Even though mowing your lawn is a staple on your yard to-do list, sometimes you need to change things up and try something different. The next time you get your mower ready for a fresh cut, try a mowing pattern to give your lawn a new look.
Here are a few pattern techniques and tips to transform your lawn into a work of art this summer:
Lawn striping
This technique bends the grass so the light reflects on your lawn, creating a pattern. The best results are achieved when you attach a roller to the back of your mower that will press the grass to the ground.
Regular stripes and plaid stripes
To create either of these common patterns, begin by mowing the perimeter of your lawn. Next, mow back and forth in opposite directions through your entire lawn. When turning at the end of each row, try taking a Y-turn to reduce turf damage. Go over the perimeter once more at the end to cover up any offsets in the pattern. To turn regular stripes into plaid stripes, mow straight lines back and forth in the opposite direction of entire lawn. Finish the job by going over the perimeter once more.
Diagonal and crisscross patterns
If you want to try a new lawn striping technique, follow the same steps as above, but mow in a diagonal direction to your previous pattern to create a diagonal or crisscross lawn pattern
While mowing patterns give an instant aesthetic appeal to your yard, it's still important to keep these mowing tips in mind to make sure you are achieving the desirable outcome:
- Cutting height: The cutting height you choose will affect the striping intensity. Cutting the grass short will create a less visible stripe since the shorter grass blade will not bend over as far and therefore reflect less light. A longer cut will enhance the striping pattern and create a noticeable difference.
- Grass type: Certain types of grass will also bend more easily and provide a better stripe pattern. Warm season grasses that are typically found in the southern regions of the United States are typically more difficult to stripe as they are more rigid and harder to bend.
- Alternate patterns: When mowing in a pattern, vary the pattern every two to three weeks to maintain healthy growth. If you mow in the same direction constantly, the grass will not grow properly and can compress the soil.
