How high the grass can be mowed with a lawn mower

Why and how often the lawn is cut

Usually lawns are sown with grasses of the family of cereals, and mowing prevents them from flowering and fruiting. This simple technique prolongs the growing season of plants, promotes good rooting, the growth of lateral green shoots and tillering. Regular mowing helps to compact the turf, and the densely growing “cultured” grass prevents weeds from growing and spreading. Throughout the warm period, as a result of timely mowing, the green color of the lawn remains.

high, grass, mowed, lawn, mower

There is no certainty about the frequency of mowing the lawn. This parameter depends on several objective factors:

  • type of sown vegetation;
  • type of soil and feeding;
  • weather;
  • seasonal characteristics of plant growth;
  • purpose of the lawn.

The first lawn mowing activities begin in the spring, after the grass on the planned sown lawn rises to a height of 12-14 cm. It is recommended to mow the overwintered lawn when the greenery rises to 7-10 cm. Depending on the intended purpose of the green cover, the grass is mowed to a level 4-7 cm. Subsequent mowing is recommended every time the grass is pulled up to a height of 2-3 cm above the desired level.

In summer, it is not recommended to mow the lawn too short to avoid early drying of the plants.

Basic rules for mowing a lawn

With a trimmer, mowing a lawn in a neglected state is much faster, but after completing this work, you need to collect the mowed greens with a rake.

Hence the conclusion: lawn mower owners should not allow the grass to grow too high.

Also, the question is often raised whether it is possible to mow wet grass with a gasoline lawn mower. The rules state: it is not recommended to work with a lawn mower in the rain or after watering, since such mowing does not differ in quality, and there is a risk of getting ugly stripes on soggy soil.

In addition, there are other rules that must be followed when mowing a lawn.

  • A hot summer day is not the best time to mow the grass. Fresh cuts dry out quickly, and their yellowness spoils the appearance of the lawn.
  • It is recommended to mow the lawn in the morning or in the evening in dry weather, one day after rain or watering, when the soil and grass are dry.
  • Make sure that the mower blade is sharpened. Working with blunt knives is fraught with troubles in the form of foliage jams and grass pulling out by the roots.
  • Before starting mowing, you need to use a rake to collect fallen leaves, tree branches and other debris, level out the earth mounds that are formed as a result of the vital activity of earthworms, ants and other insects.
  • You should decide on the direction of the haircut so that it is at an angle to the previous one. Otherwise, the appearance of the lawn will be associated with a washboard.
  • When clipping, you must observe the parallelism of the following and do not leave narrow stripes, paying attention to the grass under the wheels.

How to properly mow grass with a lawn mower

Arrangement of green lawns at dachas and country estates is becoming a popular pastime. At first glance, it seems that everything is simple in this matter: you have allocated a place for a green lawn, sowed the area with grass seeds and you are waiting for the field to turn into a green lawn. And only later comes the understanding of the need for proper care, and it, first of all, consists in the skillful operation of the lawn mower. It turns out that mowing the lawn is necessary not only for beauty.

Mulching function in the lawn mower

In the care of beds and lawns, various methods are used to improve soil fertility. Mulching is essential to keep lawns healthy and prevent soil erosion. Mowed grass has proven itself well as a mulch. From time to time it is recommended to mow the grass and prepare compost from it, which is used as an organic fertilizer for the lawn in winter.

On sale there are wheel units in which the mulching function is already built. With the help of this additional feature, during mowing, the lawnmower mulches grass and uncleaned fallen leaves: the process consists in chopping and carefully throwing organic matter onto the mowed part of the lawn. The advantage of such models is obvious: the lawn is cleared of plant debris, which is recycled back to the soil surface and enriches it. But the cost of a lawn mower with additional features will be higher than the usual model.

Adjusting the cutting height on the lawn mower

The lawn mower constructively involves adjusting the cutting height of the grass. The range may vary from model to model. Equipment manufacturers indicate the minimum and maximum value of this parameter in the accompanying documentation. In inexpensive models of interchangeable positions, heights are most often 3, in more expensive and advanced ones, there may be 5-7 positions of the regulator.

For the care of bumpy lawns, a model with a wider height adjustment range is usually chosen.

The technical solution for choosing the cutting height may differ for different models. There are two types of regulation: manual and mechanical. The first involves stopping the engine and manually changing the governor position. The mechanical method allows you to change the cutting height by pressing a button on the control lever, without the need to interrupt the process.

Lawn mower problems

As with any gardening equipment used in gardening tools, wheeled lawn mowing equipment requires compliance with the rules of safe use. It is possible to operate motorized equipment only in good condition. this is an unshakable requirement. And before turning on an electric or gasoline unit, you must make sure that it is intact. When carrying out work, it is necessary to observe the general safety rules and the requirements of the instructions from the manufacturer.

There are five main problems when using a lawn mower:

  • hitting an obstacle;
  • leaked oil;
  • the knives are clogged with grass;
  • the unit rakes the ground together with the grass;
  • rough cut.

All problems can be solved to one degree or another. In the first two situations, you will most likely have to seek help from specialists. And to prevent such problems, it is recommended to check the area before cutting for stones and other objects in the grass of the lawn, and also not to store the device upside down.

Young, soft and succulent grass can clog the ejection hole, and then unstable, ragged motor operation is observed. In this case, you need to periodically stop work to clean the hole from adhered grass segments using a thin sharp tool.

When the mower is powerfully picking up not only the stalks of grass, but also clods of soil, readjusting the cutting height so that the knife does not reach the soil will help correct the situation. If the unit with a normally working motor cuts the grass in uneven strips, shreds, then the problem is with the knife: either it is dull, or it is not installed quite correctly.

Referring to the manufacturer’s instructions will help clarify the correct location of the cutting tool. It is better to entrust knife sharpening to a specialist.

Remember to wear personal protective equipment when working with the mower. Check your work equipment regularly to identify defects in time and solve the problem before a serious breakdown occurs.

Major equipment malfunctions

Any equipment breaks down at the most inopportune time, and lawn care equipment is no exception. The following breakdowns most often occur in petrol mowers:

  • Defective engine. It is necessary to check the fuel in the tank, the performance of the spark plugs, the cleanliness of the filters.
  • Carburetor clogged. It is necessary to check the gasket between the carburetor and the engine, blow out the fuel hose.
  • Muffler defective. Clean anti-spark grid.
  • Damage to the gearbox. Check gears and bearings.
  • Failure of the starter. Check cord tension.
  • Air filter problems. If the braid for grass starts without a filter, then you need to change it to a new one.

Important! If you carefully monitor the brushcutter, carry out preventive examinations and replace its components, then the tool will last a very long time without any repair.

The electric grass trimmer is simpler than its gasoline relative, therefore, it has fewer problems, but it still has:

  • defective electrical cable;
  • defective electrical outlet;
  • the plug has been damaged;
  • there is a problem with the control stick;
  • burned out the stator of the engine;
  • there was a break in contact connection.

To detect the above problems, you can use an indicator screwdriver and a multimeter, and in most cases, you need a soldering iron to fix a breakdown.

If you follow the safety rules, including under no circumstances mowing damp grass with appliances powered by electricity, and refrain from mowing wet lawn with a gasoline mower, so as not to harm the plants, then the tools will last long enough.

Arrangement of green lawns at dachas and country estates is becoming a popular pastime. At first glance, it seems that everything is simple in this matter: you have allocated a place for a green lawn, sowed the area with grass seeds and you are waiting for the field to turn into a green lawn. And only later comes the understanding of the need for proper care, and it, first of all, consists in the skillful operation of the lawn mower. It turns out that mowing the lawn is necessary not only for beauty.

Why and how often the lawn is cut

Usually lawns are sown with grasses of the family of cereals, and mowing prevents them from flowering and fruiting. This simple technique prolongs the growing season of plants, promotes good rooting, the growth of lateral green shoots and tillering. Regular mowing helps to compact the turf, and the densely growing “cultured” grass prevents weeds from growing and spreading. Throughout the warm period, as a result of timely mowing, the green color of the lawn remains.

There is no certainty about the frequency of mowing the lawn. This parameter depends on several objective factors:

  • type of sown vegetation;
  • type of soil and feeding;
  • weather;
  • seasonal characteristics of plant growth;
  • purpose of the lawn.

The first lawn mowing activities begin in the spring, after the grass on the planned sown lawn rises to a height of 12-14 cm. It is recommended to mow the overwintered lawn when the greenery rises to 7-10 cm. Depending on the intended purpose of the green cover, the grass is mowed to a level 4-7 cm. Subsequent mowing is recommended every time the grass is pulled up to a height of 2-3 cm above the desired level.

In summer, it is not recommended to mow the lawn too short to avoid early drying of the plants.

grass trimmer

It is a rod with handles, a special coil and a motor, which can be electric or gasoline. The reel has a spool on which a special line is wound or a knife is put on.

Note! The electric grass trimmer simply plugs in and is ready to go. It is lightweight, handy, but its operation requires long wiring and a socket, which is not always convenient. It will be difficult to mow a large area.

  • Low-power. Comfortable, lightweight, but can’t handle tough, wet grass and weeds.
  • Powerful. They come with a lower motor and an upper one. A special blade can be fitted to cut coarser grass. Models with a lower motor do not cut wet grass.
  • Rechargeable. lightweight, mobile. The disadvantages include the fact that the battery lasts for an hour.

The petrol-powered grass trimmer is heavier than an electric mower, but differs from it in mobility. It has a forged shaft, shoulder straps and a powerful drive train. The device of the gearbox allows you to use in work not only fishing line, but also a knife and a toothed disc, which greatly improves the quality of processing the site. With a petrol mower, you can mow very impressive areas.

With a trimmer, you can mow grass in hard-to-reach places (under benches, near poles), as well as mow paths, regardless of their location.

  • do not get a flat surface;
  • when mowing for a long time, the operator will get tired.

Adjusting the cutting height on the lawn mower

The lawn mower constructively involves adjusting the cutting height of the grass. The range may vary from model to model. Equipment manufacturers indicate the minimum and maximum value of this parameter in the accompanying documentation. In inexpensive models of interchangeable positions, heights are most often 3, in more expensive and advanced ones, there may be 5-7 positions of the regulator.

For the care of bumpy lawns, a model with a wider height adjustment range is usually chosen.

The technical solution for choosing the cutting height may differ for different models. There are two types of regulation: manual and mechanical. The first involves stopping the engine and manually changing the governor position. The mechanical method allows you to change the cutting height by pressing a button on the control lever, without the need to interrupt the process.

The role of equipment

It should be pointed out at the outset that there are two main types of trimmers that “relate” differently to wet vegetation. Some devices are equipped with a gasoline engine, others are set in motion by connecting to the mains or installing a battery. In turn, electric mowers are divided into two subgroups: with the location of the motor in the lower or upper part of the machine. Safe enough for the user to remove wet grass can only be gasoline grass trimmers or hand-held grass scythes.

In this case, it is absolutely undesirable to use an electric lawn mower. Sometimes one can come across assertions that this requirement applies only to devices with a lower motor placement. Such an electric motor directly comes into contact with water. Due to this contact, you can be afraid of a short circuit.

However, do not use an overhead mower after rain.

If water does get inside the power plant, there is a risk not only of a short circuit, but also of an electric shock. It is worth noting that these restrictions apply not only to grass trimmers, but also to full-fledged lawn mowers. The assurances of manufacturers and marketers about safety should not be taken into account. To minimize the risk to yourself and your equipment, you should use a petrol cutter. But there are a few more subtleties that must be taken into account.

Even if the mower does not fail, and its owner will not be electrocuted (let’s say such a favorable situation for a minute), it is still impossible to mow wet grass with an electric trimmer. This is a deliberately abnormal mode of operation, due to which the equipment wears out too quickly. Wet vegetation is much more resistant to cutting elements than it should be. Therefore, even very well insulated motors operate with overload.

Due to the sticking of wet grass to the knives and to the spindle, the load on them will necessarily increase. This cannot be avoided, and no skill of mowers, no methods and schemes of lawn clearing help. Not only the motor suffers, but also the shaft, which sometimes turns.

Problems when mowing wet grass can also arise with gasoline-powered machines. Yes, they are more powerful than their electrical counterparts, but the load still exceeds normal values. First of all, piston pairs and other moving parts are “under attack”. If there is no way out other than using a gasoline mower, you need to take care of it. When mowing raw grass, the machine is periodically switched to idle mode without load. 30 seconds is enough to dissipate excess heat, as well as save the life of the grass trimmer.

When talking about mowing wet grass, you need to distinguish between the following possible situations:

  • it is wet after the rain;
  • It is raining;
  • the cause of moisture is a damp area (lowland or soil water).

In the first case, it is quite possible to take a chance and try to put things in order with a petrol mower. In the second, mowing is impractical. In the third, you will first have to deal with moisture and only then put the lawn or lawn in order. If you often have to mow wet grass after rain or “through dew” in a small area, then it is better to use not a grass trimmer, and not a lawn mower, but a simple hand scythe. You need to look not only at the grass that is removed, but also at the one where the power cable is placed.

Moisturizing it can be a very serious risk factor. To mow the grass after rain, you need to wait a little. A few minutes, even with a very big rush, will not noticeably reduce the time that can be allocated for mowing.

And the result may be clearly better. Mowing through dew, even with an electric lawn mower or electric trimmer, is usually allowed.

As for mowing raw grass, there are still the following objections to it:

  • It is more difficult to walk with a trimmer or lawn mower in such conditions, you can easily fall and get injured;
  • you will have to spend more time on work;
  • after mowing, it will be necessary to thoroughly clean the machine itself;
  • wet chlorophyll will leave more stains on clothes, leather, shoes.

Now you need to figure out exactly how to proceed if you still decide to use a gasoline grass trimmer to clean your lawn or lawn in wet weather. An important rule is to maintain the optimal length of the grass. By overly shortening it, especially in the summer, summer residents run the risk of provoking early drying of plants. It is unlikely that this will contribute to a good appearance.

Safety requirements are standard: you need to wear goggles and gloves, and take care of the protection of your feet.

Of course, they wear sturdy, waterproof shoes. Headphones or earplugs are used only when working with a two-stroke petrol trimmer. On a large clearing with flat grass, mowing is carried out along imaginary squares, conventionally dividing the entire territory into them. They first move along the perimeter of each square, then mow it from the inside and move on to the next part of the lawn. Regardless of the weather, before starting work, you should do the following:

  • check the serviceability of the equipment;
  • remove all debris and foreign objects from the site;
  • replace, if necessary, worn cutting elements;
  • determined with the direction of the mowing, so that the lawn does not resemble a “washboard”.

For information on how to mow wet grass with a trimmer and lawn mower, see the next video.

Increasingly, summer cottages are becoming not only a territory where you can grow fruits and vegetables, but also a place for recreation. Allocate zones on which they put gazebos with barbecue and break flower beds and lawns. To have such a lawn, not so much effort is needed: water it and cut it in time.

Is it possible to mow the grass in the rain

It is often unclear to gardeners whether it is possible to mow wet grass with an electric lawn mower. Unlike a manual grass scythe, mowing damp grass with a gasoline lawn mower is not worth it, and an electric one is not at all worth it. When working with an electric trimmer, even with a similar lawn mower, moisture can get into the electric drive or wires, a short circuit will result, and in the best case, the tool will burn out, and in the worst case, the operator will also suffer.

Basic rules for mowing a lawn

With a trimmer, mowing a lawn in a neglected state is much faster, but after completing this work, you need to collect the mowed greens with a rake.

Hence the conclusion: lawn mower owners should not allow the grass to grow too high.

Also, the question is often raised whether it is possible to mow wet grass with a gasoline lawn mower. The rules state: it is not recommended to work with a lawn mower in the rain or after watering, since such mowing does not differ in quality, and there is a risk of getting ugly stripes on soggy soil.

In addition, there are other rules that must be followed when mowing a lawn.

  • A hot summer day is not the best time to mow the grass. Fresh cuts dry out quickly, and their yellowness spoils the appearance of the lawn.
  • It is recommended to mow the lawn in the morning or in the evening in dry weather, one day after rain or watering, when the soil and grass are dry.
  • Make sure that the mower blade is sharpened. Working with blunt knives is fraught with troubles in the form of foliage jams and grass pulling out by the roots.
  • Before starting mowing, you need to use a rake to collect fallen leaves, tree branches and other debris, level out the earth mounds that are formed as a result of the vital activity of earthworms, ants and other insects.
  • You should decide on the direction of the haircut so that it is at an angle to the previous one. Otherwise, the appearance of the lawn will be associated with a washboard.
  • When clipping, you must observe the parallelism of the following and do not leave narrow stripes, paying attention to the grass under the wheels.

Features of the situation

Of course, such a question will not arise for those who live in the immediate vicinity of the lawn. Then you can wait a while and work when the grass dries up. But the need to remove wet grass arises immediately, if you can visit the site only occasionally. What to do if you have to mow the lawn on weekends, on another day with rainy weather, that’s the subtlety. The opinions of the summer residents themselves differ, so there is no particular sense in focusing on their position. You need to understand the nuances yourself.

3 Hours Of Yard Work in 7 Minutes | Mowing Very Tall Grass

How to properly mow the grass on the site and avoid mistakes

Here are a few rules to keep in mind when mowing your lawn:

  • first of all, make sure that the height is the same on both sides of the mower drum, otherwise you risk ruining the lawn;
  • clear the area of ​​stones, sticks, wire and other debris that could harm the mower;
  • sweep the surface of the lawn with a broom or rake to level the piles of earth after earthworms and raise the grass towards the blades;
  • mentally outline the direction of the haircut. adjacent stripes should be obtained at a certain angle to each other;
  • change the direction of the stripes with each mowing to perpendicular, then ribbed stripes will not turn out on the lawn;
  • the last haircut in autumn should not be done in a cold wind, otherwise the tips of the blades of grass will be frostbitten, which will negatively affect the quality of the lawn next year.

Mowing grass with a lawnmower is not as easy as it sounds. Of course, you will need to learn how to operate the mower first before you start mowing your lawn. However, in the process of work, you can accidentally make mistakes that will noticeably worsen the appearance of the lawn. The most common mistakes are:

The nuances of working with a fishing line. practice

The aspects of the work of a brushcutter for a good lawn mowing and other purposes are described. My personal experience. My pages:

If, nevertheless, there is a need to mow the grass in wet weather or in dew, then use better carburetor brushcutters and lawn mowers. It will be even safer for life and health.

Why you shouldn’t cut wet grass with a trimmer

There are also indirect reasons why it is impossible to mow grass wet from dew or rain in the garden. These include:

  • Premature wear of the grass trimmer;
  • Damage to the lawn.

How can a brushcutter be disabled by mowing wet vegetation? Everything is very simple. It is displayed as a result of a short circuit when water enters the power compartment. In addition, even if everything is very well sealed, there is a good chance that the engine will not be able to withstand the heavy load put on the flexible shaft of the grass trimmer. And the shaft itself can turn. Such loads most often arise from the sticking of wet grass on the knives and on the spindle to which they are attached.

In trimmers with a gasoline engine, mowing the grass in wet weather, due to heavy loads, increases the degree of wear of the main components and assemblies. Here you can note the premature failure of the piston pair, as well as other moving parts. Most often, the piston pair fails due to engine overheating. In our case, the motor will overheat from the load created by wet grass when mowing.

If you are mowing wet grass with a petrol trimmer, let the engine idle for 30 seconds without load to prevent overheating of the engine. In this way, you will remove excess heat and save the piston pair.

From the first to the last lawn mow

The first mowing of the lawn should not be delayed due to the fact that the sprouting blades of grass still look very weak. it is scary to trample. In fact, trampling and rolling the lawn will only benefit him, the grass from this will begin to bush more, creating a dense sod. Yes, and you will step on the already mown grass, moving the lawn mower in front of you, so this will not cause any harm to the young lawn.

Let’s figure out when to start mowing the first seedlings, how often to mow during the season, and when is the last time to mow the lawn? Also from the article you will learn how to mow correctly in order to avoid common problems that beginners often face.

How do you know when it’s time to mow your lawn for the first time? Usually the first lawn mow is in mid-May. Look at how much the blades of grass have grown: if they have stretched up to 10 cm, then there is nowhere to put it further. Try to choose dry weather so that the grass is not wet (the mower will clog up), but the ground should remain slightly damp. Plants will uproot from dry soil, and it is not recommended to mow on wet soil because the lawn mower will damage the surface of the lawn when moving.

Before mowing the grass for the first time, make sure the mower blades are perfectly sharp so that weak blades of grass are not pulled out of the ground by the mower. You will only need to cut the very tops of the plants, so set the knives to their maximum height immediately.

Before mowing the grass for the first time, make sure the mower blades are perfectly sharp.

Cutting the WORST Lawn on Youtube

In the future, mowing the grass should be carried out at least once a week in warm, humid weather, and on cold or dry days, it will be enough to mow the lawn once every two weeks. Focus, first of all, on the height of the grass: the lawn looks neat at a height of five centimeters, if the grass has grown two centimeters higher, then it’s time to mow it. It is advisable to keep your lawn at about the same height throughout the season, but cutting your lawn too short is not recommended during the summer months as the plants can dry out quickly.

The last mowing of the lawn should be carried out before frost, too high or low grass will not overwinter well. Look according to the circumstances. perhaps the last time you cut the grass in mid-September, and in the case of a warm autumn, you may need to trim again in October.

The lawn looks ribbed

If, when mowing, narrow stripes of long and short grass appear perpendicular to the movement of the mower, this means that the blades in the cylindrical mower rotate very slowly. The reason for resistance to knives can be dew on the blades of grass (therefore, the lawn must be swept before mowing), too low or too high cutting height.

The tips of the grass turn brown after shearing

This effect can be caused by blunt blades near the rotary mower (blades of grass are jammed, not cut off), damage to the bottom plate of the cylindrical plate or its incorrect adjustment. Also, the grass can turn brown if it was wet during mowing.

Is it possible to mow wet grass with an electric lawn mower: disclosing the question

Arrangement of green lawns at dachas and country estates is becoming a popular pastime. At first glance, it seems that everything is simple in this matter: you have allocated a place for a green lawn, sowed the area with grass seeds and you are waiting for the field to turn into a green lawn. And only later comes the understanding of the need for proper care, and it, first of all, consists in the skillful operation of the lawn mower. It turns out that mowing the lawn is necessary not only for beauty.

Care of the mowed lawn

The question arises: what to do with the cut grass. leave it on the lawn or clean it up? On the one hand, cut plants can serve as an excellent fertilizer for the lawn, the nutrients from them will return back to the soil, the spread of moss will stop, and you will not have to spend time cleaning the grass from the lawn.

However, there is a downside to the coin: the mown grass will lead to the rapid appearance of weeds, the reproduction of earthworms, the surface of the lawn will acquire a porous structure and will be more susceptible to diseases, and the airing of the soil will deteriorate. Thus, it is better to remove the cut grass after cutting, it is recommended to leave it only in dry weather, so that the necessary moisture evaporates less from the lawn.

Lawn mowing should be regular, then the plants will take a dwarf form

As for watering and feeding. they are necessary for the formation of a thick, high-quality cover, even if you have to mow the lawn more often due to the rapid growth of grass. It’s better to mow the grass more often and end up with a beautiful green surface without bald spots.

How TALL should you MOW your LAWN? Perfect Height?

Mowing the lawn should be regular, then the plants will take a dwarf form and, instead of increasing the leaf mass, they will form more and more shoots, creating a dense turf. If you cut rarely and immediately shortly, the grass will weaken and begin to fall out, and in its place separate islands are formed, overgrown with weeds, yarrow, moss or bluegrass.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CUT

The mowing frequency is even more specific to each lawn than the mowing height. It is determined by the type of sown grasses and their condition, type of soil, plant nutrition, weather conditions and season. The most reliable reference point in this case is the height of the grass cover.

The very first lawn mowing is carried out when the plants reach a height of 12.14 cm.Despite the fact that young blades of grass look delicate and weak, they are already strong enough for mowing, which will only benefit the lawn.

The first seasonal spring mowing should be carried out when the grass grows to a height of 7.10 cm. Depending on the weather, this can happen in late April or mid-May. The cutting height in this case should be slightly higher than the norm for this type of lawn.

In the future, it is necessary to mow the lawn every time, as soon as the length of the plants starts at 1.5. 2 cm higher than the specified height. In the spring, during the period of active growth, it will be once or even twice a week. In summer, the frequency of mowing is reduced to once every 7.10 days. And if it is hot and dry, then the interval can increase to two weeks or more.

During the heat, it is also recommended to cut from the top without collecting short pieces of grass, which, evenly distributed over the area, act as mulch, preventing moisture from evaporating from the soil and fertilizing growing plants. With the onset of autumn coolness, it will be possible to mow the grass on average once every two weeks.

In the fall, as a preparation of the lawn for winter, it is imperative to carry out a final mowing. To do this, two weeks before the onset of the first frost, a calm, warm day is chosen (the tips froze in the cold wind). After mowing, the cut grass is harvested. The cutting height in this case is 1. 2 cm higher than usual.

Ignoring the pre-winter mowing leads to the fact that after freezing, tall grass lies on the ground and in the spring interferes with the germination of young shoots. In addition, in wet and cold weather, such a lawn becomes vulnerable to a number of diseases, in particular, to damage by snow mold.

CUTTING THE LAWN: WHY, AT WHAT HEIGHT, WHEN and HOW

Recently, lawn cultivation has become quite popular among owners of personal plots and summer cottages. However, in order for the lawn grass to turn into a beautiful thick emerald carpet, it is not enough just to sow the area with a specific mixture of seeds. A lawn, unlike a natural meadow, requires constant careful maintenance.

One of the most important procedures for such care is the regular mowing of the growing grass. In this case, you should adhere to certain rules regarding the beginning, frequency and end of seasonal cutting, the height of the grass cut and the mowing process itself. Although caring for a backyard lawn does not require deep special knowledge, beginners often make fairly standard mistakes that are easy to avoid.

WHY REGULARLY CUT THE LAWN

Of course, the lawn is cut for aesthetic reasons. how else to give the grassy riot the appearance of a neat soft green carpet. However, this is only one of the reasons and it does not explain the requirements for regular haircuts.

The fact is that most varieties of grasses sown on lawns originally grew on wild pastures. Therefore, to a haircut, which is perceived as being eaten by animals, they react with the active growth of lateral shoots, tillering and compaction of the sod.

That is, it is with a regular haircut that a thick grass cover is obtained. In addition, the formation of dense turf suppresses the growth of weeds.

TO WHAT HEIGHT TO CUT THE GRASS

Although permanent removal of foliage is not critical for lawn grasses, and mowing is not life-threatening, it should be remembered that it can be quite stressful. Cutting points become “gates” for diseases, through them the grass intensively loses moisture. Therefore, in order for the plants to recover quickly and painlessly, they should not be shortened by more than 1/3 of their length at a time, and after mowing, water and feed abundantly.

If the grass is cut irregularly and too low, it will quickly weaken and weeds and mosses will appear on the lawn. If the plants are not cut low enough, lateral shoots will not actively form and the grass cover will turn out to be sparse and heterogeneous. In addition, the lower part of the leaves and stems will turn pale due to lack of sunlight and the lawn will also become spotty.

The optimal height of the grass cover depends on the purpose of the grown lawn, its condition at the time of mowing and age.

The legendary English parterre lawn at home has a grass height of only 1.2 cm. However, in our climatic conditions, mowing to such a height will lead to the formation of a hard grass cover and drying out. For our parterre lawns, we can use the so-called European style with a grass height of 3.4 cm.

A decorative garden and park lawn is mowed to a plant height of 4.7 cm.If the lawn is functional (it is also used for games, barbecues / barbecues, sunbathing, etc.), then the grass should be left on it with a height of 4.6 cm.

Sports lawns for football, field hockey or rugby are sown with trample-resistant grasses and mowed to a height of 3.4 cm. Golf course lawns are sown with different grass mixes and cut at different heights, depending on the location. They are served by experienced experts in their field.

In summer, when the weather is dry and hot, the cutting height of the grass should be slightly increased. This increases soil shading and reduces soil drying out.

The height of the first mowing of a young lawn should not be lower than 8.10 cm.Further, within two years, the grass on functional and decorative garden and park lawns is mowed up to 5.7 cm, and on parterre. up to 4.5 cm.

If, for some reason, the grass cover on the lawn has reached a height that is significantly higher than the norm, it should not be brought up to the scheduled one in one step. As mentioned above, no more than 1/3 of the plant’s length can be removed at a time. That is, it will take several haircuts to tidy up the lawn.

HOW TO CUT THE LAWN

When choosing the time to mow your lawn, be sure to take into account the weather. If it is rainy and damp on this day, then the plants and soil will be wet and mowing with a lawn mower in such conditions is rather uncomfortable (cut grass sticks to the body and knives.As a result, the power of electric and gasoline units drops and the engine heats up, and when working with a mechanical mower will have to exert a lot of physical strength).

In addition, there is a high likelihood of spoiling the surface of the lawn with sticky wheels / roller, and wet grass is cut unevenly and is more damaged. The lawn after such mowing will look rather untidy.

In the sun, in the heat, fresh grass cuts dry out very quickly and turn yellow, which does not at all decorate the lawn after such a mow. In dry soil, it is also possible to pull out plants together with the root.

It is optimal to mow dry grass in dry weather and with slightly damp soil. That is, ideally, mowing the lawn should be in the morning or evening of a warm, slightly cloudy day.

Lawn mower blades must be well sharpened. Otherwise, the lawn will turn whitish after mowing. If you make the first mowing of a young lawn with blunt knives, you can pick up the grass by the root. Unsharpened rotary lawn mower blades will not so much mow as they will mince the grass, which will lead to the brown tips of the plants after mowing.

Before you start mowing directly, you must remove all unnecessary things from the lawn: garden furniture, children’s toys, sticks and branches, stones, pieces of wire and other objects that can interfere with work or damage the mower.

Then walk with a rake or a hard broom, leveling the earth mounds left by earthworms, bees or ants and removing fallen leaves.

The lawn mower should mow the grass in parallel strips one by one. At the same time, you should pay attention to two nuances. the general direction of these strips and the grass under the mower wheels. If you do not take into account the latter, then after the haircut, narrow stripes will remain. But constant mowing in the same direction will result in a washboard effect. the appearance of waviness along the stripes.

To prevent this from happening, each next mowing should be carried out at a certain angle to the previous one. For example, a rectangular lawn mowed lengthwise is mowed sideways next time.

In the event that the lawn is sown on an incline, it should be cut at an angle to the direction of the slope.

After the lawnmower has mowed the main part of the lawn, the edges adjacent to the garden path or flower beds should be trimmed using a garden grass trimmer or scissors.

If the mowing was carried out with a lawnmower without a grass catcher, then the mowed grass should be removed as a final step. Leave it only when the mowing was on mulch.

On some lawns, you can see a pattern formed by alternating green stripes of lighter and darker shades. Such lawns are considered to be elite and expensive. However, this is by no means the case. in fact, it is not at all difficult to make a geometric pattern when cutting a haircut. How exactly. read more in this article.