How to Mow A Lawn
When you have a home that comes with a yard you will need to learn how to take care of the landscaping and outdoor areas, which includes knowing how to mow the lawn. Some people find it enjoyable to maintain their lawn, while others prefer to pay a company to do it for them. Learning how to mow your lawn is an easy process and can save you money if you do it yourself. The basics on how to mow a lawn include the machines you will need to cut the grass, what length to cut the lawn and how to cut it, how to edge around trees and other barriers, and how to clean up.
To start off you will need to assess what type of lawn mower you will need based on the size and type of lawn you have. If you have over half an acre you will surely want a ride on mower. Push movers are useful for small yards, and can be a strong workout if you like to stay fit, but even a half acre is a lot of land to push mow. So keep in mind that even though ride on mowers are more expensive, you will be mowing the grass once a week on average, so it is worth the expense. If you are trying to save some money you can always look for a used mower, but when you buy new your mower usually comes with a warranty which can offer peace of mind. You will also need a trimmer, or weed whacker, to cut the hard to reach areas of the lawn that your mower can’t get to. These are available new and used as well, but are much more affordable.
Once you have the necessary tools, you are ready to mow your lawn. Read the instructions on your mower. Make sure it has the proper amount of fuel, oil, and it is on schedule for maintenance needs. When you go to mow the lawn you will need to set the mower to the length you want your grass to be cut, the middle setting is about two inches and a good place to start. Turn on the mower, get it to the edge of your yard, lower the blade, and begin mowing. Make sure you go up and down your yard in rows for an even cut, a nice appearance, and to make sure you don’t miss any sections of the grass. If you have a grass catching bag you should empty it often so that it doesn’t get stuck. If you are mowing and just letting the cut grass fall onto the lawn, when you are finished you will need to go over the lawn and rake the cut grass up in order to keep it from smothering your lawn.
The final step is to edge the areas your mower could not reach. Around trees, the edges of your driveway, around your flower beds or even under your children’s playground are all areas you will need to go over with an edger to cut the grass down so that it matches the rest of your lawn. Then go through and rake up all of the cut grass on the lawn and from the edger, dispose of it in whatever way your community requires, and you are finished. Mowing your lawn will be necessary all summer to keep your yard attractive and healthy for your neighborhood, community, friends and family to enjoy.
