharp blade allows you to zip around your lawn just once and still get great results. Most mower repair shops will sharpen the blades for a small fee, or you can do it yourself with these tips.

FAQs to help you get the best-looking lawn

Want to make watering your lawn easier? Here’s CNET’s guide to making your own automated lawn watering system.