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Proper way to mow
I have about two acres and a 48 inch cut Craftsman lawn mower. Every
time I mow I leave tons of grass clippings. I cut it very short I think. I only have time to mow once a week. What is the proper "technique" for mowing? I think part of my problem is that I usually mow "clockwise" and probably should be mowing so I blow the clippings where I have just mowed. The reason I dont do this is it will blow clippings on my driveway/sidewalk/mulch. ANy help would be appreciated! No one ever showed me the proper way to mow. By the way I bought some blades that say mulching/discharge blades from Sears for this mower. Should I make a plate to block the clippings from being "shot" out? So the mulching blades will chop them up finer? Any help is appreciated! |
Proper way to mow
Don wrote:
I have about two acres and a 48 inch cut Craftsman lawn mower. Every time I mow I leave tons of grass clippings. I cut it very short I think. I only have time to mow once a week. What is the proper "technique" for mowing? I think part of my problem is that I usually mow "clockwise" and probably should be mowing so I blow the clippings where I have just mowed. The reason I dont do this is it will blow clippings on my driveway/sidewalk/mulch. ANy help would be appreciated! No one ever showed me the proper way to mow. By the way I bought some blades that say mulching/discharge blades from Sears for this mower. Should I make a plate to block the clippings from being "shot" out? So the mulching blades will chop them up finer? Any help is appreciated! Mowing 'longer' will reduce the amount of re-growth in a week. Are you being liberal with the use of fertilizer or water? Execessive use of nitrogen will result an 'emerald' green lawn and lots of growth. To maintain a 'formal' lawn in this way requires mowing at *least* every three days. Blocking the discharge will result in choking the whole show = bigger mess! Vac cleaning systems are expensive, maintenance intensive and a general PITA. The way I see it, to keep the clippings light enough to eliminate the need to 'rake' you have two choices. Mow more frequently or starve the lawn. Ken. -- http://www.rupert.net/~solar Return address supplied by 'spammotel' http://www.spammotel.com |
Proper way to mow
"Don" wrote in message By the way I bought some blades that say mulching/discharge blades from Sears for this mower. Should I make a plate to block the clippings from being "shot" out? So the mulching blades will chop them up finer? Any help is appreciated! I can't speak for Craftsman, but my John Deere has a block when using the mulching blade. Keeps cuttings under the deck so they can get chopped up into smaller pieces. Don't mow too short. If you keep the grass longer, say 2 1/2 to 3", it will be healthier, less weed, easier to care for. Ed |
Proper way to mow
Proper? Any technique that makes the grass shorter in the smallest amount
of time I would call "proper." I try to mow a different direction each time to avoid creating ruts with my mower - granted that would take a long time, but I've been mowing this yard for 25 years. I mow the perimeter clockwise, blowing the clippings "in", two or three times to give myself "turn" room. Then just straight lines back and forth. I also cut fairly high: the grass looks thicker, and helps to choke out weeds. On the subject of mulching mowers: hate 'em. Hate the *******s. If the grass if at all high they clog, and always make a mess in the garage when they're put up. Either collect or discharge the clippings, and forget the guilt. - Wm -- William Morris Semster, Seamlyne reProductions Visit our website, http://www.seamlyne.com, for the most comfortable historically inspired clothing you can buy! "Don" wrote in message m... I have about two acres and a 48 inch cut Craftsman lawn mower. Every time I mow I leave tons of grass clippings. I cut it very short I think. I only have time to mow once a week. What is the proper "technique" for mowing? I think part of my problem is that I usually mow "clockwise" and probably should be mowing so I blow the clippings where I have just mowed. The reason I dont do this is it will blow clippings on my driveway/sidewalk/mulch. ANy help would be appreciated! No one ever showed me the proper way to mow. By the way I bought some blades that say mulching/discharge blades from Sears for this mower. Should I make a plate to block the clippings from being "shot" out? So the mulching blades will chop them up finer? Any help is appreciated! |
Proper way to mow
Don wrote:
.... The reason I dont do this is it will blow clippings on my driveway/sidewalk/mulch... Clippings on the driveway/sidewalk will dry up and blow away. Clippings in the mulch may be caught and not blow away, but they will turn brown and blend in. Either way, it becomes a non-issue eventually. Don't cut the grass too short: it will burn in the dry season. Longer grass will withstand drought better. It also shades out weeds better. Mulching mowers need to be used fairly frequently so that the clippings are short and will fall into the grass. Longer clippings (more volume of grass being cut) will clump up and leave clods of grass on the lawn. If you have two acres, do you use it all? How about cutting a quarter or half acre as a lawn and haying the rest? Then you only have to cut that part twice a year. |
Proper way to mow
If he has two acres he could make a beautiful natural area with all
kinds of native plants and trees. Just because the area is natural does not mean that it requires no maintenance. Just different. There have been several times in my life when I have had a half acre or more. This is the first time that it has all been in yard, and we are working on that. Lots of flower beds, etc. Dwight Sipler wrote: Don wrote: .... The reason I dont do this is it will blow clippings on my driveway/sidewalk/mulch... Clippings on the driveway/sidewalk will dry up and blow away. Clippings in the mulch may be caught and not blow away, but they will turn brown and blend in. Either way, it becomes a non-issue eventually. Don't cut the grass too short: it will burn in the dry season. Longer grass will withstand drought better. It also shades out weeds better. Mulching mowers need to be used fairly frequently so that the clippings are short and will fall into the grass. Longer clippings (more volume of grass being cut) will clump up and leave clods of grass on the lawn. If you have two acres, do you use it all? How about cutting a quarter or half acre as a lawn and haying the rest? Then you only have to cut that part twice a year. |
Proper way to mow
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Proper way to mow
I think the real key to grass care is keeping your blades razor sharp! I
sharpen the blade every three or four cuts and the mulching lawnmower works best that way. For your size lawn, how about one of those solar powered robotic mowers that cuts all the time the sun is out. -- There are only 10 kinds of people...Those that understand binary and those that don't. "Don" wrote in message m... I have about two acres and a 48 inch cut Craftsman lawn mower. Every time I mow I leave tons of grass clippings. I cut it very short I think. I only have time to mow once a week. What is the proper "technique" for mowing? I think part of my problem is that I usually mow "clockwise" and probably should be mowing so I blow the clippings where I have just mowed. The reason I dont do this is it will blow clippings on my driveway/sidewalk/mulch. ANy help would be appreciated! No one ever showed me the proper way to mow. By the way I bought some blades that say mulching/discharge blades from Sears for this mower. Should I make a plate to block the clippings from being "shot" out? So the mulching blades will chop them up finer? Any help is appreciated! |
Proper way to mow
On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 19:09:44 GMT, "Tom Gardner"
wrote: ||I think the real key to grass care is keeping your blades razor sharp! I ||sharpen the blade every three or four cuts and the mulching lawnmower works ||best that way. For your size lawn, how about one of those solar powered ||robotic mowers that cuts all the time the sun is out. I like those things! Check out the Husquvarna robotic on their website. Rex in Fort Worth |
Proper way to mow
Mulching blades have to be kept sharp. Most folks don't sharpen any
mower blade often enough. Do not block the dishcarge. Set blade height at 2.5" mow before it reaches 3.5" |
Proper way to mow
Don writes:
What is the proper "technique" for mowing? Boustrophedonically. |
Proper way to mow
On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 10:03:24 -0600, "Ken Davey"
shouted from the rooftop: Don wrote: I have about two acres and a 48 inch cut Craftsman lawn mower. Every time I mow I leave tons of grass clippings. I cut it very short I think. I only have time to mow once a week. What is the proper "technique" for mowing? 1) Set the height of cut at 2.5 to 3 inches. 2) Run the engine at full throttle. 3) Use a slow speed- first or second gear only. 4) Cut no more than a 36" swath AT THE MOST! Yes, the deck is 48" wide, but most garden tractor decks are not able to make a full width cut. They clog. 5) Mow in a pattern such that you are not going through the fresh clippings- they will severely overload the decks' cutting ability. 6) With two acres of land, any 48" garden tractor is too small. You need to move up to a 62" zero turn mower or a used 72" commercial out-front deck machine. -Carl "An honest man doesn't need a long memory"- Jesse Ventura |
Proper way to mow
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Proper way to mow
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