How to manage and maintain your lawn like an expert
Lawn care is essential for every grassy garden and knowing your lawn maintenance options is vital for healthy growth – without proper attention and tending, the grass will eventually start to wither and get overrun by weeds. As a result, the grass makes your garden look unpleasant, patchy, and neglected. Nobody wants to deal with this kind of damage in their gardening endeavours, so here are some useful tips for every gardener!
How? Our professional gardening team in Edinburgh has some valuable expert advice for you. Keep on reading to gain an understanding of everything you need to know to become an expert in lawn mowing and cutting grass.
FAQ on lawn care and grass mowing
Why mow the lawn?
Cutting the grass promotes growth and thickness, and makes your lawn look fresh, neat, and well-maintained.
When should I mow the lawn?
When temperatures sit above 10-degrees and frosty mornings are far gone, grass will start growing so it’s mowing time! You should always mow one last time right before winter hibernation to keep the grass healthy through winter, however don’t take the grass too short as this can lead to moss growth. Of course, during the warmer months and depending on the kind of grass you have, your lawn will need more attention, ranging from once a week to once a fortnight.
When is the best time of day to cut grass?
In the summer, the best time of day to mow the lawn is the late afternoon. Grass and soil can be damp in the mornings, and during the middle of the day the sun is much too harsh.
How often should the lawn be mowed?
In the cooler spring and autumn, your grass should be mowed once a week. During the hot summer months, you can switch this to trimming your grass once every two weeks. This is highly dependant on what type of grass you have, however our experts can advise on what is best if you are unsure.
Lawn mowing expert advice.
Now that you know the lawn care basics, it is time to talk about the specifics of grass cutting. Things to keep an eye out for, things to double-check, and things to always have in mind when working with lawns.
Take proper care of your lawnmower.
The first thing to consider when tending to your grass, is always keeping your lawnmower in good condition. This ranges from cleaning the mowed grass from the container to avoid mould and bad odours, changing broken or overused parts, and sharpening the blades every spring.
Just before winter, when it’s time to put the mower into hibernation until late spring, make sure you clean it thoroughly. Here are some basic pre-winter tasks you should definitely haveon your to-do list:
Our expert tip is to always read the manufacturer’s instructions for mower care, so you do not miss an important step in the maintenance process.
Prior to the spring/summer season, you should have your mower serviced for better, fresher cuts. If the blades are blunt you can damage your lawn and cause yellowed grass tips.
Adjust the cutting height.
Cutting height adjustment is a really important step in lawn mowing as it ensures the grass is evenly cut to look presentable and grow better. The cutting height of the mower varies during different times of the year, according to season and local weather conditions.
Subsequently, it is vitally important to manually adjust the height settings of the lawnmower at the beginning and end of the season to allow for these changes. The regular grass height for well-maintained lawns is between 2.5 cm and 5 cm, depending on how you want the finished aesthetic of your grass.
Choose the proper mower.
There are many types of lawnmowers and hybrids available on the market. When it comes to choosing the right type of mower, you must be aware of its pros and cons, so you make the right choice. It is also worth considering customer reviews of the product and remember that the most affordable option is not always the best.
Electric lawnmowers
The purpose of electric mowers is to cut small and mid-sized grassy areas with precision. They are relatively quiet and cost-effective; these mowers are perfect for a household with a tiny garden and a strict budget.
Additionally, electric lawnmowers don’t need excessive maintenance. The cons are, of course, it requires an electric supply to the garden and there is always a power cable you need to be mindful of when working on the grass.
Cordless lawnmowers
Cordless mowers are used to treat small to medium-sized lawns. They are quiet, easy to navigate and manoeuvre, and they are also environmentally friendly. There is also the bonus of having no cable hiding in the grass! The drawbacks are that this type of lawnmower is not suitable for long grass cutting and they only operate for a limited time per charge.
Lawn tractors
These mowers are a gardener’s dream – high-performing, independently working, with no need to push the mower around. They can trim large lawns while you relax, driving the mower over the overgrown grass. The cons of owning a lawn tractor are it’s relatively loud in comparison to other mowers, extremely heavy, and expensive. It is also cumbersome so you might have trouble storing it safely unless you have a large shed, giant garage, or huge storage space.
Petrol mowers
These mowers are amazing for cutting grass in a large area. Petrol lawnmowers work autonomously, they are super powerful and deliver stunning results. There are downsides to great lawn mowing though – brash noise, disagreeable smell, and engine emissions.
Robot lawnmowers
From midsize to large lawns, robot mowers are a technology that makes life easier. You programme the mower and allow it to independently mow while saving money on the electricity bill. Robots are also eco-friendly, and their only downside is they are a costly investment.
Scythe mowers
Scythe mowers have two plates that rub against each other to mow the lawn. Even though they could cut exceptionally large lawns and long grass, scythe mowers are everything but budget friendly. If you do have the financial ability to buy one, do not hesitate, they are easy to operate and after some practice, you will perfect your lawn.
Lawn care & maintenance tips and tricks
Mow frequently especially during the spring season.
After the winter conditions your garden has endured, (cold temperatures, damp soil, less sunny days, and so on,) the grass needs some TLC. So, let’s make sure your grass gets the special attention it needs in springtime.
Following the winter hibernation, the grass starts to grow very quickly. Part of your duties to maintain your lawn include to clear mossy areas, even out the land, and remove lumps andbumps, deal with patches and add spring fertilizer. Another important to-do task is to start mowing and do it as often as necessary to promote new fresh growth.
In early spring, grass can be cut bi-monthly, as it has not started growing rapidly yet. In late spring, when the development is at its peak, it is advisable to do lawn mowing once a week. For this, the mower should be adjusted to a higher setting to allow for more even cuts.
Trim the edges.
Trimming edges gives your lawn that final touch of aesthetic precision. Because let’s be honest – even if your lawn is mowed perfectly if there are bumps of longer chaotic grass on the lawn’s edges – the grass will continue to look unmanaged and unattractive.
Unfortunately, most mowers cannot reach and get those areas treated as they are smaller and harder to maintain. That’s why it is good to trim around pavement/concrete areas like patios, driveways, decks, or walking paths. And this should be done manually with the help of a fewmust-have gardening tools:
Any of these tools can help you tidy up the edges of your lawn and make it look polished and well-maintained. Just remember to remove the leftover clippings to stop grass bits from rooting and creating more pesky removals.
Prevention of issues on time
The most common problems you might face on your lawn are infestations by weeds, pests, and diseases. The best prevention of such issues is to observe and monitor your lawn every few days. Watch out for any changes, including early signs of emerging weeds, insects, or grass damage and bald patches.
Once you notice anything that looks unusual for your lawn, you need to react fast and seek the help of a professional before it spreads uncontrollably.
Pro gardeners can identify such issues and will provide you with relevant advice on how to deal with them. Our expert Edinburgh based team can save or revive your lawn, and we are only ever one click away!
Manage watering.
A top tip to remember is that grass needs excessive watering during warm months or otherwise it becomes prone to drought, and dry or burnt patches. It is also pertinent to mention that if you water too frequently, your grass can get mossy or even waterlogged, so try to be as consistent as you can in your watering schedule.
When it comes to watering, soil needs to be soaked to a depth of around 10 cm. You should be looking to water your lawn once a week, however in summer, you may do it twice a week if the weather is exceedingly dry and hot. The best part of the day to water the grass is morning and evening, as the weather is cooler, and the water will be absorbed correctly.
And our final expert tip…
Take advantage of Professional services
One of the most rewarding things you can do for your garden is to let a professional gardening service take care of your mowing and maintenance. Not only do you save time and energy, but also you get a team of experts that does the hard graft for you and constantly monitors the health of your lawn.
Professional lawn mowing services can transform your grass, while you enjoy your free time, doing the things you love. It is also a great strategy to save money on buying garden tools, equipment, and even a lawnmower. Sounds good? Get in touch with our expert Edinburgh based gardeners to get a free quote.
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