Torn Grass..?

[timlinden]

Hi All

So last year I over seeded with URI #2 blend seed. This year my lawn is looking amazing, at least to all my friends and family. To me all I see is the top edges torn. I've read so many forums, blogs, videos, etc. So I'll post photos and describe what I've done so far to try to fix it. If you guys could give me feedback that'd be great. Somewhere someone said that certain grasses just always look torn. I have no clue where or who or if it's valid, but if this is normal I'd like to know so I stop trying to fix it!

Mower: Craftsman 700 series (190cc 22in) rear propelled
Blade: 21.5 in GatorBlade (I saw reviews on Amazon saying it was amazing for their 22in Crafstman so I thought maybe it was my blade)

I've tried bagging, side discharging, and mulching. I've replaced the spark plug & air filter & put a new blade on (didn't sharpen it, but the blade is exposed now and the paint is gone, feels sharp). It always leaves a torn/chewed look behind. A few days later the grass will have a white sheen on it.

The close up I did today to see if air filter/spark plug would help any. The other two show from when I mowed 2 days ago. Thanks for any help.

 

[Ric]

Hi All

So last year I over seeded with URI #2 blend seed. This year my lawn is looking amazing, at least to all my friends and family. To me all I see is the top edges torn. I've read so many forums, blogs, videos, etc. So I'll post photos and describe what I've done so far to try to fix it. If you guys could give me feedback that'd be great. Somewhere someone said that certain grasses just always look torn. I have no clue where or who or if it's valid, but if this is normal I'd like to know so I stop trying to fix it!

Mower: Craftsman 700 series (190cc 22in) rear propelled
Blade: 21.5 in GatorBlade (I saw reviews on Amazon saying it was amazing for their 22in Crafstman so I thought maybe it was my blade)

I've tried bagging, side discharging, and mulching. I've replaced the spark plug & air filter & put a new blade on (didn't sharpen it, but the blade is exposed now and the paint is gone, feels sharp). It always leaves a torn/chewed look behind. A few days later the grass will have a white sheen on it.

The close up I did today to see if air filter/spark plug would help any. The other two show from when I mowed 2 days ago. Thanks for any help.

I hate to pop your bubble but torn and frayed grass like that is generally cause by dull blades. The other thing that can cause the blades to cut grass like that is the mower itself not having a high enough blade tip speed. To run gator blades efficiently you need to have at least a blade tip speed of 17000. Did the mower do the same thing with the blade that came on the mower?

 

[timlinden]

I hate to pop your bubble but torn and frayed grass like that is generally cause by dull blades. The other thing that can cause the blades to cut grass like that is the mower itself not having a high enough blade tip speed. To run gator blades efficiently you need to have at least a blade tip speed of 17000. Did the mower do the same thing with the blade that came on the mower?

Yes, the old blades were doing it because they were worn. I bought the new blades rather than sharpened the old because I thought it would mulch better. I've read debates on whether to sharpen new blades or not, but have no clue how many RPM the blades are going. I don't think it tore the grass when it had new stock blades but I wasn't looking for torn grass then so I can't say for sure.

 

[Ric]

Yes, the old blades were doing it because they were worn. I bought the new blades rather than sharpened the old because I thought it would mulch better. I've read debates on whether to sharpen new blades or not, but have no clue how many RPM the blades are going. I don't think it tore the grass when it had new stock blades but I wasn't looking for torn grass then so I can't say for sure.

I asked about the blades because you said you put on a gator blade and they tend to be slightly heavier than the regular high lift blade. That can effect the way the mower is cuttring because the engine may not be able to compensate for the added blade weight. I'd try buying a new stock blade and going back to it. Both my Toros are running 18 to 18500 bts and the are both running gator blades in fact they came on the mowers new and they really cut super. Got a question though, when you mow is the mower discharging the grass or is it clumping and not throwing the grass with the gator blades.

 

[timlinden]

I asked about the blades because you said you put on a gator blade and they tend to be slightly heavier than the regular high lift blade. That can effect the way the mower is cuttring because the engine may not be able to compensate for the added blade weight. I'd try buying a new stock blade and going back to it. Both my Toros are running 18 to 18500 bts and the are both running gator blades in fact they came on the mowers new and they really cut super. Got a question though, when you mow is the mower discharging the grass or is it clumping and not throwing the grass with the gator blades.

With the gator blades it will periodically drop a clump. With the stock it won't clump but will get louder the longer I mow until I hit pavement where it'll spit out in all directions.

 

[Ric]

With the gator blades it will periodically drop a clump. With the stock it won't clump but will get louder the longer I mow until I hit pavement where it'll spit out in all directions.

Ok if the mower is louder the longer you mow in a pass it tells me that the mower deck is filling and the mower is bogging down. You are either trying to mow to much grass at one time or your mower doesn't have the power you need to mow your lawn both of which would account for the torn and frayed grass your ending up with. I am assuming it's a Briggs engine?

 

[possum]

Looks like alot of fescue in there to me. Creeping red fescue is bad to have the brown red look even if no mowing is being done. It is lots worse if its being mowed period. Try going up a bunch, try to get right over the top of the fine stuff as much as possible. Red fescue is very pretty when it wants to be and very sorry looking whenever the least little thing goes wrong. Mine will look wonderful mowed high for a few weeks and then look like it was butchered after a couple hot days and it was not even mowed for several days. Keep a sharp blade but take into consideration the weather, and fickle red heads.

 

[timlinden]

Ok if the mower is louder the longer you mow in a pass it tells me that the mower deck is filling and the mower is bogging down. You are either trying to mow to much grass at one time or your mower doesn't have the power you need to mow your lawn both of which would account for the torn and frayed grass your ending up with. I am assuming it's a Briggs engine?

Yeah it's a flaw in the mower design I think.. Reviews of the one I have said the same thing, it gets stuck where the belt for the rear wheel drive is.. There is very little clearance between that cover and the blade for about 1/5 of the underside. When I bag or side chute it doesn't do it. Which the chute makes it look bad and the bagging is annoying but I might just have to do that.

 

[djdicetn]

I asked about the blades because you said you put on a gator blade and they tend to be slightly heavier than the regular high lift blade. That can effect the way the mower is cuttring because the engine may not be able to compensate for the added blade weight. I'd try buying a new stock blade and going back to it. Both my Toros are running 18 to 18500 bts and the are both running gator blades in fact they came on the mowers new and they really cut super. Got a question though, when you mow is the mower discharging the grass or is it clumping and not throwing the grass with the gator blades.

I tend to agree that with that mower, the Gator blades are hurting more than they are helping.

 

[HarryHarley]

Cut when the grass is dry, sharpen the blade (get orig blade), mow slower if grass is taller, sharpen blade more often.