How to Mow a Lawn

Mowing the lawn is one of those household chores people do pretty much without thinking. Either the lawn looks a little shaggy so you figure it's time to give it a cut, or it's Saturday morning and you always cut your lawn on Saturday morning. No matter which kind of lawn mower you are, you really should understand a little about how to cut your lawn properly so it will grow healthy and strong.

Just think about it. When you cut your lawn, you're cutting off the leaves of the grass plant. Cut too much and you can actually kill the plants. However, cut the leaves properly and your lawn will grow healthy, thick and be something you can be proud of all summer. Here's how to cut your lawn properly.

Adjustable height lawn mower

Maintain your lawn mower. On a riding mower ensure the tires are properly inflated, on a push mower be sure the wheels are set at the same height. Also, keep you lawn mower blade sharp. A dull mower blade tears the blades of grass rather than cutting them and damages the blade ends, making your lawn unattractive and potentially prone to disease

Understand that you can cut your lawn too short. Don't try to cut your lawn as short as a putting green. Grass needs its leaves to gather nutrients so you want to be sure you only cut your lawn down to approximately 2 inches in height.

Cut you lawn regularly. Never cut off more than 1/3 of the length of a blade of grass. If you have allowed your lawn to "get away" from you, don't cut the grass down to the 2-inch height in one operation. Raise your lawn mower and cut off the top 1/3 of the length of the blade only. A few days later lower the blade to the proper height and mow your lawn again. This gives the grass time to recover from the trauma of being cut.

Bagging grass clippings is not always necessary. If you keep your lawn at the proper height and only cut off the top third of the blades of grass, the clippings will drop down onto the ground and provide a natural mulch on your lawn.

Rake or bag your grass clippings only when the grass has grown too long and you are going to be cutting it twice in a few days. Long clippings won't break down and will form a thatch on your lawn preventing moisture and nutrients from getting into the soil.

By mulching your grass clippings it's estimated you can save as much as 25 percent of the fertilizer your lawn would normally require by letting the clippings stay.

Never put grass clippings in a plastic bag and throw them in the trash. Grass clippings are full of nutrients that are great to put into a home composter.

Every year thousands of Americans end up at the hospital with injuries caused by lawn mowers. A lawn mower can cause serious injury very quickly, so be sure you understand how to operate your lawn mower safely. Read and follow the manufacturer's safe operating instructions that came with your mower.