The best way to mow a lawn involves cutting the perimeter, mowing in straight lines, and edging for a clean finish. Here’s how to mow a lawn like a pro.
1. Cut Around the Perimeter
Mow around the perimeter of your lawn once or twice to "cut in" the area. Create square or rectangle shapes for easy mowing by first taking care of any odd-shaped or small areas. Mow a path around trees, outdoor play sets, garden beds, patios, and fire pits. That way, you can maneuver the mower easier in straight rows during the rest of your mow.
Don't worry about getting too close to the edge of hard surfaces that could damage the mower, such as stones around your garden bed or brick fire pit. You can trim and edge those tight areas later.
2. Mow in Straight, Overlapping Lines
In each rectangle or square area, start on one side and mow in a straight line to the other end. Turn your mower at the end of the row. Pivot the rear wheel of your mower and set your mower up to make an adjacent row going the other direction.
You should overlap your mower slightly with the previous stripe you just made. With most mowers, that means putting the wheels about two inches into the cut line of the previous row. Send your grass clippings (if you're not using a bag) into the previously-cut row so they don't clog your blades.
Mow another line, and continue doing so with a slight overlap on each line until the area is complete. Some lawn stripes will have blades bending slightly in one direction, while the others will have blades bending slightly the other way. This creates an alternating pattern of light and dark stripes, making your lawn look professional. You can also cut other patterns into your grass, such as a checkerboard design or zigzag pattern.
If you’re mowing on sloped ground, mow it side-to-side perpendicular to the slope to ease the wear on you and your mower. You don’t want to mow up and down a slope unless it’s a low one. If you have an angled slope in your yard, consider using a string trimmer on that area instead.
3. Trim and Edge the Lawn
With a string trimmer or weedwacker, trim any areas the mower couldn't reach, such as near trees or the driveway. To get crisp edges along your walkways and garden beds, run your edger or string trimmer vertically along the crack or edge. The string trimmer should cut slightly into the ground as you walk along, creating a distinct line. Start from an angle that shoots the grass clippings into the lawn, instead of your garden bed or walkway. Move slowly and keep your arms and the trimmer level as you go.
Trimming and edging ensures all your grass is the same height and gives it tidy edges and clean lines. Some homeowners edge before mowing, but it can leave your lawn uneven and take more time.
4. Clean Up Clippings and Debris
With a leaf blower or broom, send any stray grass clippings from your driveway, walkways, and other landscaping into your lawn or a yard waste bag. Cleaning debris and clippings gives your lawn a nice finishing touch. Plus, lawn waste can wash into drains, leading to clogs, and can even make its way into rivers and lakes.
10 Lawn-Mowing Tips