What is the best way to cut grass with a riding lawn mower?

A riding lawnmower is fast; it saves a lot of time and sweat. When you have a more extensive lawn, your day will be a lot more productive. But what is the best way to cut grass with a riding lawnmower? What should you do to have the best result? And are there ways to make the job even faster and easier? The following blog post will help you with tips and guidelines to cut your grass using a riding lawnmower even better than before.

What is the best way to cut grass with a riding lawn mower? These tips will improve your result:

• Mowing Height: Always make sure that you set the mowing height as recommended for the grass type in your garden.
• Time: Avoid mowing when it’s too hot or when the grass is wet. The ideal mowing time of the day is the evening.
• Blades: Ensure that your cutting blades aren’t blunt or have broken edges. Sharp blades provide better cutting patterns.
• Lawnmower maintenance: Check whether your lawnmower doesn’t misfire or sputter and has an adequate fuel quantity in the tank.
• Mowing Pattern: alternate mowing patterns

To further elaborate on the steps mentioned above, we suggest you keep reading this blog post.

What is a riding lawnmower?

A riding lawnmower, a ride on mower, or a tractor lawnmower is a type of lawnmower driven by a driver who sits on its back, rather than pushing or towing it. It looks like a small tractor, operated with a battery and fuel. It uses one or more blades to cut the grass. A riding lawnmower is quicker to work with, saves energy and time.

Precautionary measures to be taken before using a riding lawnmower:

It would be best if you didn’t deal with unnecessary injuries while you use the lawnmower. So, the following precautionary measures are to be taken before you put the lawnmower into use:

1) Read user’s manual:

Each brand-new riding lawnmower comes with a user’s manual. You must read it entirely and take all the notes. The warning labels are especially to be kept in mind.

2) Wear the right gear:

Wearing the right kind of clothes is very important. It would be best if you went for tucked-in shirts along with long pants and boots. This is done to protect you from grass blades that can injure you while you mow the lawn. Furthermore, avoid wearing loose clothes, as any part of your clothing may get stuck into the lawnmower, or an insect may get into your clothes.

3) Wear safety goggles:

There are often small specs of stones and debris in the lawn. While you are cutting the grass with a riding lawnmower, the grass may get into your eyes and cause severe injury. So, it is best to wear safety goggles.

How to cut grass with a riding lawnmower?

Mowing is a crucial and mandatory activity to maintain a beautiful and blooming lawn. Mowing aids in getting fuller grass and, as a result, halts the growth of weeds. The lawnmower cuts the upper part of the grass, which is the oldest part. This helps in developing an extended root mechanism for grass.

Following are the points that shall help you in mowing the lawn with a riding lawnmower:

How and when to mow a lawn?

How and when you cut the grass is the key to develop a great lawn. It is best advised not to mow your lawn repeatedly as it can burn the grass.

1. Length of the grass:

Each type of grass has its advised mowing height. The first step is to figure out the type of grass you have in your garden.

The rule that experts advise is to cut 1/3^rd of the grass length. Lawnmower should only be used when the grass of different types reach a certain length. The lengths along with grass types are mentioned below:

Grass-type	Only use the lawnmower when the respective grass type reaches the following length
Bahia	2-2.5 inches
Zoysia	1-2 inches
Fescue	2-3 inches
Centipede	1.5-2 inches
Perennial ryegrass	2-3 inches
Bluegrass	2-2.5 inches
Bermuda	1.5-2 inches

Make sure that the grass is well-rooted. Don’t cut the grass short.

2. Time:

The next important thing is to cut the grass at the right time of the day.

• Hot time of the day: Don’t mow when it’s too hot, especially in the afternoon. As the heat of the sun might damage the freshly cut grass.
• Wet grass: Please don’t cut the grass when it’s wet. The grass is most likely to be wet in the morning due to the dew. Wet grass can damage the lawnmower blades.
• Evening mowing: The ideal time to mow the grass is in the evening, as this gives the freshly cut grass about 12 hours to settle until the sun comes out the next day.
• Mowing after fertilizing the soil: Avoid mowing the grass if you have added fertilizer to it. It is preferable to cut the grass after 24 hours of when you added the fertilizer.

3.How to set the grass mowing schedule?

People often think that it’s essential to cut the grass by following a specific schedule. But that is wrong.

Experts say that there is no schedule to cut the grass; mowing depends upon the grass type. You have to study the grass growth closely and determine whether to cut it or not accordingly. For instance, during the summer season, the grass growth rate reduces. Therefore, you don’t need to cut it weekly, or you will end up having shorter grass.

4. Sharp Blades:

It would be best if you use sharp blades to give the grass a cleanly cut look.

• Check blade sharpness: Before mowing, the lawnmower blades should be checked, as blunt or rusty blades will result in a nasty cut.
• Sharpening frequency: It is advised to sharpen the lawnmower blades every four to six weeks. It is better to have an extra blade set on hand.
• Better productivity: Sharp blades also help save your time, as the sharper the blade, the quicker the grass will be cut.

5. Check the lawnmower fuel:

The lawnmower fuel should be checked before putting it to use. If you run out of fuel while cutting the grass, the lawnmower should not be refilled because it is hot at that time and may cause you injuries. Make sure that gas is not too old. Old gas can make your engine run poorly.

Mowing the grass in alternate patterns:

There is a debate on what Pattern to follow while mowing the lawn. But experts have concluded that it is best to try alternate mowing patterns. This allows soil compaction and helps to keep the grass healthier.

Following are the patterns that can be generated using the riding lawnmower:

1.  Stripes:

Have you ever been to a golf course or a baseball field? If yes, you will agree that the Pattern on the field there is stripes!

• Up dan down: The stripes pattern is made by mowing your yard in one direction and then making 180 degrees turn to create the next stripe in the opposite direction.
• Two colors: This produces grass of two different colors; lighter and darker. This is because the grass is tilted in two opposite directions.
• Horizontal or vertical: You can form either horizontal or vertical stripes, but keep alternating this scheme every time you mow the lawn.

2.  Rings:

The most comfortable lawn mowing pattern is mowing in circles.

• Start at the edge: Start mowing from the lawn edges and keep moving until you reach the center of the lawn.
• No calculation needed: This Pattern requires no calculation of the number of degrees you should move the lawnmower in, and you also don’t have to worry about straight lines.

Leave some grass clippings on the lawn:

This may sound silly, but it’s a pro-tip. Leaving some grass clippings on the lawn will supply nitrogen and some other essential nutrients to the soil. These clippings act as a fertilizer.

How to mow the grass on a hill:

If you reside in a hilly area and your lawn’s ground is not flat, then mowing can be a challenging task

It is advised to use the lawnmower horizontally on hilly areas as the lawnmower might acquire extra speed while moving down the hill, and resultantly you can lose control. This can cause severe injuries.

For a hands-on demonstration of the best ways to cut grass with a riding lawnmower, you should watch the following video:

Related Questions:

1. What is the maximum length of grass that I can cut using a riding lawnmower?

• The ideal is 2 inches: Lawn mowing is vital to have a beautiful lawn. But, cutting the grass to a proper length is even more essential. Mostly it is ideal for cutting about 2 inches of grass using a lawnmower
• Manual: To check your lawnmower’s cutting length capacity, you should refer to its user manual and figure out the mower’s deck height.
• Deck height from 4 to 6 inches: Most of the lawnmowers have a deck height of about 6 inches, but some may have a 4 inches deck height. In this case, it is difficult for the lawnmower to cut the grass smoothly

2. How long does it take for a riding lawnmower to cut an acre of grass?

• Depending on the mower type and size: The time in which a lawnmower can cut an acre of grass depends upon the lawnmower type and size of its cutting deck.
• From 1 to 2 hours: A lawnmower with 21 inches cutting deck may take up to two hours, while a lawnmower with 35 inches cutting deck will do the work in an hour.

3. Why does my riding lawnmower leave behind strips of grass?

If your riding lawnmower leaves behind some strips of grass uncut, it may be due to the following reasons:

– Blunt blades:

Blunt-bladed can leave behind some pieces of grass uncut. Make sure that the lawnmower blades are sharp before cutting the grass. It is recommended to install new blades after six weeks. Avoid cutting wet grass with the lawnmower as it can damage the lawnmower blades and makes them rusty.

– Unbalanced blades:

Unbalanced blades can leave some stripes of grass uncut. Make sure that the blades are installed in the wrong direction. Also, check for loose blades; blades should be tightened with the lawnmower’s deck firmly.

Final Remarks:

To maintain a great lawn, mowing is important. If lawn mowing is done correctly, it will produce greener and thicker grass throughout the whole season. Maintaining the lawn in the correct shape is easy; you have to keep some things in mind. Mow the lawn at the right time, keep changing the mowing patterns and use sharp blades. Also, don’t forget to wear the right gear before using the lawnmower. The lawnmower’s other parts such as filters, blades, fuel, and spark should also be maintained regularly to prolong the lawnmower’s life.