Did you know that a well-kept lawn can raise your home’s value by 15%? Whether or not you plan to sell your home, your lawn can create a lasting impact on your neighbors and friends. It is always a good idea to improve the curb appeal of your home, whether it is for birthday parties, cookouts, or any other occasion. You are giving an appealing, beautiful backdrop for your friends and family to meet and celebrate.
Keep in mind that it is not necessary to have a lavish setting. You do not need big bushes or a plethora of flower bouquets. Putting your lawn’s lush, healthy grass at the front and center is a simple remedy. Allowing your lawn to sit there uninspired is not doing it any favors. Laying down mowing patterns or stripes is the best approach to “inspire” those grass blades.
Some Benefits of Using Patterns on Your Lawn
Obviously, the biggest benefit is the accurate and well-kept appearance of patterns on your grass. When people walk out their front door, they want to feel like they are walking across the recognizable checkerboard pattern of a Major League Baseball outfield.
However, many benefits are not so evident. Here’s some useful information regarding these grass patterns:
Reduce the amount of damage to your lawn – If you have slipped into the poor habit of cutting your grass the same way every time, you are not alone. The utilization of the same mowing pattern or stripe regularly may result in a variety of issues. It can compact the soil, affecting the grass’s general health. Nutrients, oxygen, and water cannot freely flow through compacted soil.
These are necessary for a healthy turf, which is why some lawns require aeration at some point. The frequent use of the same paths repeatedly might wear down your grass. What started off as simple tire tracks might turn into definite ruts in your yard’s surface.
Improve your lawn’s overall health – Raising your lawnmower blades and cutting the grass at a higher height can help you produce excellent patterns or stripes on your lawn. There is less physical grass blade when your mower cuts the grass at a lower level. Because the grass has a smaller surface area, it absorbs less of the sunlight required for photosynthesis. Plants get their sustenance from photosynthesis. Less nourishment means weaker grass, which is more susceptible to disease infiltration.
Covers up imperfections – A flaw can be found anywhere in your yard’s lush greenery. Every lawn has an imperfection somewhere, whether it is uneven ground, a localized dead spot, or a patch of weeds. This is one of the reasons that golf courses always appear to have perfectly manicured grass.
Even though they are not without flaws, they simply appear to be that way. Lawn designs provide the impression that the grass is in pristine condition. All you need is that illusion to be the talk of the neighborhood.
Adequate Preparation is Needed
Make sure your lawn care equipment is suited to the task before heading outside to lay down a pattern or stripe. It’s the tiny things that add up to a big difference. Here are some things to be aware of:
1. Ensure the Lawnmower Is Safe to Use
The engine of your lawnmower must be maintained regularly. If this is not up to par, everything else may suffer as a result. The engine must be in perfect working order as if it were just taken off the showroom floor.
- Check to see whether the oil needs to be changed, and that it is filled to the right level
- Remove the engine cover and inspect it. Remove any debris or sludge that has accumulated over time around the engine and fan.
- Fill up the gas tank with new gasoline. Take the time to put a fuel additive if this is your first mowing session of the year. This can help you avoid any issues that may arise during the season.
- Increase the engine’s power and check to see whether it sounds right.
2. Sharpen Each Blade until It Has a Razor-sharp Edge
It does not matter whether your engine is working properly if your blades are dull. They may not only harm your lawn, but they can also make your engine work harder than it needs to. This may result in unnecessary wear and strain on the grass and the equipment, which could have been avoided.
Keep in mind that you are about to create complicated patterns in your yard. As a result, you must ensure that your unit is operating at peak efficiency. At the end of the day, you are only as good as your tools.
3. Check Tire Pressure
Before you begin, make sure your tires are properly inflated. If one tire is underinflated, even if only slightly, the mower may cut your lawn unevenly. While this may appear to be insignificant, it can have a significant impact on the appearance of your lawn cutting patterns.
Tips Creating Professional Patterns for Lawn Mowing
It Is more effective with cool-season grass
Cool-season grasses are richer, greener, and more flexible than warm-season grass. Because of their decreased water content, warm-season grasses are a little rougher and stiffer. As a result, good cool-season grass may perform better when creating patterns.
Use reflection
Lawn striping is commonly misunderstood to be achieved by cutting the grass at different heights. Although each stripe appears to have different heights, this is not the case. Light refracts off the grass blades to create effective stripes.
Bending the grass in different directions creates the effect. When mowing stripes, bend each stripe’s grass blades in the opposing direction. The blades of dark stripes are curved towards you, while white stripes are bent away from you. Because of the turf grass’s shadow (or lack thereof), it seems light and dark.
Allow the pavements to be your guide
You can navigate via the driveway, walkway, or other hardscape features. Straight lines can be achieved by running parallel or perpendicular to these. Because most patterns require straight lines, look for a straight item on or near your property that can serve as a navigational aid.
Cut against the grain
Remember that whether you’re making plain lines, a crisscross, checkerboard, zig zag, diagonal, or wavy patterns, you must mow in opposite directions to get the desired effect and contrast.
Create a perimeter
Regardless of the pattern you choose, the first step should always be to trim around the edge of your lawn. This may allow you to account for any terrain bends and swells that can alter the straight lines you are after. You should complete the task by mowing the perimeter once more. This pass may smooth off any bumps in your route.
Use a lawn roller
If you want the stripes to stand out, even more, bend the grass closer to the earth. The simplest method is to use a grass roller. A striping kit for your mower is another option. Rollers and striping kits function by bending the grass closer to the ground. The light levels on the blades may rise or decrease depending on where you are standing. These kits are available for purchase online, or you can make one yourself if you are feeling creative.
Final Thoughts
Mowing the grass doesn’t have to be a chore—try inventing lawn mowing patterns to make it more enjoyable! Whether you are competing with a friend or simply want to try something new, follow the above steps and tips to create your own amazing patterns.
