Lawn mowing is an essential part of keeping your lawn in excellent condition. Not only does it help keep your home’s curb appeal looking its best, but it also improves the health of your grass and reduces the time spent maintaining your yard.
How to Mow Your Grass
Mowing your lawn is a crucial part of keeping it looking its best. It takes a little work but can be quick and painless when you know the proper steps.
Start by clearing everything from your yard that could impede your mowing. This includes sticks, rocks, and branches that can fall off your mower and obstruct your path.
Once you’ve removed all of the obstacles, it’s time to cut the grass. Set your mower only to cut the top third of your grass, encouraging it to grow more deeply into the soil.
Then, alternate mowing directions each time you mow to help your grass stand up straighter and reduce soil compaction. Alternating directions at right angles or diagonals also helps control creeping grass runners and facilitate thatch development.
It’s easy to get into a rut, so vary your mowing pattern. Doing so will help your grass grow fuller and avoid thick wheel ruts.
Choosing the Right Mower
Choosing the right mower for your yard can make all the difference to your lawn mowing Arlington VA. It will allow you to cut your grass quickly and efficiently, reducing the time it takes to do your yard.
First, consider your yard’s size and terrain. Whether you’re mowing a small or large yard, a self-propelled mower will likely work better for you than a riding mower if there are any hills or obstacles to navigate.
Next, decide what features you want. If you need help with what you need, ask for help from a knowledgeable sales representative.
Another consideration is fuel efficiency. The more efficient a gas mower is, the more runtime you’ll get per gallon of gas used, so it’s essential to consider this when deciding what type of mower to buy.
Lastly, try to find a mower with ground speed control. This feature lets you adjust the cutting height while pushing the mower to save fuel and prevent damage to the deck.
Getting Started
One of the most significant advantages of a lawn mowing business is the customer base you can build over time. Once a customer is happy with your work, they’ll likely tell their friends about you, bringing more customers in to mow their lawn.
Once you’ve established a loyal customer base, you can expand your business by offering additional outdoor services like weeding and pruning trees. This will bring in new customers and keep your current ones returning for more.
Before you start, you must decide how much to charge and what equipment you want to use. A good mower will cut grass evenly and safely and be easy to maintain. You’ll also need insurance.
Safety First
Safety is among the most important things to remember when mowing your lawn. It is a fact that lawnmowers are some of the most dangerous household tools in use, and over 80,000 people wind up in emergency rooms every year after being injured while operating them.
Always wear protective gear, including gloves, goggles, sturdy shoes and long pants, to avoid injury. Only operate a lawn mower with these items.
The CPSC reports that most lawn mower accidents are preventable with proper precautions.
Besides wearing personal protective equipment, walk the area you will mow to remove rocks, tree limbs and other debris before you begin cutting. Also, avoid mowing near cars, roads and windows, as grass clippings can be thrown into these areas and cause injuries or property damage.
Lawn trimmers and blowers can also throw objects at high speeds, so it is essential to wear ear protection when operating this equipment. This can help protect your ears from damaging noise and help you hear properly later in life.