A freshly mowed lawn is a pleasant sight, and the direction in which you mow can greatly impact the results. While the mowing direction is crucial for creating intricate designs and stripes on major league baseball fields, it also plays a role in the health and appearance of a home lawn. Alternating the mowing direction is key to encourage upright growth, reduce soil compaction, and minimize wear and tear on the turf caused by repetitive turns. When choosing your mowing direction, consider mowing in different directions each time or at right angles to your previous cut. Additionally, varying your mowing patterns, sharpening mower blades regularly, minding the grass height, tidying up before mowing, leaving clippings on the lawn for nutrients, following the one-third rule, and mowing only when grass is dry are essential tips for maintaining a good-looking, healthy lawn.
If you suspect the grass is damp, step on it before starting the mower. Then, walk on the pavement. If your shoes make imprints, the grass is too wet for mowing.
7. Keep Mowing Until the Grass Stops Growing
For cold-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, keep up with regular mowing until late autumn or, in certain regions, early winter, as long as they are still growing. If these grasses go into winter dormancy while too tall, they become more susceptible to pests and diseases. Warm-season grass requires grooming throughout the year.
For more detailed information, refer to the original article in Better Homes & Gardens.
