Proper and regular mowing of your lawn can go a long way to avoiding those grass problems that start with simple unintentional neglect. Moreover, unless you have grazing sheep, mowing grass to the correct height is necessary for an attractive and healthy lawn. So what do you do first before mowing the lawn? Certainly one thing you want to do before mowing the lawn is to properly set the mowing height of your machine. For the most common species of grass (perennial ryegrass, Kentucky blue, bents and fescues) two and a half inches is the maximum height you would want to go and it is best not to have it shorter than one and a half inches. Cutting too short will cause the lawn to brown and it will not retain moisture which causes undue stress on the lawns root system. Apart from this, having the blade set too low could cause scalping - a condition where parts of the lawn are cut bare by the mower blade. Equally detrimental to a healthy lawn is having the blade set too high which could cause problems when the grass is cut the next time. As well as being unattractive when the grass is too high, the next time it is cut it will expose the previously shaded lower grass to the sun causing burning and browning of the lawn. Longer grass is also more difficult to cut so it is best to keep it at the right height. If the grass does get extra long it is a good rule of thumb to never cut more than one third of its length at one time. Of course, now that you have the mower set for the ideal height and before you actually start cutting you want to clear the lawn of pet and animal droppings, debris and anything that could potentially damage the mower or pose a safety risk. Now would be a good time to plan the cutting strategy remembering to not cut in the same direction as you did last time as this could result in a washboard appearance on the cut lawn.
Cut the grass as often as necessary and that usually means once a week but could be twice a week in the hot summer months. A good strategy is to cut in straight lines overlapping each strip by about three inches. When you come to an obstacle like a flower bed, bush or tree it is advisable to cut a strip around the obstacle a row or two wide and then continue with your original pattern. This makes sure you get all the blades of grass in the most efficient manner. You can either collect the clippings or leave them on the ground as mulch. A word of caution here. You do not want clumpy clippings left on the lawn because they could cause the grass to die or promote the growth of moss. Always attempt to mow in a forward direction for the best cut and for safety. Once you are finished mowing make sure you clean your machine before you put it away. Practicing a regular mowing routine can help avoid grass problems.
Frank Angus who sometime writes under the pen name Angeee is also a dedicated lawn care enthusiast. You can read some of Franks's work here.
http://www.grassproblems.net
http://www.grassproblems.net/grass-problems/do-you-have-grass-problems
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