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4 Grass Cutting Tips

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You can almost see the grass grow

Mowing the lawn can seem like a bit of a mystery the first time you attempt it. You’ve seen the neat pale and dark green lines that appear whenever someone mows a lawn on the telly, but whenever you attempt it in your own back garden you seem to get a weird, splotchy green mess.

Mowing the lawn is one of those skills that nobody ever really gets taught. They’re just expected to know how to do it instinctively. However, there are a few common sense tips you can use to make sure that your lawn comes out looking healthy, neat and tidy.

Overlapping

When you start mowing the lawn you should do so in a sort of zigzag pattern, going from one end of the lawn to the other, turning around and coming back alongside where you’ve just been. A lot of first time mowers assume this means that the mower should be travelling next to the freshly mown grass, but don’t cross onto it.

Instead you want to make sure that the lawnmower slightly overlaps the area you’ve just mown. To make this easier and more precise, make a mark on your lawnmower to show how far you want the overlap to go. This will be your “overlap marker”.

This is particularly important if your lawnmower isn’t a hover mower but one with wheels. If you take a second to think about it you’ll realise that running wheels up and down exactly the same path is going to wear tracks into the soil, which isn’t going to look good for the lawn as a whole.

Obstacles

For the easiest mowing results you want a completely flat, level and rectangular lawn with grass that is entirely uniform in length, but of course, lawns like that seldom exist outside of the gardener’s imagination.

There are a number of obstacles you’ll probably face while mowing the lawn. If you find that some of the grass is damp or longer than the rest you can get round it simply by slowing down a little. Just push the mower through the grass at a slightly slower speed and it shouldn’t present any problems.

A slightly trickier area is the bumps and high spots in the lawn. When you approach these it’s worth stopping to raise the height of your blades, otherwise you could end up with a slightly too close shave that leaves bald patches on your lawn, or worse, you could accidentally stop the blade. The same is true when you’re approaching slopes or shady areas.

Maintenance

Of course, it doesn’t matter one jot about your mowing technique if your tools are in poor condition. There are a number of maintenance steps you should take on a regular basis to ensure good mower performance.

If you have a cylinder mower and you find that the blade stutters regularly, or the lawn is coming out in a “ribbed” or “rippled” effect, it could be that the blades are blunt or the mower is under-powered   The same is true if the lawn starts to take on a frayed look, or a sort of silvery sheen.

Getting just the right look

Now you’ve got the basics sorted, you need to focus on getting the look of your lawn just the way you want it. There are a number of tricks to this. Firstly, if you’re using a cylinder mower, change the direction that you’re mowing at least once a month. This stops the grass being constantly pushed down in one direction.

If you want the famed “striped” look on a large lawn or one without a straight edge, the best place to start isn’t on one side of the lawn but straight down the middle. From there you can mow outwards on either side of the central strip.

Naturally it’s important that you have the right tools for the job, whether you buy lawnmowers online or from a store direct it’s worth spending time to make sure you have the right machine

Finally, when you get to the edges of the lawn, don’t worry about getting all the grass. A quick final cut once or twice around the edge of the lawn will give it a professional looking frame.

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Mark Bartram is Managing Director of Lawnmowers Direct, so he knows a thing or two about lawn maintenance.






3 Garden Care Tips For Novices

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Gardening may seem to be complicated for those who are just beginning the hobby. However, if you have the basic knowledge to help you maintain your garden or lawn effectively, you can do just fine. All you need is the right tools, good routine, information and enthusiasm to succeed. A major concern novices have is using chemicals or practicing eco-friendly gardening options. To some, eco-friendly ways are safer and easier to apply without straining the pockets. Healthy gardens and lawns are often a result of natural gardening care.

Natural Fertilizers

Soil requires nutrients that are provided in a proper feeding schedule in order for it to remain healthy. Applying fertilizers is easy to do, as all you need is to first rake the area, then release the organic fertilizers and then water it. These fertilizers are produced without any chemicals and additives. They can be used on their own or combined with other natural fertilizers to maintain the quality and nutrient content of the soil.

One type of natural fertilizer is alfalfa meal that can be bought in pet stores as well. It is rich in phosphorus and vitamins K and P. Chicken manure is also a favorite because of its nutrient and phosphorus content. You can either raise your own chickens or conveniently purchase the manure from local farms. Cow manure is also used as a natural fertilizer and this can be bought from local farms. Just be sure that the cows graze on open pasture and consume nutrient dense food for quality manure. You can also make your own fertilizer by making compost. When you make compost, remember that meat, fish, animal waste, dead animals, salad dressings and plastic must not be added to the compost pile.

Keep A Watering Routine

A good watering routine will ensure that your garden is always healthy and well fed. However, your routine must match the weather you are experiencing. During the summer months, you will have to water your plants more often, though in smaller volume to avoid drowning them. This is why having a sprinkler system is convenient and effective. It will save you both time and energy, from having to constantly return to the garden and keep it hydrated. You can also opt for an automated sprinkler system which features a timer for easier operating. However, you may have to move the sprinklers around in your garden from time to time to suit your garden’s development.

Weeds And Pests

All gardens will have weed and pest problems at some point or the other. Both are dangerous to a garden because weeds can eliminate nutrients resulting in weak patches, while pests can seriously damage plants. Weeding must be done routinely and pest control must be done carefully to avoid removing beneficial insects as well.

Gardening will take some effort and determination to achieve remarkable results. It will require your regular attention and not just whenever you have time. You must also be curious to learn new gardening techniques and discover new natural gardening treatments. Stick to a schedule and devote at least 30 minutes to your garden. If you are unable to provide your garden with the care and attention it needs on a regular basis, you can always hire the services of a professional to help you have beautiful and presentable garden.

Valerie Parker is a freelance writer specializing in garden care. She regularly contributes articles to websites focusing on Idaho Falls Sprinklers and gardening.

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