Menu
Back
Back
Back
Financing & Promotions
Back
About
Back
Back
Dealers
Back
News & Media
Select Vehicle

Things To Know Before You Mow.

4/8/2023
Cutting your grass may seem simple and fairly straight forward. Each year we spend hundreds of hours keeping our lawns trimmed and groomed—but could it be that we may be going about it all wrong? You may be unintentionally making things harder than necessary. Spartan Mowers has been around the yard a time or two, so here are a few tips to make your mowing experience as smooth as possible.

1. FULL TANK
Before you begin mowing, make sure your tank is full. This may seem obvious, but there is nothing more frustrating than getting almost done with the yard and running out of gas. Fill it either before you mow or even when you finish mowing. Topping off the tank when you’re done will help you get started quicker the next time. Regardless of when you fill up, always begin mowing with a full tank.

2. SHARPEN OR REPLACE THE BLADES

Before mowing season begins, sharpen those blades. If you’ve not done it yet, at least sharpen them before your next mow to make the most of your effort. A nice clean cut will help your lawn to grow more evenly and will help to make it look pristine! Your mower will also log fewer hours. Also consider replacing the blades every two years or when the metal develops chips and/or uneven characteristics that can cause an uneven cut.

3. CLEAR THE LAWN
Before you begin mowing, remove any limbs, toys, or other items on your lawn. If there is a potential mowing obstacle, clear it, bag it, move it to where it can’t cause a problem. One of two things can happen if you don’t do this: you will either not see the items and mow over them, sending potentially damaging and deadly flying objects toward your house or towards other people, OR you will have to stop often and remove objects as you are mowing. Take care of things before you begin to mow safely and reduce the chance of harm to your property, people, or to your machine.

4. CUT IT LONGER THAN SHORTER
Cutting your grass short may seem like a budget-friendly thing to as you hope to have to mow less during the summer months. Realize that a short cut can be harmful to the point of actually killing or severely damaging your lawn. A longer grass blade actually helps to shade the ground, slowing moisture evaporation. This will also help keep weeds to a minimum. A rule of thumb is to mow ⅓ of the length of your grass, leaving ⅔ standing. During extreme heat, it is good to leave your grass 3” tall or more. In shady areas, let the grass stand even taller.

5.  MIX IT UP
Many people fall into the habit of mowing the same way, with the same pattern every time. The grass tends to lean in the direction that you mow, so changing your direction will actually cause your lawn to grow healthier. Mow side to side, then next time front to back. Reversing the pattern is key. Some people are even more creative mowing at different angles each time. Bottom line: mix it up.

6. TIMING IS EVERYTHING
What time of the day you mow is critical. It is always best to mow when it is cool outside and when the grass is dry. An optimal time is late evening, giving your grass 12 hours of darkness to recover from the fresh cut. As an added bonus, mowing when it is cool also makes it easier on you. 

7. SAY NO TO THE BAG
Although using a bag to catch the clippings may seem like a good thing to do, did you know that leaving them behind can actually help fertilize your lawn, returning nitrogen and other nutrients back to the soil? Of course, if your lawn is super high you may want to use the bag—but for the most part it is best to leave the clippings where they fall.

THE ADVANTAGE
Regardless of how you mow, your equipment makes a huge difference in both performance and comfort. At Spartan Mowers, we offer a range of standard features in our zero turn lineup that make our machines stand out from the crowd. Find a Dealer near you and come test drive one for yourself! 

Share This
Build Your Own
This is just the beginning
Start Build