Rotary mower striping kit. How to Create Stripes in Your Lawn

Lawn Striping Mowing Patterns Like a Pro

Lawn striping is a simple mowing technique that leaves your yard looking professionally manicured. Stripes are a nice touch and enhance the aesthetic appearance of sports turf, golf courses and home lawns. Striping methods can be used to mow creative designs into lawns – simple checkerboard and diamond patterns can have dramatic effects and more complex patterns will create buzz around the neighborhood.

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Stripes are a visual effect caused by laying (or bending) grass leaf blades over as you mow in opposite directions. Reflecting sunlight gives the appearance of alternating light and dark green stripes. The grass blades that are bent in the direction you are mowing will appear as light green stripes and the blades bent toward you will appear to be a darker shade of green. Lawn stripes are not created by using special fertilizer techniques, cutting at different heights, painting different colors of green or using different grass species.

Any mower can create a stripe, the tires and deck will bend grass in the direction it travels – some machines stripe better than others. The best stripes are created with mowers that are equipped with rollers or a striping kit. Mower stripes created without a roller are less defined, won’t last as long and will not be uniform – the tire tracks usually stand out

Lawn Rollers and Striping Kits

Reel mowers – like the ones used on golf courses and baseball fields – cut short turf the cleanest and produce the best stripes. They are equipped with two sets of rollers – one in front of the cutting blades and one behind. The rollers are used to set the cutting height, groom the turf for cutting and then bend the grass in the direction the mower is traveling.

A few commercial and residential rotary mowers are outfitted with rollers, chains or rubber flaps for striping. Several mower manufacturers are offering lawn striping kits as an aftermarket add-on.

Baseball field – mowing patterns using a reel mower equipped with a roller.

Walk behind reel mowers have a large rear drive roller that make nice stripes. Keep your lines straight!

Diamond pattern mowed without a lawn striping kit. A roller would have better defined the stripes. Notice how the tire marks show.

If you are in the market for a good striping rotary mower – look for one equipped with a floating deck and a single roller that covers the length of the cutting deck.

Companies like Big League Lawns and Lawn Stryper specialize in striping kits for both commercial and residential units. Toro also has a neat lawn striping kit that will fit most 21″ walk-behind mowers. This video by Big League Lawns shows examples of patterns that can be made with their CheckMateTM lawn striping kit.

Tip: when ordering a roller – or designing a homemade striper – it should only be as long as the distance between the two rear drive wheels. The two rear wheels will bend the grass just like a roller, so it only has to cover the distance between the rear wheels with a little overlap. If the roller is wider than the rear wheels you will have trouble mowing around obstacles. For example, a 36″ cutting deck only needs a roller that is 30″ wide.

Ideas for Homemade Lawn Striping Kits

Anything that can be mounted behind the mower deck that bends the grass can be used to stripe lawns.

• Use a 3″ PVC pipe filled with sand or concrete and a threaded rod.
• Boat trailer rollers and a threaded rod (just like the Big League Lawn kit).
• Tractor trailer mud flaps attached to rear of cutting deck.
• Chain cut into short lengths that drag on the ground.

Keys to Mowing Patterns Like a Pro

Factors affecting how a stripe looks:

• The type of grass
• Condition of lawn
• Type of mower
• Mower operator skills
• Cutting frequency
• Lawn mower blades
• Angle of the sun

Grass-Types: Cool-season grasses – Kentucky bluegrass, fescues and perennial ryegrass – will stripe much better than warm-season grasses. Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass stripe the best. Most warm-season grasses will not stripe very well or not at all. It is possible to stripe some warm-season grasses with extra effort. Bermudagrass overseeded with perennial ryegrass will stripe nicely. Zoysia and bermuda should be mowed every couple of days to get and keep a good stripe – often you have to ‘burn’ the stripes in by mowing in the same direction several times and this is not so good for the lawn – it tends to make wheel ruts and create soil compaction.

Mow in straight lines. The real key to good stripes and making patterns is mowing in straight lines. The first pass is the most important – it serves as a guide for the following passes. Small curves will get bigger as you continue to mow so straighten crooked lines right away by re-mowing. Start by picking the longest distance for your first pass or splitting the lawn right down the middle.

Tip: When mowing long distances – pick a landmark straight ahead of you and FOCUS on it. You will tend to veer in the direction you are looking so keep your head up and look forward.

The dark stripe is the direction you just mowed and the light stripe is the direction you are mowing.

Stripes show best on a thick, green lawn!

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Practice good lawn maintenance and your stripe patterns will stand out. Healthy lush lawns with a dark green color will produce stripes that really show.

Cut high and follow good mowing practices – longer grass has more leaf area to lay down – reflecting more light – and will produce better stripes. I have seen pictures of St. Augustine grass – a warm-season species – cut at 4″ that is striped nicely. The stripes would not show on a St. Augustine lawn that is cut shorter.

The direction the sun hits the lawn can be a factor. At certain times of day your stripes will show up better – sometimes the angle of the sun makes them invisible. The place you are viewing the lawn from will also determine how well they show. Consider light direction and viewing points when making your patterns – this usually requires a little trial and error.

Avoid excessive wear and tire damage when making turns – try to make slow, wide turns – sharp, hard turns will damage your lawn. Tight 180 ° turns can rip and bruise the grass blades and cause compaction or excessive tire wear. Try to “draw a light bulb” – start your turn away from the next pass and then make a wide, sweeping turn that finishes in line with your next pass – or make a 3-point “Y” turn. Your cleanup laps will erase the turn around marks on the edges of the lawn. If possible, make your turns off of the lawn – on a sidewalk or driveway.

‘High-Lift’ mower blades for rotary mowers also help. They create suction (or a vacuum effect) that stands the grass blades up for a good cut and then the mower deck or rollers will lay the grass down creating a nice stripe. Remember to always mow with sharp blades!

Frequent cuttings and double cutting – or even going back and just rolling the lawn with your blades disengaged will intensify stripes.

Have fun with your lawn striping! Many professionals consider stripes to be a sign of quality. With practice and a little creativity your lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood.

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How to Create Stripes in Your Lawn

A well-manicured golf course lawn can be source of pride for any homeowner. While regular mowing and watering are all mainstays of your yearly lawn care schedule — adding lawn stripes can take your grass to the next level.

Lawn striping is a crisp and classic way to enhance the appearance of your lawn, creating a compelling visual effect that’s sure to be the envy of your neighborhood. We’ll explore what lawn stripes are, how to get lines in your lawn, and offer some secrets on achieving the perfect striped lawn.

Whether you’re a seasoned lawn care pro or a DIY lawn enthusiast, we’ll provide all the information you need to finesse your lawn striping patterns.

What Are Lawn Stripes?

The mesmerizing lawn stripes you often see on a golf course or professional baseball field result from light reflecting off the grass blades. Surprisingly, there aren’t different grass types or varying grass heights involved. Lawn striping is skillfully created by bending the blades of grass in different directions using a reel mower or a mower with a striping kit attached.

What Causes the Lawn Stripe Effect?

The blades of grass bending away from you create a lighter shade, while the grass blades bending toward you cause a darker shade. In 19th-century England, flaunting your wealth with a beautifully manicured, symmetrical, and smooth lawn was all the rage. The neater a lawn looked, the more it was assumed that the owner had invested in it. To achieve this, gardeners would use heavy rollers to flatten out any lumps or uneven patches on the lawn. The result of this practice was the emergence of lawn stripes, which matched the trend for a clean aesthetic that was popular at the time.

To create lawn stripes, you’ll need a weighted roller system attached to your mower to help bend or lay the grass down consistently in the direction of your mowing passes. The Toro Greensmaster 1600 is an excellent reel mower with a front roller and rear drum. These two features help flatten the grass consistently as you make your mowing passes. If you don’t have a reel mower but own a traditional rotary mower, you can purchase striping kits to attach to the rear of your rotary mower. This will produce similar lawn stripe results to a reel mower.

Mowing in multiple directions is key if you want to achieve the best-looking lawn stripes. By doing so, you should be able to see stripes coming from multiple angles no matter where you look. To achieve this, we recommend you vary your mowing pattern and mow in four different directions: lengthwise, short side, and diagonally in two different directions. This will help create a well-defined, multidimensional lawn striping pattern.

How to Get Lines in Your Lawn

Mowing in multiple directions is key if you want to achieve the best-looking lawn stripes. By doing so, you should be able to see stripes coming from multiple angles no matter where you look. To achieve this, we recommend you vary your mowing pattern and mow in four different directions: lengthwise, short side, and diagonally in two different directions. This will help create a well-defined, multidimensional lawn striping pattern.

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How to Stripe a Lawn: Tips

To see lawn stripes as clearly as possible, try lawn striping early in the morning, especially if you have short-cut grass. The dew accumulating on the grass in the early morning makes it easier to mow straight lines which enhances the look of your stripes. Lawn stripes look best on deep green grass. so ensure your lawn is healthy and has enough nutrients to flourish. If you’re reel mowing, aim for a mowing height of.75”. The grass is long enough to create amazing stripes while preserving that short-cut look. Happy lawn striping, and feel free to send us some photos of your #stripeaction successes!

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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?

“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.

• Lawn mower — push, riding, reel or rotary;
• Lawn striping kit or lawn roller — rent, buy or DIY;
• Sand or water to fill the roller.

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?

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

Lawn Striper

This will show you how to stripe your yard like the professionals, and you’ll save 100!

Step 1: Gather

pvc pipe 3 thick and the width of the back wheels or slightly smaller.(see picture)

2 eye hooks big enough for 2 plastic ties to go through.

Several long plastic ties

Step 2: Cut the Pipe to Length

After cutting the pipe to length, cut the 2 end caps out of 3/4 plywood with a hole saw,jigsaw or Band saw, unless you want to buy 2 pvc endcaps.

Step 3: Mount the Hooks

measure the distance between the 2 places you will be tying the striper to on the mower and drill 2 holes that distance apart on the pipe. Make sure the holes are slightly thinner than the screw part on the hooks.

Step 4: Fill It

screw one plywood cap or pvc cap to the one end of the pipe and fill it with gravel, sand, or anything that will give the pipe plenty of weight. Next, screw on the other plywood or pvc cap.

Step 5: Tie It On

Now you should be ready to tie it on. You will need 2 very long plastic ties or some wire. Keep it about 1 or 2 inches above the ground, and be careful not to tie it to close to the wheels so that you run over it when you back up. You may need to tie it back with something to prevent this (see picture).

Step 6: Mow!

Now you are ready to begin. If you start from the road and drive toward the house it will make a light stripe and when you come back you will make a dark stripe. Be Creative. If you go over your yard going front to back and then go over it again going left and right, it will make squares, or diamonds. (see faintly in the picture).

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Комментарии и мнения владельцев

thx for the inst. does anyone know how to make a zero turn cut better? engine runs fine, blades are sharp. just not getting a good cut. if so, could u plz make an inst on that? Thx

thanks for your inst. i was at a farm supply getting a piece of belting (available in widths starting at 4, i was getting 6 X 3′) and the guy asked if I was making a stripper. seems here they just add that behind the deck to stripe. This belting is bullet proof.

Thanks for that tip to both of you!

Very cool! I’ve always wondered how they did that! Thanks

And what is the point of striping a lawn again??

Can this be adapted for a walk behind mower

only if you mow tall and use a heavy stick/pipe/whatever with it.

Yeah but the effect isn’t as dramatic because a push mower is much closer to the ground. You will have to hike it up a wee bit and do everything the same for your push mower. You could also always mount this on a broom stick and do it by hand.

If you would own a simplicity mower instead of a deere, you wouldnt have to make this. simplicity’s have full width deck rollers built right on them.

Yeah buy a Simplicity instead of a real mower.

Go Green. Get rid of all that grass. (grin) We here in Florida are trying to use less water and go green and natural. Plant only local plants, tolerant of your growing conditions. You don’t need all that grass to mow.

I always wondered how they did that. Thanks for the great tip.

I’ve done this in the past, with good results. Someone else mentioned it, but I’ll hit it again, make sure to alternate the cut for each mowing, Mow front to back one session, then the next side to side, the next sideways, the next front to back, and so on and so forth. Heck, get creative, I’ve done spiral cuts before, and those look pretty sweet from time to time, keeps the neighbors guessing, thats for sure. but I always just used a push mower, and the effect was visible. Not sure you really need the bar. I also agree that incorporating a mechanism for the weighted bar to raise and lower it is a good idea as well. Perhaps and old throttle cable would work well? I guess it really depends on the weight of your bar, and the way it would be adjusted. Thoughts anyone?