How I Got Flawless Stripes in My Lawn (2023). Lawn striping push mower

How I Got Flawless Stripes in My Lawn (2023)

Lawn stripes: more elusive than Bigfoot. I want them. You want them. Everybody who takes pride in their lawn wants them. I’m going to show you how Lawn Striping your yard is not only possible, but likely easier than you think.

I know the Bible says to never envy your neighbor’s house, but they didn’t have grass in that region of the world at that point, so I doubt that applied here (Lord, forgive me for these awful jokes). Those gorgeous contrasting shades of light and dark green that throws me into an envious rage each time I pass ole Jeff’s house at the corner of my street. Clean and professional.

What if I were to tell you it’s not as hard as it looks? I can’t promise your front yard will look like Fenway park in the middle of June, but I can provide you some easy tips to help accentuate those lines and make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

Lawn striping Basics

There are 2 main drivers behind the appearance of lawn stripes – light and direction the grass is laying. When your grass is laying towards you, you see the dark pattern, and the light pattern comes when the grass is laying in the opposite direction of you. It’s actually pretty simple if you think about it. You mow one direction, and the grass lays down in the direction that you are moving the mower. Go back the other way, and you’ve got your contrast.

Achieving the basic lawn stripe pattern is easy. All you have to is mow in opposite directions. Below I’ve provided some simple steps that can help bring those lawn stripes to the next level.

First thing’s first – Types of Grass

The type of grass that brings out the best contrast between stripes in your lawn is a hotly debated topic. The experts at NASA have concluded that cool-season grass accentuates the lawn stripes the best. What the heck is a cool-season grass? Your fescues, bluegrass, and ryes to name a few. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia have stronger and stiffer blades that stand up more quickly, causing that initial striping that you see after mowing to fade away quickly. One obvious rule of thumb: the flimsier the blade of grass, the more profound the lawn stripes.

This isn’t to say that you can’t get stripes out of warm-season grasses like Bermuda or Zoysia, its just a little bit tougher and short-lived.

Sharpen those puppies!

A common problem we see in lawns is the light haze that can occur a couple days after mowing, causing those stripes to fade more quickly. This is caused by the tear on the grass from the previous mow, and the edge of the blades of grass looking jagged, rather than cleanly sliced. Best way to avoid this common peril is to sharper your mower blades at least 3 times a year. Good rule of thumb for when to sharpen each mowing season? Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

Water Helps

One additional hack to help bring out the stripes in your lawn – water directly after you mow. The droplets weight down the grass blades and help emphasize the difference between light and dark in your lawn. The water dies, and the blades stay in their position. Might sound pretty trivial, but it has made a huge difference in my lawn. It’s an easy task that you need to do anyways, so why not knock out 2 birds with one stone?

Ditch the Bagger

The biggest misconception I hear about when it comes to lawn stripes – bag the excess clippings to increase the appearance of lawn stripes. This has very little to no affect on the appearance of your lawn and deprives it of valuable nutrients that come from the mulching process. The excess clippings break down and create a thatch layer rich in potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus to name a few. Natural fertilizer!!

The only time it makes sense to use a bagger is if you’ve let your grass grow too high. I know, it happens to the best of us. If you start off without the bagger and are seeing big lumps of grass clippings laying on the surface, then it might be best to use the bag for that one time. But constant bagging, week after week, deprives your lawn of rich nutrients and natural fertilizer that your lawn needs. And its free!!

Best Striping Kits for Push Mowers (2023)

So you’ve tried sharpening your blades, watering after mowing, ditching the bagger, and hey, you’re seeing a lot of success. Your neighbors are starting to notice, you can feel it. You want more. Look no further. You need a striping kit. A striping kit is basically a roller that latches onto the back of your mower, that helps push those blades of grass down even further. This is what the major ballparks and sports arena’s use that basically make your lawn look as if it’s been painted in 2 shades of green.

Below, I’ve highlighted some of the best striping kits on the market for the most popular mowers out there. Most of these kits are after-market, and are not produced by the mower manufacturer. Why is that? Because they’re scared to get into the game.

Toro lawn mower striping kit

One of our favorite mower manufacturers, and one of the most popular brands in the market, is Toro. If you’re a fan of TLR, you’ve probably seen our Toro Recycler 22” or Toro TimeMaster 30” reviews. Toro is one of few mower manufacturers who actually sell a string kit that can be easily installed onto your mower. Below I’m listing out some links that can help bring your lawn striping skills to the next level on your Toro walk-behinds.

Big League Lawns:

Unfortunately, most of our favorite mower manufacturers don’t yet offer any lawn striping kits or rollers for their mower products. But do not fret, secondary manufacturers have picked up the slack and provided some great aftermarket alternatives that get the job done. Our favorite? The CheckMate from Big League Lawns. They make striping kits that easily attach to the most popular mowers on the market. Each one of the CheckMate lawn striping kit’s costs around 110 plus shipping, which in my opinion, is well worth it.

How to make your own lawn striping kit

I haven’t given this a go yet, but I understand the there are some awesome step-by-step guides out there if you’re looking to go the DIY route to achieve those beautiful lawn stripes. If you’re anything like me, you’d like to try out a home-made version before splurging on a 100 striping kit.

Final Thoughts on Lawn Striping

If you’re looking to take your lawn to the next level – lawn striping is the how you can do that. Whether you build your own, or plan to buy from one of the manufacturers I laid out above, it can make a huge difference in the appearance of your lawn and the contrast between stripes.

Start with the easy stuff like sharpening your blades or watering after each mow. If you’re wanting those beautiful candy-cane stripes like you see on the diamond – a striping kit might be your best bet. Take charge of your lawn and get creative with your lawn stripes!

How To Stripe a Lawn, According to a Stadium Groundskeeper

David Madison/Getty Images

Stripe a lawn like a pro. Create your own field of dreams and make a big-league impression with these professional lawn-striping tips. Play ball!

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A perfectly striped baseball field holds promise. The first glimpse of a bright green field beneath a blue sky on Opening Day is magical. That memory carries fans and players through the season’s slumps, streaks and everything in between.

Professional groundskeepers keep that magic alive all season, and it’s a lot of work. We asked Marcus Campbell, director of field operations with baseball’s Class AAA St. Paul Saints, how his crew keeps its award-winning home field in top shape.

“Two of us are here from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on game days,” says Campbell. Four work during the day to take care of all the sod that needs attention, and six more come in for games to handle the tarp during the rain delays. Also, they mow.

What if fans wanted to recreate the look of a professionally-striped baseball field in their front or back yard? Could they do it?

EGO 21″ Striper kit install / kinda review! End of winter Lawn stripes are fireeeeeeee ������

“Absolutely,” says Campbell. Striping a lawn is no different than striping a baseball field, he says. You just need a mower and a way to flatten the grass blades.

Equipment Needed To Create Lawn Stripes

You can stripe a lawn with your regular mower. But for a big-league look, get or make a striping kit.

Striping kits or lawn rollers attach to your mower behind the cutting blades, flattening the grass after it’s cut. Each pass of the mower and roller bends the grass in the opposite direction from the grass in the pass next to it.

“Striping is visible because sunlight hits the grass blades at different angles,” says Campbell. With each pass of the mower, you’re bending the grass blades toward or away from the light source.

Looking to stripe on the cheap? DIY a striping kit with stuff you have in your garage. Try a 2×4, weighted piece of pipe, even an old rubber mat — anything that can flatten grass and be safely attached behind your mower is a potential striping kit. Just be careful on the turns so you don’t run over any DIY attachments.

How To Stripe a Lawn

Start with grass that’s pretty long (three to four inches). Don’t cut off more than a one-third of the length.

“Longer, cool-season grasses like fescue work better than short, warm-season grass like Bermuda,” says Campbell. Bermuda just doesn’t bend as well. “That’s why you don’t see dramatic striping in Southern ball fields,” he says.

Also, cut grass when it’s dry. It’s better for grass health, says Campbell. Cutting wet grass promotes fungal disease, and it’s harder to get an even cut when water weighs down the grass blades.

Follow these steps to make stripes like the pros:

• Decide where you want to start. Making your first pass next to a driveway or sidewalk gives you a nice straight line to follow for subsequent passes. Or make a run around the perimeter of your yard and go parallel to either side. Starting in a corner and making diagonal lines is an option, too.
• Make your first parallel pass, looking out in front of you to follow the previous stripe. At the end of the row, turn toward your next pass, lift up the front wheels and turn. Bring down the mower right next to the previous pass. If you can run up on a sidewalk to turn, even better.
• Mow around obstacles like trees and flowerbeds by turning into the un-mowed lawn, never back into your already-cut and striped side. Meet up with the previous pass on the other side of the obstacle and continue.
• Continue making parallel passes until you’ve finished the lawn.
• Go around the perimeter to cover any turn marks, if desired.
• Change up the direction every week or two so your whole lawn gets some sunshine and fresh air.

Beyond Stripes

Once you’ve mastered parallel lines, mix it up a bit. Create a checkerboard by striping your lawn again at a 90-degree angle to the first stripes. Or create a diagonal effect with a 45-degree offset. Circles could be in your future as well — start in the middle and work outward for those.

If you really want the best stripes on your block, use a reel mower, says Campbell. That’s what the pros use to get those well-defined ballpark stripes.

“Reel mowers, like the ones from the 1940s with the rotating blades, make the best stripes,” says Campbell, who uses a power reel mower at CHS Field. Well-maintained reels are extremely sharp and cut the grass like scissors. Rotary mowers, by contrast, forcefully rip the grass, dulling the effect of the sunlight on the blades.

As for his lawn? Does a professional groundskeeper stripe his lawn at home?

Lawn Striping With YOUR PUSH MOWER

“Nope,” Campbell says. “This stadium is my home.”

How to Stripe Your Lawn Like a Pro

You keep your lawn healthy and well-manicured but you can take it to the next level by mowing stripes into your yard. If you want your grass to have the professionally trimmed look of a baseball field or golf course, follow the steps below and make your lawn the envy of the block.

Step 1: Mow Right

Mowing your yard correctly is the first step to a great-looking lawn. Even if you feel you’re handy with a lawn mower, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on your skills. Always set your mower’s blade to the correct height for your type of grass. If you’re not sure, set the blade so that you don’t cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blades’ height. Grass that is too short makes your lawn susceptible to crabgrass and damage from the sun. Cutting the grass at this height also makes it easier to bend the grass over to create the stripe effect.

Routinely use a scraper to remove any built-up dirt and grass clippings on the underside of the mower. Rinse the underside with a garden hose. Also, check the mower blade. If the blade needs sharpening, use a heavy file to remove dull edges. You will probably only have to sharpen the blade once a year, either at the beginning or end of the mowing season.

Safety Alert!

Pick up debris that could be thrown from under the mower and cause damage or injury, such as rocks, sticks, trash, etc.

You want to push your mower in parallel rows. Using a sidewalk, driveway or other non-grass surface as a guide and a starting point, begin mowing parallel to the surface and work your way across the lawn, turning at each end and mowing alongside the row you just made.

Helpful Tip

To ensure you don’t miss any grass, keep your mower’s wheel just inside the previously cut row.

Use a grass bag or catcher with your mower. This leaves your lawn looking clean and neat. Remember not to let the bag become too full. When this happens, grass begins to clump and these clumps fall out from underneath the mower and leave your lawn looking messy. Empty the grass catcher when you notice that it’s almost full.

Helpful Tips

Clumps and grass clippings can be spread across the yard with a general purpose rake so that your lawn isn’t messy looking. It is also good for the grass, as the clippings act like mulch.

Generally speaking, you should cut your grass once a week for appearance and good grass health.

Step 2: Know Your Grass

The striping effect is created by light reflecting off of grass blades. Stripes look dark when they are bent towards you, while lighter stripes are created by the effect of blades bent in the opposite direction. The degree with which your lawn can be striped to look like a baseball field depends on whether, and how much, your grass blades can bend and remain bent. Cool-season grasses work best to accentuate the striped effect. These include fescues, ryes, bentgrass and bluegrass to name just a handful. Warm season grasses like Bermuda, carpetgrass, St. Augustine grass or zoysia don’t stay bent over as long because the blades are usually stiffer and tougher.

Helpful Tip

Water the grass after mowing to make stripes stand out even more.

Step 3: Choose a Pattern

Before cutting and/or rolling, chose a pattern that works best for you and your yard. Creating parallel stripes is simple and probably the most common striping effect. Other potential patterns include gently curving stripes that create a wave effect, which is good for matching with curved hardscapes. You can also cut/roll in circles around circular landscaping features for a dramatic effect. A more complex pattern is a checkered or chessboard pattern common on some baseball fields.

Step 4: Use a Lawn Roller

While mowing naturally creates stripes, the effect doesn’t last long. A lawn roller accentuates the striping and helps it last longer between mowing. There are manual push lawn rollers for after mowing and also tow-behind rollers that you can attach to your riding or push mower while you are cutting. Some striping “systems” will require some installation, as you have to attach it to your mower. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

For simple straight stripe patterns, push the roller or mow in parallel lines like you would normally. The roller pushes down the grass in the direction in which you are mowing, creating the striped pattern. Be sure you “roll” the same direction that you mowed.

Wave-pattern stripes can be created by first cutting/rolling adjacent to a curved hardscape feature such as a flowerbed. This will give you a shape to start with and apply across the yard. After making the first pass, simply turn and go back the opposite direction as you would with straight parallel lines but follow the wave shape of the first pass.

Circular stripes can be created in a similar fashion. Start cutting/rolling by first making a pass directly around a circular hardscape feature. After cutting/rolling a full circle, push the mower/roller outside of the circle, turn it around and mow/roll the opposite direction in another full circle. Repeat this until you’ve cut/rolled all the grass in this pattern.

For a checkerboard pattern, start by first cutting the outside perimeter of the space. Then cut/roll in parallel diagonal lines across the yard until you’ve mowed/rolled the entire space. Next, crisscross over those lines, cutting/rolling in parallel diagonal lines to create the distinctive checkerboard pattern.

Helpful Tip

Use a reel mower. The experts who stripe baseball fields make reel mowers one of their tools of choice to create the designs you see at the ball park.

That’s it! Your lawn should look like it’s regularly maintained by pros.

Project Shopping List

Here’s what you’ll need to complete this project successfully.

How to Stripe Your Lawn

A perfectly striped lawn is the goal of every lawn aficionado. Whether you want your lawn to look like a professional sports field or only want to alter your mowing patterns once in a while, lawn striping is within your reach. Batter up, and let’s get striping.

What is lawn striping?

Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ve probably seen striped patterns on golf courses, outfields, or even on the lawn next door. So, what is lawn striping? Lawn striping is simply bending the blades of grass in one direction as you mow. The grass blades that are bent toward you appear darker; the grass blades that are bent away from you appear lighter.

Why should I stripe my lawn?

Lawn care is a necessary part of home ownership. Why not use the time you already spend mowing to make your lawn that much more beautiful? In short, there is no reason you should stripe your lawn other than for aesthetics, with one exception. Even if you don’t care about mowing stripes into your lawn, it is a good idea to vary your mowing pattern every few weeks. If you stripe your lawn, you should be doing this anyway.

How to stripe a lawn in 4 easy steps

OK, sports fans. Are you ready for the big leagues? Let’s get striping!

Step 1: Get your gear

If you have cool-season grass, you’ve got it easy. The rear skirt on your mower is sufficient to stripe cool-season lawns.

If you have warm-season grass, plan to up your game. Warm-season grasses bend better with a lawn striper (also called a striping kit). The rear skirt on your mower isn’t sufficient. Buy a kit online or in-store, fill it with sand, and attach it to your mower.

Step 2: Choose a pattern

What pattern do you want to mow into your lawn? If you’re new to this skill, start with simple stripes the first week. The following week, try mowing perpendicular to last week’s stripes to make a checkerboard pattern. In the third week, try a diagonal, and so on.

Don’t expect to mow a pristine lawn on your first try. It will take practice to gain this skill.

Step 3: Know your line of sight

Where will you most often view your lawn? Plan your design to run parallel to this vantage point for the eye-catching results you want. A design that runs perpendicular to your most common line of sight won’t be as noticeable.

Step 4: Start mowing

Once you’ve chosen your pattern and line of sight, you’re ready to mow.

• Mow around the perimeter (striper attachment optional).
• Start mowing along a straight surface if you’re a novice. Following a curb, driveway, or walkway will help make your first stripe a straight one.
• Turn the mower around and mow in the opposite direction. Tip: Make your turns in the perimeter area to avoid bending your striped grass in the wrong direction.
• Repeat until the entire lawn is complete.
• Once you’ve finished mowing, mow along the perimeter again (optional) to get rid of any turn marks.
• Alternate your pattern weekly or every other week, as we’ve discussed. You don’t want the blades to be permanently trained in one direction only. Even if you don’t stripe your lawn, alternate your mowing patterns to prevent ruts and soil compaction.
• Got a riding mower? Not a problem. If it doesn’t come with a striping kit, you can build or purchase one.
• A sharp mower blade will give your lawn a clean, sharp-looking cut without any tears.

Which grass types are best for lawn stripes?

If you live in the northern part of the country, you probably have cool-season grass. Many lawns in the northern Transition Zone also have cool-season grass. These grass blades bend more easily and produce a better striping effect. Since the blades are more malleable than most warm-season grasses, you can get good striping results with the rear skirt of a regular push mower.

Warm-season grasses have stiffer blades and require more heft to get that professional look you’re after. You’ll want to buy a professional striping kit (or build your own) and attach it to the back of your mower to get a good result.

If you’re not sure which type of grass you have, check out this handy map. Below is also a list of common grass types in each region. Note: Both cool- and warm-season grasses grow in the Transition Zone.

A healthy lawn stripes best

We’ll be honest: Not all lawns will achieve that optimal, professionally done look. Why not? Here are a few reasons:

Height: A shorter lawn won’t stripe as well as a longer one. A taller mowing height (the high side of your lawn’s recommended range) means the blades won’t be as stiff and will have more surface area to bend.

Grass Name	Grass Type	Suggested Height
Fine fescues	Cool Season	2.5-3 inches
Kentucky bluegrass	Cool Season	2.5-3.5 inches
Perennial ryegrass	Cool Season	1.5-2.5 inches
Tall Fescue	Cool Season	3-4 inches
Bahia	Warm Season	3-4 inches
Common bermuda	Warm Season	1-2 inches
Centipede	Warm Season	1-2 inches
Hybrid bermuda	Warm Season	1-1 ½ inches
St. Augustine	Warm Season	2-3 inches
Zoysia	Warm Season	1-2 inches

Fine fescues that grow in shaded lawns can be mowed up to 1 inch taller than the recommended range. Greater surface area helps shaded grasses make more food.

Finally, don’t forget about seasonal differences. Consider raising the height of your grass one-half inch during the hot, summer months.

Density: A thicker lawn yields better stripes than a thinner one. A thick, carpet-like lawn is key if you want your lawn stripes to look professional.

Type of grass: As we’ve mentioned already, cool-season grasses stripe better (and with fewer tools) than warm-season ones.

If your lawn isn’t quite on par, we’re here to help. Browse through these articles to help get your lawn fuller and more lush.

Popular lawn striping patterns

If you want to stripe your lawn, your imagination is your only limit. Pros advise starting small. For your first mow, master mowing in a straight line. Once you’ve got that down, try a checkerboard pattern, and so on. Here are a few popular patterns to get your creative juices flowing.

Straight patterns are the easiest to master, so start there. Once you graduate to bulls-eyes, waves, and zig-zags, you’re officially in the major leagues.

FAQ about striping your lawn

How can I fix a mistake?

If you go off-course while you’re mowing, don’t sweat it. Let’s say you veer right into the lane you’ve just completed while you’re trying to swat a mosquito. Re-cut the previous row and your current row to fix the mistake.

Will my lawn look like a professional sports turf when I’m done?

Your lawn will look a little different from a baseball field or other professional turf for one simple reason: It will be taller. Professional groundskeepers mow sports turf very short — as short as one-eighth of an inch on putting greens. As we mentioned earlier, a taller mow will leave you with a more noticeable striping effect in your home lawn.

How do I stripe my lawn around an obstacle?

Let’s say you want your stripes to remain in a straight line across the driveway or on both sides of a swing set. Keep your eye straight ahead as you mow, about 10 feet in front of you. This will help you to maintain a straight line as you go across the obstacle and resume mowing on the other side.

If you suffer from a serious case of ballpark envy, contact one of our local lawn care pros. They know just how to fertilize, mow, and stripe the lawn to make it ready for the big leagues.