When you drive by a golf course or someone else’s home, do you admire the patterns mowed in their lawn? Some people mow their lawn in rows, while others do so in spirals. Sometimes, people decide to mow other patterns into their lawn just for fun.
What about you? Do you have a favorite mow pattern that you use every time, or do you like to change things up? Is there one technique that works best?
What pattern you mow on your lawn comes down to personal choice. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re choosing a mowing pattern. How you mow affects the health of your lawn as well as the way your lawn looks. A healthy lawn that’s mowed with care ups the curb appeal of your home.
In this article, we’ll go over your different options for mowing patterns. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of each type of pattern, as well as general tips for healthy lawn mowing. Let’s get started.
Different Mowing Pattern Options
Rows and spirals are the two basic methods for mowing patterns in your lawn. There are also variations on each pattern. These variations can change how the lawn looks after mowing, but they still follow these two basic patterns.
Mowing in rows creates uniform lines on the lawn. To create stripes in the lawn, you typically mow in straight rows up-and-down the yard. You can also mow in curved lines or create a checkerboard pattern by mowing in stripes one direction, then mowing again at a 90-degree angle to the first pattern.
Mowing in spirals can work better for circular or irregularly shaped lawns. For open lawns, you can start at the edges and work your way in. For lawns with a focal point, you can start by mowing around that and then work your way out. In square-shaped lawns, this pattern might look more like a box than a spiral.
Things to Consider
When figuring out a mowing pattern that will work well for your lawn, there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind.
Size and shape of the lawn
To save time and help keep the grass healthy, you want to avoid mowing over the same spot twice. Keep this in mind when planning out your mowing patterns. If your lawn is an odd shape or there are a lot of obstacles to mow around (like trees), then you might need to stick with a simple box or spiral method rather than going for full rows/stripes.
Turns
When it comes to turns, if you have a zero-turn mower, you’ll have a much easier time with precision. For those without zero-turn mowers, however, you won’t be as precise. This can make it more difficult to achieve perfect mowing patterns on your lawn. It may also mean you leave patches of uncut grass that will need to be tidied up once you’re done.
Lawn Health
To avoid compacted soil and worn-down grass, you should change up your lawn mowing patterns instead of mowing the exact same way each time. For example, if you like stripes, you might vary between straight and diagonal rows so your mower tires aren’t going over the same places in your yard over and over again each time you mow.
Is One Way Better?
No mowing pattern is better or worse than another. Rows and spirals require the same amount of work, as well as the same number of turns, so neither one is better than the other. It’s mostly a matter of personal preference. Do you like the look of rows or spirals? Does one pattern seem easier with the size and shape of your lawn?
Rows generally work better than spirals for owners of riding mowers without the ability to make tight turns. However, boxy spirals can still work even if your mower isn’t very maneuverable. Just keep in mind you might not be able to get a perfect spiral in the middle without a zero-turn mower. You may need to drive back and forth in lines to get that last part of the lawn.
Another thing to keep in mind is that rows require you to alternate mowing directions, while spirals don’t. This doesn’t necessarily mean that spirals will wear out your lawn, but it does mean you probably won’t have an evenly mulched lawn. It is good for your grass to leave clippings on the lawn, though, so if you bag clippings while mowing in a spiral it’s best to spread them back on the lawn later. You can also mow without bagging clippings and go back out with a rake to break up any clumps of grass.
Tips For a Nice Mow
Whatever mowing pattern you pick, following these tips will help keep the grass looking nice and improve the curb appeal of your yard.
- Maintain your equipment. This includes keeping your mower blades sharp and free of rust. Dull and rusty blades make mowing more difficult and can damage the When blades become dull and damaged, they tear grass blades instead of cutting them neatly. Click here to learn more about how to sharpen lawn mower blades.
- The direction you mow is what determines the light or dark-colored stripes you see. Grass that is facing you causes shadows, making it appear darker, while grass turned away reflects the sun, causing a lighter effect. The shorter you mow the grass, the harder it will be to see clear stripes.
- Mow more often to keep grass manageable. A good rule of thumb is to mow weekly. However, some fast-growing grasses may need to be mowed twice a week.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative. There are plenty of websites out there that show other patterns you can try such as checkerboard stripes, diagonal or crisscross stripes, and a double spiral. A quick Google search for “lawn mowing patterns” will give you articles, images, and how-to guides for a variety of patterns you can try out on your lawn.
- Mow when the grass is dry. This helps keep clippings from clumping up on the lawn or in the mower deck.
Mowing For a Healthy Lawn
As you plan your mowing patterns, you want to keep grass health in mind as well as appearance. The good news is that many of the tips that help you create an attractive lawn also help improve grass health.
- Pick a mowing height for your grass, then cut it frequently enough that you only need to take off 1/3 of the total height each time you mow. Remember that different types of grass have different ideal mowing heights. Zoysia, for example, does best if you mow it between ¾ and 2 inches. You can mow Bermuda grass a little shorter, between ½ and 1½ inches high.
- Cutting your grass at the taller end of the ideal mow height, or even an inch higher, will make it easier to see stripes on the lawn. This also has the added bonus of making your grass more drought and shade tolerant.
- Mulch your clippings instead of bagging or raking them. That saves you a step since you won’t be doing the extra work of taking clippings off the lawn. It also helps keep the grass healthy by returning nutrients to the soil.
- Change mowing pattern. As we’ve already mentioned, varying your mowing pattern helps prevent soil compaction. When soil is compacted, it’s much harder for grass roots to get the water and nutrients they need. That’s also why it’s important to aerate lawns once a year.
In the end, as long as you regularly tend your lawn and follow best practices for healthy mowing, the pattern is up to you. And if you’re looking for a new mower—perhaps a zero-turn to make lawn mowing faster and give you more maneuverability—Richardson Saw & Lawnmower can help. We carry a wide variety of lawnmowers and our expert employees will be happy to help you find the perfect mower for your yard.
