The old fashioned manual (reel) lawn mower has been updated for modern times. They are now made of both lightweight and sturdy materials. Some models feature pneumatic tires, blade height settings, and even an adjustable handle length. The reel-mounted horizontal blades gives an exceptional cut by slicing the grass against a lower rigid bar. These oldie but goodie mowers are also known for being very quiet while operating and also give off no pollution (unlike your typical gas lawn mower). They are especially useful for tiny or smaller lawns.
Battery Operated Walk-Behind Lawn Mower
The battery operated walk-behind lawn mower tends to be a better choice than the reel if cutting a lawn that is more than 4000 square feet. Some of these battery operated mowers can hold a long charge allowing you to cut up to two-thirds of an acre in a single charge. Battery operated lawn mowers are more quiet than your gas powered lawn mower and they tend to be very low maintenance. They might also be referred to as battery-powered lawn mowers or electric lawn mowers.
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
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.
