Mowing your lawn: 5 mistakes to avoid for a perfectly manicured lawn

Does your lawn look bad, even though you mow it regularly? You may be making one of these mistakes! Here's what to look for when mowing your lawn.

Mowing a lawn seems like a simple task. But this is not the case, as we can make serious mistakes when mowing, which can lead to deterioration of the lawn, make it less attractive and even cause disease.

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How high should I mow my lawn?

One of the most common mistakes made when mowing is to cut the lawn too short. Cutting the grass too low (less than 2 cm) will weaken the grass and cause it to root and grow poorly, while voids will appear in the grass and it will quickly become infested with weeds or moss. The correct height for cutting the grass is about 2.5-3.5 cm for carpeted lawns and 4-5 cm for recreational lawns. It is advisable to cut the grass even higher (about 3 to 4 cm) in dry weather, so that the grass can better cope with adverse conditions and the soil is better protected against excessive drying out.

If you're not sure if you're cutting your lawn correctly, simply following the rule of no more than 1/3 of the height of the grass will prevent most problems associated with poor cutting.

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Can you mow wet grass?

Another mistake made when mowing a lawn is cutting wet grass. After a rain, the water-laden grass stems roll to the side and if you start cutting them, the end result will be unsatisfactory because the lawn surface will be uneven when it dries. Another problem with cutting wet grass is the increased risk of disease. The moist, warm environment is conducive to the development of pathogens, which easily penetrate the tissue of plants damaged during mowing.

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How often should I mow the lawn?

Another mistake we make when mowing is not doing it enough or doing it too often. A lawn should generally be mowed once a week. Only carpeted lawns can be mowed more often, even twice a week. If you mow too infrequently, the lawn becomes distorted and unsightly, making it more difficult to maintain. A lawn that is mowed too often will not have the opportunity to thicken, strengthen and grow, and will eventually lose its beauty.

Beware of lawnmower blades

Another serious mistake made when mowing the lawn is cutting the grass with dull knives. Dull knives do not cut the grass, but pull and crush the blades of grass, causing serious damage to the plants. Such a lawn does not look good afterwards and the damaged plants take a long time to recover, disfigure the lawn with dried and shredded leaf tips and become more susceptible to disease.

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When was the last time you mowed the lawn?

It is also a pretty serious mistake to cut the lawn too low and too late before winter. At the end of the season, we think that if we don't cut the grass until spring, the lawn will become ugly and unkempt, so we should cut it back low as soon as the weather permits. First of all, it is important to remember that grass does not grow as vigorously in the winter as it does in the summer, as its vegetation slows down considerably. Secondly, a lawn that is cut too much in the fall is not only more susceptible to frost, but cannot regenerate quickly afterwards and becomes extremely susceptible to fungal diseases.

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It is also not advisable to leave the lawn uncut, because if the grass stems are too long, they will start to lie down and not only limit the air supply to the plants, but also create an ideal environment for the development of fungal diseases.

The last mowing of your lawn should be done in October/November (depending on the weather) and the grass should be about 4-5 cm high after cutting.

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When mowing your lawn, make sure your mower is in good condition. Check that the blades are sharp and not damaged or worn. A dull blade can tear up grass rather than cut it, causing damage to the lawn. In addition, clean the bottom of the mower regularly to prevent the build-up of grass clippings and other debris that can hamper its optimal operation.