The Mowing Technique That's Secretly Killing Your Lawn

Proper mowing can help you maintain or improve the health of your lawn. You might practice regular mowing, a mowing technique that is the most effective way to get rid of pesky weeds, but you still might not be following the right procedures. For example, if you consistently cut your lawn in the same direction, you might be causing long-term damage. Mowing in one direction continuously pushes and flattens the blades of grass, which can impact how it grows. Because turf grass is known to grow in the direction it is mowed, you can be promoting irregular growth unknowingly with your mowing techniques. 

You can accidentally scalp your lawn by mowing in the same direction too often, creating a visible wear pattern on your turf. Lawn scalping is the practice of cutting turf down almost to the soil. In some instances, scalping can be a beneficial way to promote a healthier lawn. However, it's best to avoid, especially on a repeated basis. While there are definitely drawbacks to letting your grass grow too long, the other extreme might not be the best option. The end result will be a streaking pattern noticeable upon viewing your freshly mown lawn.

If you cut the grass in just one direction, the turf becomes trained to grow in that direction. After too many times being cut and pushed in one direction, your grass might begin to look slightly bent or worn down. Mowing in one direction time and time again is also an easy way to create soil compaction due to turf wear over time. The tires of your mower often hit the ground in the same spot, pushing the soil close together and reducing the movement of water, air, and nutrients. 

Instead of the grass being bent in one direction, it's best to encourage upright growth. If you switch up the direction in which you mow, you can keep the grass growing more steadily. Try to vary the direction every so often when you mow. It's a good practice to start 90 degrees from the previous mowing direction to prevent fraying of the individual grass blades. It's also a good idea to pay attention to signs that it's time to sharpen your lawn mower blades. Dull blades and cutting in the same direction are two things that will eventually kill your lawn.