Mower Mistakes: 10 Blunders To Avoid With Your Lawnmower

Are you making these mower mistakes? From cutting the grass too short to letting the blades get dull, below are 10 common blunders that people make with lawnmowers. 

Buying the wrong mower

The first big mistake that many lawn mower owners make is choosing the wrong type of mower. There are two main types of mowers used in modern gardens: electric mowers and petrol mowers.

The electric lawn mower is a quieter, lighter and more eco-friendly option. It’s recommended for those who have smaller gardens, those who find mowing strenuous and those who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

Petrol lawn mowers are more powerful and have more range. They are better suited for those that have large gardens, or those that have sloped lawns or quite bumpy lawns. These mowers are generally more expensive to buy and run. 

Mowing the grass when wet

The worst time to attempt to mow your lawn is after it has been raining. Wet grass does not cut easily – it clumps together and may end up clogging the blades.

For a smooth and easy cut, mow your lawn when the grass is dry. Check the forecast and avoid scheduling mowing for after a night of rain. During periods of drought, aim to water your grass after mowing it. 

Cutting the grass too short

A lot of modern lawn mowers allow you to adjust the blade height. For some gardeners, it can be tempting to give a lawn a buzz cut to reduce the need to mow it again as soon.

However, cutting the grass too short can actually damage your grass. This is because your grass’s blades need a certain amount of sunlight for energy and reducing the height of your grass too much prevents the grass from being able to do this.

How short should you cut your grass? Ideally, grass should be kept at a height of between 2.5cm and 4cm.

This keeps it looking neat, while enabling photosynthesis. Letting grass grow a little longer is recommended in shady areas.

Allowing the grass to get too long

Letting grass get too long can make it harder to cut with a mower. The height limit is usually about 15cm.

If grass grows beyond this, you’ll need to cut it back with shears or a strimmer because a mower won’t be able to handle it.

Make sure you’re mowing regularly enough that your grass doesn’t get too long. Grass grows faster in summer, so you’ll need to mow more frequently during this season. Certain types of grass may grow at faster or slower rates. 

Mowing too frequently

While frequent mowing will stop your lawn gettin too long, you also don’t want to mow too frequently.

Anything more frequent than once per week is generally overkill and could stress your grass out, causing it to become weak.

If you’re not getting rid of grass clippings, frequent mowing could also lead to thatch build-up, which will make it harder for light to reach your grass.

Once every week or once every other week is all that’s necessary in the summer. In cooler seasons, you don’t need to know as often, and it’s generally not necessary at all in winter as grass becomes dormant in this season. 

Moving in one direction

Did you know that you can damage grass by only mowing in one direction? You may experience rutting if you don’t frequently change the direction that you cut, plus grass may start to grow to one side. 

Alternating the direction you mow helps to keep grass growth healthy. Think about this as you’re doing your lawn stripes. 

Not cleaning your mower

A lot of people never clean their mower. This can cause your mower to become rusty, while grass could clog up parts of your machine such as the blades.

A quick clean after each use is recommended to extend the life of your machine. This post offers more tips on how to clean your lawn mower for those instances when you want it to really shine. 

Letting the blades get dull

The blades of your lawn mower need to be sharp enough to efficiently cut through the grass. Over time, the blades are likely to get dull.

You may notice that your lawn looks more ragged after mowing it and that the grass is harder to cut. This is a sign that you need to sharpen those blades.

A mower repair centre can sharpen your mower blades for you. Alternatively, you can buy yourself a blade sharpener and do it yourself. This post has some tips on how to sharpen lawnmower blades. 

Storing your mower incorrectly

Incorrect storage of a mower can also lead to issues. There are a couple storage mistakes that people make. 

Firstly, all mowers should be kept sheltered indoors somewhere rather than left outdoors. Rain or frost could quickly corrode your machine.

A shed is the most common place to store a mower, however you need to make sure this shed is leak-proof. 

Petrol mowers meanwhile should never be stored on their sides. Mower engines are designed to be kept level and petrol can leak into the wrong parts if the engine is titled too much. Consider this when storing away your mower. 

Ignoring strange noises and smells

Finally, it’s important to know when your mower is experiencing serious problems.

Bangs, clunks and rumbles are generally a sign that something is wrong with your lawn mower – you do not want to keep using the mower until it breaks down, as this could cause further damage.

As for smells, never ignore a burning smell. This could be a belt problem or an oil leak. There could be a risk that your mower is about to go up in flames, so stop using it immediately and take it to your local mower doctor.

Conclusion

Avoiding these mowing mistakes will extend the life of your mower and help you to maintain a beautiful lawn. Start adopting the right lawn care methods today.