The Art of Mowing
Did you know that mowing is a form of art? No? Well, to be honest it may only be us and a select few others that believe that statement but we’re going to go through why we think that anyway!
The trusty mower can be seen as one of the most important gardening tools. It can separate a good lawn from a great one, and if you know how to maintain your mower it can last for many years to come and still produce the lovely, luscious lawn that you’re after.
So in this guide we’ll be delving into details on which mower to buy, when to mow throughout the different seasons and how to maintain your mower.
Which Mower is Right for Me?
This depends on a number of factors. Do you have a small/large lawn? Do you want a professional finish? Or, do you literally want to heave the mower out of the shed and get the job done as quickly as possible?
As there are a few choices, below is a list of the different types of mower available:
- Cylinder
Cylinder mowers give the highest quality cut due to the scissor-like action, meaning the blades can achieve a very fine cut.
| Pros | Cons |
| High quality | Time Consuming |
| Suitable for fine lawns and sports turf | |
| Can achieve striped finish and is able to cut low to the ground |
- Rotary
Rotary mowers are great for most ornamental lawns and small to medium sized gardens. The horizontally spinning blade does not cut as fine as a cylinder mower.
| Pros | Cons |
| High quality | Not as fine a cut as cylinder mowers |
| Suitable for fine lawns and sports turf | |
| Can achieve striped finish and is able to cut low to the ground |
- Hover
Hover mowers are a popular choice for an everyday lawn as they can easily moq over uneven ground and longer grass (if it has been a while since it was trimmed)
| Pros | Cons |
| High quality cut | No self propelled models |
| Suitable for fine lawns and sports turf | |
| Will cut over uneven ground and tall grass |
- Cordless
These mowers can come with cylinder or rotary blades and are usually reserved for larger lawns. Due to this they can be more expensive than other options.
| Pros | Cons |
| Choice of cylinder or rotary blade | can be expensive |
| Suitable for fine lawns and sports turf | |
| Can achieve striped finish |
“How Often Should I Mow?”
This common question depends on the time of year and general weather conditions. As a quick guide we recommend the following:
Spring
How often?
This is the time of year when you can bring your mower out from hibernation for what’s typically referred to as ‘the first mow’. As a general rule, set the mower height to its highest setting and gradually reduce this as time goes on and it starts getting towards the sunny months.
How low can you mow?
Highest mower setting
Summer
How often?
It’s that time of year when you can (maybe) bring your shorts and t-shirt out from hibernation if you live in the UK. As a general rule, we recommend mowing your lawn twice per week but drop this back down to once when the temperature soars (yes, we know it may not be that often in the UK but in the rare instance it does, you know what to do!). A handy tip is not to mow the grass on too low of a setting as this can cause browning of the grass blades.
How low can you mow?
13 – 25mm or ½ - 1 inch
Autumn
How often?
As the temperatures start to drop once more and leaves may be strewn across your lawn, it’s time to think about the last mow of the year. The last mow can typically be carried out from October to November depending on weather conditions.
How low can you mow?
6 – 13mm or 1/4 – 1/2 inch
Winter
How often?
- Generally we recommend not mowing at all. If the weather is around 5° and below turf growth tends to slow and stop all together if completely frozen. Mowing the lawn during winter months when it’s frosty and/or wet can damage the lawn. Don’t worry though, it’ll soon be spring time once more and you can start the whole process once more!
How low can you mow?
13 – 25mm or ½ - 1 inch
