How to Mow Your Lawn
Regular lawn mowing strengthens your lawn and ensures thicker, healthier growth. Learn how to do it right, so you can reap the benefits of a lush lawn for years to come.
Overview: Starter Tips
• Optimum height: 1 ¼–2 inches for high-use lawns, ¾–1 ¼ inches for ornamental lawns, 2–2 ½ inches for shaded lawns.
• Mow the lawn before fertilizing; wait to mow again two weeks after fertilizing.
• Lawns should not be mowed while wet.
• Have the cutting blade sharpened by a professional at least once a year.
• Cut lawn edges first, then mow larger areas.
• Mow uneven surfaces across slopes in even strips.
As soon as the ground temperatures reach above freezing in spring, you can start mowing your lawn regularly.
Mow your lawn every four to seven days, or at least once a week. Depending on the growth and type of lawn, it may be necessary to mow more frequently, especially in spring. If your lawn grows more than an inch a week, you should use the lawn mower twice a week.
Lawn Care Guide
Need to know the best cutting height to cut for your grass and yard type? What about the best equipment for your needs? Can you mow newly planted grass or a wet lawn? You'll find answers to these questions and more below. Be sure to check out lawn maintenance recommendations for your specific geographical area as certain grasses and climates may have different requirements.
A well-maintained lawn should be about two-inches high. Too high a lawn makes the soil susceptible to weeds and overgrowth. Blades of grass that are too short, on the other hand, can no longer protect the soil from diseases. A short lawn can suffer, especially in sunshine and hot periods, as the grass burns and the soil dries out due to a lack of water. Leaving the grass about two-inches long in the summer allows the soil underneath to stay nice and cool.
You can get away with a shorter height for lawns which don’t experience much traffic from family and pets and are mostly decorative. Your grass can withstand a shorter cut of ¾–1 ¼ inches. However, the higher the temperatures, the higher the grass should be; in the hot summer, set your mower for a higher cut.
A shady lawn can and should grow higher. Keep the blade height 2–2 ½ inches all year round so that the grasses have more space to absorb much-needed sunlight. Also make sure that shaded grass gets enough water. Surrounding hedges, shrubs, and trees often compete for resources.
New planting requires patience. While grass is germinating, your lawn needs adequate watering and rest. A young lawn can only be mowed for the first time when it has grown to a height of three-to-four inches. The first time you mow new grass, make sure your blades are very sharp to avoid damaging still-young shoots.
Avoid mowing wet lawns. However, when you really need to get it done, use these tips to help avoid damage:
- Do not walk on the lawn before mowing.
- Do not leave wet grass clippings laying on the lawn.
- Use a grass catcher and empty it often to decrease the weight of the mower on your grass.
- Use freshly sharpened lawn mower blades.
- Set your mower height higher than normal.
Depending on the season, the weather, and the grass type, lawns can grow unevenly. Custom set your cutting height before each mowing session to maintain evenness.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
STIHL offers homeowners and professionals the tools they need to create and maintain beautiful outdoor spaces. Choose from high-performing gas equipment, or go for the innovation and convenience of STIHL battery power.
Battery-Powered Mowers
STIHL feature-rich battery-powered lawn mowers offer walk-behind or self-propelled models.
Zero-Turn Mowers
With 25 models available for homeowners and professionals, STIHL zero-turn mowers are packed with features to help users pursue their perfect cut. Limited stock available at select STIHL Dealers. Find a Dealer Near You
Battery-Powered Trimmers
Lightweight, quiet, and convenient, STIHL battery-powered trimmers let you take care of tight spaces and put finishing touches on your lawn.
Gas Trimmers and Brushcutters
These powerful tools are just the ticket for stubborn weeds, thick grass, and heavy brush, bringing you legendary STIHL performance with every pass.
LAWN CARE BY SEASON
Every season requires a different approach to lawn care. Here are a few easy ways you can make the most of each one.
Spring
Clear your landscape of leaves and limbs. Fertilize the lawn. Perform your first mow, and mow every week thereafter.
Summer
Check the health of your lawn regularly and water as needed. Don’t mow your grass too short.
Fall
Remove leaves and debris from the lawn regularly to avoid fungus and mold growth. Mow for the last time when you notice growth has stopped. Apply a fertilizer with potassium.
Winter
Keep the lawn clear of heavy debris like fallen branches that could create bare spots. When possible, stay off the grass to allow it to properly rest.
MAINTENANCE AND USE OF MOWERS
A well-maintained mower is your most important companion if you want a well-groomed lawn. If you use your mower properly, your lawn will thank you too. We recommend that you always use the lawn mower in accordance with the instruction manual.
Additional lawn mower maintenance tips
Lawn mowers must have sharp blades so that the grass is evenly cut. Ideally, blades should be sharpened every 20-to-25 working hours and before each season.
Mowing with damaged blades can be dangerous for you and damaging to the look of your yard. Inspect blade condition often, looking for cracks and notches. Visit a professional to replace mower blades when needed. Always make sure your equipment is turned off and unplugged before inspecting or cleaning blades.
