If you mow the lawn according to the rules, the lawn will always look neat and green. Here play a significant role not only the first and last trimming of plants, but also regular intermediate mowing. Lawn mowing is not very difficult. The main thing is to do it in a timely manner, with a certain length of plants and follow the general recommendations. The main task is to ensure that the grass does not turn yellow, does not dry out and still pleases with its appearance.
Why is lawn mowing necessary?
Some quite seriously think that there is a special lawn grass that grows evenly on the site and does not require cutting at all. But as greenery for the lawn, the most common meadow grass species are grown. Therefore, mowing the lawn is a must. Without care, it will become a plot with ordinary sprouted greens.
Shortening plants encourages vigorous leaf and root growth, forming a solid lawn base. Therefore, the greens will easily recover from damage, and the lawn will bring joy with its beautiful fresh look of greens. If regularlymow the lawn, weeds will not form, the surface will become thick and fluffy. An even coating will be created and the appearance will be improved.
If you do not cut the greens for more than two weeks in a row, it will soon begin to grow and produce spikelets. Plants will mature, form seeds and dry quickly, thus completing their life cycle. In this case, it will be difficult, sometimes impossible, to return the site to an attractive appearance. It will no longer be possible to get soft coverage and bright color even after trimming.
The underside of the overgrown greenery will not receive the required amount of sunlight, and the color of the lawn will not be as saturated. Overgrown grass will prevent the necessary evaporation of moisture, which will cause decay.
When should you mow?
The first lawn mowing is done when the grass has grown to a length of 8-10 cm and forms three leaves. Untimely mowing spoils the site, overgrown greenery may fall and no longer rise.
In order for the plants to grow faster and better, it is necessary to cut only the upper part of the sprouts, approximately 2 cm. If the plants are cut very short, the young sprouts may die, and weeds will appear in the open areas. Cut 1/3 of the length for the next mowing.
The lawn is cut for the first time in spring: in April or May, the height should be up to 7 cm.
The frequency of cutting vegetation depends on weather conditions, climate zone and functional requests. Lawn mowing is done throughevery 7-10 days, sometimes every 2 weeks, depending on how fast the grass grows.
During the dry period, the greenery grows with less activity, respectively, the lawn is mowed less often. In summer, during the active growth of plants, the plot is drawn up 2 times a week.
If the trimming process is done correctly, the lawn will be beautiful and the plants will be he althy. Choose moderately dry weather for mowing, and evening time, when the sun is no longer so scorching. If you cut greens in very dry weather, then the grass will not be cut, but will break out entirely.
Mowing the lawn before winter
With the onset of autumn and the first cold weather, around September or October, there is no need to cultivate the site. If warming comes and the greenery grows by 5 cm or more, then the mowing must be repeated.
You should pay due attention to mowing the lawn in autumn, because too long or very short grass can die in winter. At the last mowing before wintering, the weather should be warm and calm so that the plants are not weakened.
Tools and ground rules
It is necessary to thoroughly prepare in advance for the procedure for decorating a lawn. Improvised tools are completely unsuitable, they will not be able to reach a flat surface. This requires special tools that will speed up and simplify the process of mowing vegetation.
What toolsused?
The choice of lawn mowing equipment is determined depending on the shape and area of the site, topography and budget. The most commonly used tools are:
Mechanical lawn mower
It is a cylindrical shaft with knives, which is driven during the course. It is one of the lightest and cheapest tools, does not make noise and does not emit harmful substances. Such a lawn mower does not need fuel for mowing the lawn, it forms an even cut, but it needs physical strength to use it. Therefore, it is only suitable for decorating small and medium-sized plots with a flat ground surface.
Hovercraft lawn mower
This mower has a turbine instead of wheels, which directs the air flow down, raising the mower to a small height. This unit is the only one of its kind, able to work on a relatively uneven surface. But at the same time, height adjustment is difficult. Only used in small areas.
Electric lawn mower
Makes less noise and is light in weight. They use a rotary engine - the knives carry out rotational movements parallel to the surface and cut the vegetation. This lawn mower is characterized by low maneuverability, the inconvenience of having a power cord, and the danger of working on a wet weather day.
Technical devices for quick results
Professional technicaldevices:
Petrol mowing machine
The engine of this car runs on unleaded gasoline or a special mixture of oil and gasoline. The petrol mower is manoeuvrable and suitable for large areas with uneven ground. The downside is that during operation it produces noise and exhaust gases are released. Ideal for shortening tall greens.
Cordless mower
Since such machines need to be recharged, it is not suitable for large areas. Cordless mowers are manoeuvrable, do not emit harmful substances and produce almost no noise. A full charge lasts approximately 1 hour.
Lawn tractor or rider
This is a medium sized machine with a driver's seat and front mounted cutting units, ideal for use in large areas. Tractors are mobile, have steering and trunk for small things.
Additional tools
In addition to the above devices, additional tools are often used for inaccessible areas of the lawn.
These include:
Mechanical hand scissors
Suitable for use in small areas, does not require much space for storage. Power shears require strength and experience to use.
Cordless lawn shears. Reviews about this tool are the most positive
These scissors are light and comfortable. They have small wheels that allow you to reduce the load onhands and cut the grass more evenly. For convenience, the position of the handle is adjustable, and there is a display showing the charge level. Some models are equipped with additional interchangeable knives of different sizes.
Cordless scissors, or trimmers with a telescopic handle
Looks like an upgraded scythe, but with spinning blades. There are also electric models that are mains powered.
What to consider when choosing equipment and tools?
When choosing a lawn trimmer or electric shears, you need to consider characteristics such as recharging time, run time, size and weight. It is not worth overpaying for increased battery life if the area is small. It is worth carefully studying the composition of the kit - interchangeable knives, protective covers and more.
It is important to understand what material the blades are made of. For mechanical scissors, only steel blades are used, which provide an even cut. For trimmers, knives are often made of plastic materials that do not produce excessive noise and guarantee an accurate cut.
What is the optimal height?
For cutting grass, except for the first time, always choose the same height, from which the frequency of watering and other features of care are determined. The height of the cutting of greenery is determined by the weather conditions and the composition of the sown crops. In a drier period, you need to choose a length 1-2 cm more than usual so that the plants do not quickly turn yellow.
Grass cut too short looks untidy, as it exposes patches of land. For the younglawns that are less than two years old, choose a height of about 1 cm more than the previous length.
What are the rules?
There are several requirements for the correct cutting of plants, which will allow you to keep the site beautiful and attractive for a long time:
- Cutting tools should be well sharpened, thus ensuring a smooth cut and less injury to the plants.
- It is important to choose the optimal height so that the greens do not dry out and weaken.
- Before you start cutting, you can "comb" the blades of grass with a rake.
- Inaccessible areas are processed with a trimmer or scissors.
- The next mowing is perpendicular to the previous one.
- Treat a lawn that has not been cut for a long time several times every 5 days, gradually reaching the optimal height, cutting no more than 1/3 of the length.
Some recommendations
It is important to follow the advice on how to properly mow your lawn with a lawn mower:
- The lawn mower must be undamaged, with sharp cutting blades.
- Carry out the haircut in a measured manner, paying attention to the quality and the absence of obstacles to the move.
- Mow in a smooth motion without exerting pressure on the handle.
- When the grass is wet, it is worth postponing cutting the vegetation.
- Clean the slant container in time.
- The sequence of the move - starting from the edge of the lawn, go in lines parallel to each other.
Cut grass can be left onlawn - it will be a good substrate for top dressing. Although the remains of plants complicate air circulation, they provide an opportunity to retain moisture in dry conditions.
Mowing your lawn is the most basic way to keep your grass he althy and looking good. A smooth lawn always requires proper care and caring hands. You just need to study all the instructions and recommendations for care in advance and the results will not be long in coming.