Bad Boy 2011 - Mowing Tips; Mowing Techniques and Grass Height; Mowing Conditions and Clipping Management; Blade Sharpness and Oil Changes

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Mowing tips:
• Mow header strips at the ends of the lawn and around flower beds first. Make
them wide enough that you can turn the mower around in the already mown
section. Then mow back and forth between these header strips overlapping each
lap by about 1/8 the width of the mower's deck.
• Don't cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher heights
usually provide for a deeper root system, looks better, and is less likely to have
weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.
• Don't remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If
circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch
to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowings to get
caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings.
• NEVER SCALP YOUR LAWN. Scalping severely damages the root system to such a
degree that it may die.
• Avoid mowing when the grass is wet or when it's dark
• Avoid throwing grass clippings into the street and driveway where they can be
washed into the sewer system. After mowing, clean up driveway and walkways.
•
When mowing remove only a third with each cutting (except for the first mowing
of the season when it's ok to remove more). You can safely leave clippings that
will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular
opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of
about 75% water.
• Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of
shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass
blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.
• Keep your mower's blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times
during the mowing season. Keep several blades around so you'll always have a
sharp one on hand. Sharp blades cut the grass cleanly and help mulch clippings
into small pieces which break down quickly.
• Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season.
For brand new mowers, change the oil after about 5 hours of operation during the
initial break-in period.
• At the end of the mowing season use a fuel stabilizer in the remaining gasoline
• In the spring, don't use that old gas unless you properly used a fuel stabilizer, it
can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new
mowing season.