What is your mowing "technique"?

[oldyellr]

Often the size and shape of the lawn and the kind of mower you have (not ZT) severely limits the pattern you can mow. If I were to mow mine diagonally instead of my regular spiral pattern, it would take twice as long, an hour I'm not willing to give up. I use two mowers with different cutting widths alternately in opposite directions. However, even with one mower, you can work in a half or third-width lap to distribute the wheel ruts more evenly.

 

[Black Bart]

I cut in the most efficient and fastest way, Saves time and fuel.
No striping for me it is just grass i cut it and don't worry about it until it needs cutting again.

 

[Black Bart]

A bagger system makes a big difference you don't worry about throwing clippings on the walk or drive. You can mower in any direction what ever is the most efficient and not worry about the clippings.
Reduces mowing time saving time fuel wear and tear on the mower and looks better also. :thumbsup:

 

[oldyellr]

But the clippings provide mulch and extra lawn food and if you bag them, you have to find a way to dispose of them, which is time-consuming and not always free.

 

[Black Bart]

But the clippings provide mulch and extra lawn food and if you bag them, you have to find a way to dispose of them, which is time-consuming and not always free.

Well we all have a different situation mine is the city picks up my trash I have 2 very large containers and full or empty I pay the same every week so putting the clippings in them cost me nothing.

Grass clippings provide 10 percent of the needed nitrogen so I have to put on the 90 percent in fertilizer so no big deal to just apply a little more and have a much better looking lawn.

Leaving the clippings lay causes Thatch and disease I stopped detaching when I started using the bagger.

IMO the lawn looks much nicer when I don't leave the clipping lay.
The cheap ones that use the blades to blow the grass up into the bag are junk if it is just a little wet it won't work.
My neighbor has a craftsman made like that and he has to run really slow can't feed it much grass mine has a blower on the end of the deck it will blow wet grass if you want to mow when it is wet.

I'm a big fan of the bagger system and in the fall it picks up the leaves and cuts the grass all at the same time.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[JimmyTheGlove]

I used to switch up the pattern of my mowing with every mow. One week I'd go up and down, next week would be diagonal, next week side to side; because I too heard it stimulates growth. Well, I ended up getting lazy and just mowing in a spiral. Clock-wise, counterclock-wise, didn't really matter.

And I never noticed any difference with the growth of my turf. So I'd say "just mow it!" :laughing:

Now do you guys mow or edge first? The obvious answer is edge first, right? But I've been surprised at how many people mow before they edge.

:anyone:

 

[Greenkeeperrob]

Speaking as a head Greenkeeper I find it is important to alternate your mowing directions. I find that " washboarding" occurs which are ribbing lines resembling a washboard due to the grass being cut in the same direction. From a aesthetic point of view yeah but if u use a rotary mower for your lawn at home it doesn't really matter as your not cutting your lawn to the intensive like golf courses

 

[Grass ala Mowed]

What is your mowing "technique"?

1) Fill mower with gas.

2) Check oil, add as needed.

3) Start mower ...

Just kidding, I tend to mow my front yard, which is fairly unobstructed and visible four alternate ways. I always mow 2-3 strips around the edge and the flower bed in the middle, then alternate between across, up and down, diagonal from upper left to lower right, and diagonal from upper right to lower left. Keeps the tracking and mulching trails from being the obvious. The back yard has about 15 obstructions; trees, raised bed gardens, swing sets, etc. So I just mow it any which way I can.

 

[reynoldston]

When I have the tractor style mower I mower in a clockwise circle. Now that I have a ZT once around the out side and then back and forth.

 

[fireman gus]

We change mowing directions each time we are on a yard. I have found this works best for me, it seems to keep the yard in better condition.