Mowing your lawn is an essential maintenance task that keeps it looking neat and manicured. However, doing it wrong can have the opposite effect, so you want to make sure you're not making any mistakes! Three common lawn mowing mistakes are not rotating mowing patterns each time, not adjusting your mower's deck height to your specific turf type, and bagging the grass clippings instead of mulching them. By avoiding these errors, you can keep your lawn in Alabama or Tennessee healthy and pristine.


1. Not Rotating Mowing Patterns Each Time

One mistake you might be making when mowing your lawn is not changing your mowing patterns each time. When you cut your grass using the same direction every time, it can cause ruts to form in the soil. These unsightly grooves detract from your property's curb appeal and compact the soil, thus inhibiting nutrients and resources from penetrating. Not only that, but it also causes the grass blades to lean in one direction rather than grow uniform and upright. To avoid this issue, rotate your mowing patterns each time you mow your lawn. That way, the soil won't become compacted, and your grass will grow evenly.


2. Not Adjusting Your Mower's Deck Height to Your Specific Turf Type

A common error people make when mowing their lawns is not adjusting their mower's deck height to suit their specific turf type. Different types of grasses require a certain cutting height for optimal health, but if yours is too short, it can become exposed and vulnerable to stress. Conversely, leaving it too long can lead to it becoming overgrown and messy-looking. Because of this, it's crucial to know what kind of grass you have and adjust the mower accordingly to ensure it stays at an ideal length.

Fescue grass should be mowed to a height of 4.5 inches, while Bermudagrass should be 3 inches.

3. Bagging the Grass Clippings After Mowing Instead of Mulching Them Down

The final mistake you might be making when mowing your lawn is bagging the grass clippings rather than mulching them down. While it's true that excess clippings can give it an unkempt appearance, they return beneficial nutrients to the soil, which improves its overall quality and fertility. Plus, they decompose quickly, so you won't need to worry about an unkempt appearance for long. Therefore, instead of throwing away those valuable resources, you should mulch them! This process involves running over them again after mowing to break them down even more, then leaving them on your lawn to decompose. As they do, they return those beneficial elements to your turf, which it can utilize for nourishment.


Call Us Today to Sign Up for Our Lawn Mowing Service

If you want to leave lawn mowing to the pros, look no further than our team at Five Star Lawn and Landscaping! We offer a professional lawn mowing service to residential and commercial properties, along with HOAs, in Huntsville, Owens Cross Roads, Madison, AL, and nearby areas, including Winchester, TN. With us, you can trust that we'll follow best practices like rotating our mowing patterns, adjusting our equipment to your turf type, and mulching the grass clippings afterward. That way, we don't miss anything during our visit, and your lawn reaps all the intended benefits. But wait, that's not all - this service also includes string-trimming, edging, and blowing debris off hard surfaces! Plus, our mowing service begins on the first of March and runs until the first of December to cover the entire growing season! Call us today at (256) 975-0529 to sign up for our lawn mowing service and achieve the beautiful, well-maintained lawn you've always wanted.