It's All About The Lawn Lines

From commercial property owners to homeowners, those who mow lawns strive for a relatively simple but generally important aesthetic: perfect lines. Not just perfectly straight lines, but properly spaced lines.

Sometimes they alternate, depending on the direction the mower is going. One lane looks a little brighter since the safety guard drags behind and sometimes will matt the grass down a bit. Other times the grass seems to lie down as a result of a dull blade. But no matter what, it's that "look" you're going for when you mow.

While straight lines are the goal, you must vary the direction you mow, lest the person mowing the lawn follow the same pattern each and every time. Otherwise, mower wheels create noticeable ruts which, over time, end up capturing leaves, twigs, and other lawn debris that can end up being a nuisance.

Try The 4-Way Rotation

One easy method, which is especially effective, involves a "four-way" rotation. This works best in a symmetrical space or something that closely resembles a square or rectangle.

Visualizing this space, imagine the top-to-bottom lines, which might represent the space between the front of your house and the sidewalk. Week 1, you follow this back-and-forth pattern. Then, in Week 2, you adjust by 90 degrees and go back and forth parallel to the front of the house and the front walk (or perpendicular to how you mowed in Week 1). Week 3 is diagonal one way, and Week 4 is diagonal the other way, eventually producing a sort of "X" effect that is unique and attractive.

The overall impact of this rotational method ensures the grass ultimately grows in a more upright line out of the ground. To make this completely effective, it's important the mower blades are sharper than sharp.

Vary Your Patterns, Too!

There are all kinds of patterns to follow as well. Those who have larger lawns and acreages sometimes will employ one of the following:

• Concentric circles
• Uneven lines
• Waves (sometimes referred to as "bumps" or "curves")
• Diamond/crisscross

Pattern choice is dictated primarily by the size and shape of a lawn or field, the type of grass growing, the equipment at your disposal, and just how creative you want to be all play into patterned lawn mowing. This lawn care method is easy, and homeowners and commercial lawn care contractors do this regularly.

Of course, hiring a lawn care professional like us will ensure your lawn is always healthy and looking its best! Reach out to the team at Lawn Pros of Tallahassee for expert lawn mowing that will keep your lawn looking great year-round.