A lot is made of mowing a lawn and lots of people worry too much about what they should be doing and how they should be doing it but for me there is no substitute for regular mowing (always at the right cutting height). Had I written this a few years ago then it would of read a lot different but there is no doubt that growing conditions have and still are changing and so we must change with it.
Like many things in gardening the more you mow a lawn the better at you will become. It will start to feel more natural and you’ll just know the right height to set the mower blades to achieve the right cutting height for the time of year but until then there are some ‘rules’ to help you get a really great looking lawn.
There are many different types of mowers you can use but the main ones being: Rotary blade mowers, Cylinder mowers, electric hover mowers, for smaller lawns and for larger lawns, Ride on mowers. The most versatile and there for most commonly used is the rotary blade mower, if you want a dramatic stripy lawn (which I’m sure you do) then make sure you have on with a roller at the back and not the four wheeled version. A petrol mower will cost more to run but will have much more power than their electric alternative, plus you won’t have to worry about the trailing cable getting in the way whilst your mowing.
When cutting you never want to cut you lawn too short, a good tip is to never cut more that a third off the grass at one time. Doing so could allow moss and weeds to take hold. If you’ve inherited or have neglected your lawn (which happens to us all) then returning it back to your desired height is going to be a gradual process by cutting regularly and lowering the height you cut each time.
Always try and mow you’re your lawn when the grass is dry, its collects so much easier and just makes for a more pleasurable experience. However sometimes mowing when the lawn is wet is unavoidable, just be prepared for it to take you a little longer to get it done, empty the box more regularly and just take your time. I wouldn’t advice lowering the blade height when cutting wet grass, just try to keep it maintained till you have a dry day.
One tip though and this only really counts if your already cutting at your desired height and aren’t really taking to much off the height of the lawn, is to cut the grass in the morning while the grass is still damp. The Stripes you achieve will be much more dramatic and exaggerated, giving some stunning results.