The warmer months of the year bring out the inner perfectionist in most homeowners as they try to have the best-looking lawn anywhere in their neighborhood. From complex mowing patterns to unique flower bed installations and other accessories, summer is a period of careful attention to detail outdoors. Perfection, though, seems to still be up for a good bit of debate. Many homeowners use different mowing patterns and swear that theirs is the best, while others profess to have the shortest, or most natural-looking lawn on the block. The truth, though, is that mowing and perfection are both highly subjective. Adhering to a few broader themes will allow homeowners to at least achieve their own idea of perfection, even if their neighbors insist on debating them about their methods.
The Best Lawn Pattern: Does It Really Make a Difference?
When it comes to the mowing pattern used by any homeowner, they typically pick an option that they feel looks aesthetically pleasing, requires the least effort, and inflicts a minimal amount of wear and tear on their riding mower or walk behind model. This typically boils down to one of the oldest debates in landscaping and lawn care: Spiral patterns vs. alternating rows. While many homeowners claim that the spiral saves on overall turns and is more efficient, there’s a far less contentious truth about it all.
In the kind of study that could only be down by Popular Mechanics, the publication’s authors set out to determine which mowing pattern was more efficient, less maintenance-intensive, and involved less overall turns. Their findings were conclusive, though neither side of the debate stands to benefit. Both mowing patterns inflicted the same minimal amount of wear and tear on the mower, while the number of turns required to mow the same lawn actually turned out to be equal. In this case, these patterns and more advanced undertakings are all worthy of being pursued by the average homeowner. The real debate, though, has everything to do with personal taste and nothing to do with overall maintenance or turns.
Lawn Height Should Be Determined by Grass Type More Than Personal Preference
Homeowners tend to have an ideal vision of what their lawn looks like, and a key part of that vision is the actual length of the lawn after the mower has finished its work. Some homeowners swear by turf-style mowing that cuts grass down almost to the ground. Others are fond of the all-natural look, with slightly longer blades of grass that don’t look so uniformly mowed and maintained. When it comes to grass height, though, the jury is not out. In fact, the height of a mower blade has more to do with the type of grass a homeowner is mowing than it does with their personal preference.
Instead of pursuing aesthetically pleasing results for the lawn, homeowners should research the kind of grass they have and then pursue a cutting length that keeps their lawn healthier and greener throughout the season. Some grasses simply need a longer length to flourish, while others can be cut to turf-level lengths without suffering very much at all. By cutting grass in line with its ideal height, homeowners can have a lawn that is not only perfectly maintained, but also sufficiently healthy to withstand anything that spring or summer might throw at it.
Perfect Safety Procedures Will Ensure Good Mowing All Summer Long
Finally, it’s important not to forget the importance of proper safety and maintenance all year long, no matter the length of the grass blades or the pattern being used to show them off. Homeowners should remember the basics. That includes mowing across hills, rather than up and down the slope. Obstacles, animals, and children should all be removed from outdoor areas during mowing, as well, and homeowners should be sure to wear protective eye gear during mowing and any other landscaping task that involves using power equipment. The damage done by debris is simply too severe and too risky to avoid wearing protective eye gear.
Mowers should always be turned off when maintenance is performed on the engine or another part of the equipment. If removing a blockage, refilling the mower’s fuel tank, or performing an oil change, be sure that the equipment has been turned off for at least 30 minutes and that it has cooled down sufficiently. This will protect against accidental burns and even potential engine fires.
Choose CubParts.com for Maintenance Needs and Safety Gear
For everything from protective eyewear to OEM replacement parts for all Cub Cadet models, be sure to choose CubParts.com. With years if power equipment industry experience and expert technicians, they’ll be able to recommend the best safety gear and mower parts to keep homeowners safe and sound throughout the season. Using the company’s safety and maintenance expertise will further ensure that a homeowner is as safe and efficient as their mowing and landscaping routines are.
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