Emmitt Smith was once quoted as saying, “You can’t change the stripes of a Leopard.” But did you know you CAN change the stripes on your lawn? From baseball fields to your creative next door neighbor, we have all envied those awesome, manicured, striped patterns on the grass. It used to be that only the professional landscapers were able to be creative, some using fancy attachments and specific mowers. With the evolution of the zero-turn, this creativity is now available to anyone!
HOW STRIPING WORKS
Striping is the result of light reflecting off of bent grass blades. If the grass is bent towards you, it will look darker due to the underlying shadows. Grass bent away from you appears lighter in color. Alternating the direction you mow uses the subtle differences to create the stripes on your lawn.
BENEFITS OF LAWN STRIPING
Did you know that lawns that are mowed the same way every time are less healthy than those that are mowed differently? Repetitive, predictable mowing habits can greatly diminish your lawn’s potential for overall growth. Cutting in varying patterns each time you mow allows the sun to bounce off the blades differently. This leads to a healthier lawn, giving all of the grass blades a chance to catch some rays!
INTENSIFYING YOUR LAWN STRIPES
Climate, grass length, as well as attachments can help determine the intensity of the design. Cooler, northern climates are ideal for striping. If you live in a warmer climate, you may notice your grass is more brittle and may resist bending. But don’t worry! There are multiple other ways you can intensify your striping pattern.
Alternating directions as you mow will create the basis for your striping design. To make these stripes appear bolder, simply add a striping attachment to your mower. Various striping kits that are available apply consistent contact, bending the individual grass blades, leaving a clean, well-defined pattern. You can also leave your grass just ½” longer, which will drastically improve the intensity of the stripes. With your Spartan Mower, it’s easy to dial in the height that you want with our foot-assist easy lift deck.
PICKING A LAWN STRIPING PATTERN
Some of the most popular choices include basic stripes, the checkerboard, diamonds, and zig-zags. To begin, you may want to draw out your pattern to help you get the design laid out. Next, mow in a straight line, lift the mower deck, pivot, then mow in the opposite direction. It’s important to remember that your first stripe will be the benchmark for the rest of the stripes - so it has to be straight. To do this, keep your gaze 10-15 feet in front of you at all times. Some people even focus on a landmark or object at the other end of the yard. You will also want to maintain the same speed. Another idea is to mow high. If you mess up, you can slightly lower your mowing deck and start again! Another thing to remember is that shorter grass will tend to pop back in place sooner than longer grass blades.
START STRIPING YOUR LAWN WITH A SPARTAN MOWERS
Get creative and mix things up! Your yard will not only look great, your grass will thank you! Also, if you’re looking to upgrade, a Spartan Mower will provide a faster, more comfortable ride, giving you the maneuverability needed for professional grade lawn care!