Scalping the lawn (in other words, cutting it too short) is a common mistake made by many individuals. Some people think that if they cut their grass down to pretty much its roots (slight exaggeration) it will make it so that they do not have to cut their grass as frequently.
It is safe to say that you can cut your grass shorter than normal during the cooler days of Spring and Autumn, and this will not affect the flawless appearance of your freshly cut lawn. However, when temperatures reach up to 80 degrees or higher experts say that you should let your grass get a little bit taller. Although it may look a messier then you’d like and not have that same “perfect” appearance as a lawn mowed shorter, this taller grass will actually allow for better plant health. It turns out that taller grass blades will shade the ground, conserve moisture, and help prevent weed seeds from germinating!
Cutting your grass shorter does not slow down its growth rate and the grass will need to be cut or mowed just as frequently.
SHORTER GRASS Pro:Looks nice at first glance, an almost “perfect” appearance! Con: Can cause more weeds to grow over time
TALLER GRASS Pro: Makes for healthier grass & less weeds over time Con: Doesn’t “look” as nice
KEYTAKE AWAY Cutting the grass shorter does not slow down its growth rate and it still will need to be cut it just as often
New homeowners are often faced with the pressure of choosing the ideal lawn mower. Due to the fact that a new environment can be ecologically different, the question of the best lawn mower comes in. As a new homeowner, what should you look out for in a lawn mower? What are the ideal specs that you must ensure that your lawn mower has?
The engine torque –which is measured in foot-pounds (ft or lbs), represents the power of the engine. The more power, the faster the blades rotate. This provides better mowing in tall or thick grass.
Engine displacement –indicates the size of the engine, the higher the number of your engine displacement, the more powerful the engine is and the better the cutting action. As a new homeowner, you should look out for the lawn mower with the highest displacement you can get.
Priming – refers to having to push a button several times to get fuel into the engine to start it. No-prime engines eliminate this step. It is best to buy a mower that allows for no priming, that way you can start your mower effortlessly.
Top speed – This parameter is only for riding lawn mowers; the top speed is the highest speed a lawn mower can reach. You should pick a top speed that is ideal.
Cut width– is the width of the area that the mowing blade can cut in one mowing pass. It is best to have the highest cut width especially if you are looking at buying a riding lawn mower.
Blade brake– disengages the blades and stops the rotation but leaves the engine running while you empty the bag. This can come in handy if you intend to bag your grass blades; that means you can leave the engine running without fear.
Disposal means – Some mowers offer a bagging system to help you collect clippings. Others offer a mulching option that turns clippings into a fine mulch and spreads it over the yard. If you do not select either of these options, you may have to rake up clippings after you mow.
Accessory fitting – while it may not count for some new homeowners, it does for some others. For some riding lawn mowers and push lawn mowers you can adjust the height of the grass cut by using levers by the wheels. Most push lawn mowers require adjusting each wheel separately. However, dual-function or single-lever height adjustment features make this task easier. A deck wash port connects to a garden hose and you can easily wash the underpart of your mower with it.
Whether you have decided to go with a riding lawn mower or a push lawn mower, it’s your choice. However, you must look out for these parameters and ensure that you get it right. Once you are sure that you are comfortable with the specifications of your lawn mower and it is suited to your lawn, you are good to go.
There are a lot of choices you can make when it comes to picking your choice of lawn mowers. It doesn’t matter if you are looking to purchase push mowers or riding mowers, it could be confusing when you are looking to buy the best mower. While preference may vary from person to person, here are the best push mowers of 2018:
POULAN PRO 21 IN MANUAL-PUSH LAWN MOWER The Poulan Pro Hi-Wheel Push Mower has a 5-ft/lb, 140 cc Briggs and Stratton engine, a 21-inch cutting width, and allows for mulching and side discharge. It’s 11-inch wheels pushes the lawn mower that weighs a substantial 61 pounds. The mower also comes with a 2-year warranty.
CRAFTSMAN 21” 140CC BRIGGS AND STRATTON GAS POWERED 3-IN-1 PUSH LAWN MOWER The Craftsman 21” 140cc Briggs and Stratton Gas Powered 3-in-1 Push Lawn Mower comes with a five- torque, 140cc engine. It has 7″ front wheels, 11″ rear wheels, dual-point height adjustment with six positions, mulching, side discharge, rear bagging, a light recoil starter, and a 21” cutting width. This push mower is just perfect for anyone who is not sure of the style for anyone who is not sure of the mowing style to use.
YARD MACHINE 140CC 20-INCH PUSH MOWER This push mower features a 140cc engine with four cycles and a 20” cutting width. It has three height adjustments and a 7” front and rear wheels.
SUN JOE MJ401E MOW JOE 14-INCH 12 AMP CORDED ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER WITH GRASS BAG The electric Lawn mower With Grass Bag has a cutting width of 14”, a safety switch to prevent unintentional starts, a durable steel blade, and a collapsible handle for easy storage. Designed for tight spaces, it is compact and lightweight at 29 pounds. One of the best mower that you will find around.
GREENWORKS G-MAX 40V CORDLESS LAWN MOWER The GreenWorks G-MAX 40V cordless lawn mower with instant electric start. 4Ah battery and a charger are included. It also has a mulching capability, rear bagging, 6” front wheels, and 7” rear wheels. It cuts up to 7,000 square feet and has up to a 60-minute run time.
EGO POWER+ 20-INCH 56-VOLT LITHIUM- ION CORDLESS PUSH LAWN MOWER The Power+ 20″’56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Lawn Mower comes with 4.0Ah battery and a rapid charger kit. It is also available with a 5.0 Ah battery kit, 7.5 Ah battery kit, and without any battery kit. The 4.0Ah battery provides a 45-minute run time, mows about two miles on a single charge, and has a 30-minute rapid charge time.
HUSQVARNA 22-IN SELF-PROPELLED GAS LAWN MOWER This powerful mower features a Honda 190cc engine and all-wheel drive, so it can tackle all types of terrain. The 22- inch deck is powder coated to last for years. The self-propelled all-wheel drive system allows you to simply steer and reduces fatigue especially when mowing a large uneven lawn.
HONDA HRX217K5VKA The mower stays unusually clean as it cuts, both in wet and dry grass, or even as it plows through a pile of dry leaves. It includes a large fuel cap that’s easy to turn and tool-free air-filter access.
TORO 20333 Mow at your own pace by simply pushing more firmly against the handle, which slides forward and makes the mower go faster. Back off the pressure to slow down. Other features combine to make this a value-packed product: a fitting where you can attach a garden hose for washing the underside of the deck, and a three-year warranty that covers the mower’s drive system and ease-of-start capability.
CRAFTSMAN 37705 This popular Craftsman mower has a 21-inch deck the extends beyond the wheels for more precise cutting. Its 163cc OHV Briggs & Stratton engine delivers 7.25 lb-ft of torque and sports an easy pull start mechanism.
Once the last of snow begins to melt off and the weather returns to its warmth, the lawn starts getting green again. While this Is good news for color enthusiasts who loves to see the world in vivid shades of different colors, it is a big headache for homeowners. This is the period they have to answer the question of how they intend to dispose off their grass.
Would you rather mulch your grass or bag It? Perhaps a little insight into how both processes work will be beneficial in enlightening you on your choice.
Mulching
In deciding to go with mulching, you will have to cut your grass to a desired level and leave the mowed clippings on your lawn. The purpose of this is to slow down the growth of the grass and to add nutrients to the lawn. If choosing to mulch your yard you may want to purchase a lawn mower that will be very suited for that purpose as not all lawn mowers are well suited for mulching.
As a standard practice, mulching is a necessity in maintaining a healthy lawn. While it is not the only form of lawn clearing that there is, it is quite well used amidst a lot of people.
Pros
Grass clippings add vital nutrients to your lawn; this will go on to benefit the soil and you will be able to replenish the lost nutrients effortlessly
Easier labor; all you have to do is walk your mover over the lawn and allow the grass clipping to fall
Mulching allows your grass to grow slowly; the grass clipping that on the surface prevents the sun from falling squarely on the grass that is growing. This may allow people to mow the grass less frequently
Cons
Mulching can bog down your mower engine if the lawn mower is not suited for the task. It can also do this if your grass is too tall or too thick
Effective mulching may require you to change your lawn mower resulting in added cost
Your lawn will not be at its neatest if you mulch; a lot of people think that it causes the yard looking messy and those extra clippings can stick to your feet when wet, creating an even larger mess
Bagging
Bagging of grass clippings is also relatively common; it is simply packing your grass blades into a bag and disposing of them. While it can make for a clean lawn, bagging your grass can cause a problems for disposal.
Pros
Bagging allows you have a squeaky-clean lawn, you can walk bare-footed over your lawn knowing that it is free of grass blades
Bagging allows rain water or hose water to get directly to the soil
It allows for quick disposal of all the grass blades
Cons
Bagging requires too much physical labor. You will have to remove the bag in order to dispose of the grass and then replace it before you continue mowing
It is more expensive since you have to purchase bags and in some states get charged for excess disposal
It robs your lawn the chance of replenishing nutrients that mulching gives it
In the end, it is your choice that matters. You must pick the grass removal style that best suits you. Bagging or mulching, which is it that you prefer?
Does your garage have a non-running lawn mower, tiller, or other large lawn equipment just taking up space? It seems to be common for people to stash old broken equipment in their sheds or garages because they simply do not know what to do with it once they no longer use it.
There are many reason you should recycle your old lawn equipment. Here are just a few that come to mind…
It’s in the way! You should recycle your old lawn equipment because you may not use it anymore and it’s just taking up too much space.
It’s environmentally friendly to recycle your old lawn equipment and not throw it into the trash. If you do throw it away it will just end up in a landfill.
Most lawn mowers can be refurbished and put to use again. So why not recycle it and allow someone else to bring it back to life, instead of throwing it into the garbage.
It’s really easy to do with Indy Lawn Mower Recycle! Indy Lawn Mower Recycle picks up your old lawn mower and other equipment for you. Most people do not have a way to transport this stuff (especially riding lawn mowers). All you need to do is set the item out front up near the house and they swing by to pick it up for you. Easy!
I don’t know about you but I love my yard — cutting it and watering it, day in and day out. There is nothing like a beautiful cut yard to gaze at right outside your window. I recently discovered that I could be trying too hard. It turns out that that overwatering and over-fertilizing your grass can actually hurt it…
To keep your yard flourishing, ensure you avoid these lawn care mistakes.
PROBLEM #1: Cutting Grass Way Too Short
Are you one of those people who think cutting your grass extra short will allow you to cut it less often? If you are, let me tell you, it doesn’t work that way. Cutting your grass excessively short over and over again is not good for it. The grass can get very weak and will not be able to make solid roots. Frail grass won’t be able to face hot days and can become overpowered by crabgrass and different weeds.
The right tallness for grass relies upon its species. Tall fescue, for example, ought to be kept generally long, around 3 or 4 inches.
You can raise or lower the height of your lawnmower wheels by utilizing the movable switches at each wheel. It only should take a couple of minutes and will be well worth your time.
PROBLEM #2: Watering The Grass Excessively
You might believe you’re helping your yard by giving it a ton of water but overwatering your yard is not a good thing. You can suffocate your grass when doing this. If you do water excessively and the dirt ends up soaked it can actually makeitg harder for the grass roots to drink the water.
The best time to water is toward the beginning of the day. Make sure you check the weather forecast to see if there are rain showers. This way you don’t accidentally water it on days it will already receive rain water.
PROBLEM #3: Force-Fertilizing Grass When It Doesn’t Need It
Fertilizing your grass is similar to watering it, too much manure can likewise hurt your grass. Laying down too much lawn fertilizers can cause too much leaf growth and less root growth which can cause your grass to become frail and more capable to disease and drought.
It’s best to put down a moderate amount manure twice per year—once in the spring, when grass is developing quickly, and again in Autumn to reinforce your garden for overwintering.
Another good strategy is to just give the grass clippings a chance to fall on the yard, instead of bagging them. This is commonly referred to as mulching your lawn. Mulching is another way of “fertilizing” it. Do likewise in the Fall with leaves. Cut over them and mulch them once before you bag them up with your lawnmower bag.
