A lawn can be lots of things. A place to relax, play sports, or entertain friends. But getting that pristine lawn takes a bit of planning and the correct technique.
Don’t worry though, mowing your lawn isn’t rocket science, even if it’s looking a bit wild and overgrown. Plan ahead and take things slowly. The grass will always grow back if you make a mistake.
Before you start, wait for the right conditions. Don’t try and cut when the grass is too wet. It won’t stand up so the cutting will be uneven, and clippings will clog up the mower. The same goes for grass covered in frost.
What you’ll need
The short version
- Make a plan
- Tidy up the lawn
- Gradually reduce your cutting height
- Start with a grass trimmer (if needed)
- Mow around the edge of the lawn
- Mow inside the area in straight lines
- Finish the job with a strimmer
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Step 1.
Make a plan
It doesn’t have to be a military-spec operation, but knowing where to start and finish will help, especially if you have an odd-shaped garden. By knowing where you will start and stop, and the direction you’ll mow in, you can make sure that you cover every part of your lawn, and get the desired effect, which is particularly important if you want stripes.
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Step 2.
Tidy up the lawn
Tidy up any sticks, stones, discarded toys, and pet waste before you get mowing. This prevents any mess, and reduces the risk of injury through the lawn mower flicking up stones or parts of a child’s toy.
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Step 3.
Gradually reduce your cutting height
A generally agreed-upon lawn mowing principle is to start long and gradually cut the grass shorter, especially with long grass, as this avoids damaging the grass and prevents the mower from being clogged with clippings. Start on the highest setting and move down on each mow until your reach your desired grass length. Don’t cut off too much, especially when mowing for the first time in spring.
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Step 4.
Start with a grass trimmer (if needed)
If your grass is more like a jungle than a bowling green, start with a grass trimmer. Take off the highest grasses and weeds, then remove them with a leaf rake. Use the trimmer to get into tight spots and awkward spaces
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Step 5.
Mow around the edge of the lawn
Start your first cut with the lawn mower by mowing around the edge of the lawn. It might seem counterintuitive, but it’s a good idea. Turning around at the end of a pass becomes much easier, and you’re left with a neat border.
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Step 6.
Mow inside the area in straight lines
Use the plan that you made to mow in straight lines. Overlap your lines a little bit to avoid leaving tufts and divots where the wheels have flattened the grass.
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Step 7.
Finish the job with a strimmer
Finish off the edges along paths and borders with an edging tool or a grass trimmer turned on its side.
