There are several other reasons that you may find a strip of grass after mowing. One of the most common reasons that mowers leave strips in the grass is poor blade care. Forgetting to sharpen your blades each season can cause lines in your grass.
Lines appear in the grass because you are not overlapping your rows. Failure to overlap rows can leave an uncut strip of grass between your rows.
Why Is My Mower Leaving Strips of Grass?
The main reason that mowers leave strips of grass is that they are having maintenance issues. Dull blades, blade misalignment, or bent blades are some examples of common mower problems. Damaged and dull blades are not the only reason that your mower leaves uncut strips in your grass.
Mowers will leave a strip of grass because you have the wrong blade size. Using the wrong blade size can create strips of grass in the middle of your row.
You might see lines in your grass because you are not mowing your lawn correctly. You can fix most problems quickly with proper training and avid mower maintenance.
Mowing Mistakes
You might be leaving strips in your yard because you are making a mistake while mowing.
Common mowing mistakes are forgetting to mow above tire lines. As you mow, your grass will become matted underneath your tires. If you do not overlap your rows, the uncut grass will eventually spring up again.
Mowing while the grass is dry is important. If you do not mow while the grass is dry, you may damage blades and clog decks. Both of these things will leave uncut strips in the grass.
Poor Blade Condition
Over time, the condition of your blades will degrade because of normal wear and tear. Normal wear and tear leave your blades in need of sharpening. If you do not sharpen your blades avidly, the dulling will leave lines in your grass.
After purchasing new blades, you should sharpen them. Some brands place coats of paint over their blades which can decrease the sharpness.
Never sharpen your blades excessively. If your blades are still dull after sharpening, replace your blades. Excessive sharpening can cause blade thinning, which weakens your mower and eventually creates lines while mowing.
Speed Problems
Mowing at the wrong speed can cause strips and patches in your grass.
Engine speed is an important factor in the quality of your yard. Mowing too slow can leave strips where the grass has been over-mown and torn from the soil. It might seem rigorous but mowing at full throttle is beneficial because of the
Each mower is different and may require an adjustment in its mowing speed. While you might be able to guide your mower leisurely, someone else’s mower may require a more rigorous push.
Wrong Size Blades
The wrong size blades on your mower can easily result in leaving strips in your lawn. Blade size makes a large impact on your mow quality. Mowing with the wrong blade size will leave a strip of grass in the middle of your cut. The strip of grass that your mower leaves can be flat or circular.
The easiest way to determine blade size is to check your lawn mower user manual. If you do not have the user manual, search the make and model of your lawnmower online. Most manufacturers provide online manuals in PDF form.
A good rule of thumb is always to purchase a set of blades that match the original blades. Match the manufacturer for best performance. If you change your blades, check that you installed your blades the correct way. Improper installation is another reason that you may see lines in your grass after mowing.
Clogged Deck
A mower with a clogged deck will sometimes leave stripes because it does not have the range to cut all the way. The main reason mower decks clog is because of dull blades. Unclog the deck by removing grass.
The best way to avoid lines because of clogged decks is to keep blades sharpened. It is also important to empty your decks.
How Can I Prevent My Mower Leaving Stripes In Grass?
Since leaving strips in the grass is typically the result of human error, you can prevent stripes by educating yourself on mower use and maintenance. Taking preventative measures is much easier than going back and re-mowing your whole lawn.
Prevent your mower from leaving stripes in your grass by learning about mower blade care. Blade care includes knowing the difference between normal wear and tear and excessive use. When a blade has exceeded normal wear and tear, replace your blades.
Sharpen your blades at least once each season to keep them from dulling. Ideally, it would be best to sharpen them twice per season.
Hire a Professional Landscaper
Professional landscapers are a great option for anyone struggling to achieve a line-free lawn. Landscapers like ABC Home and Commerical treat lawn care as an art. The landscapers of ABC take care of their equipment, overlap their mow lines, and offer special services to keep your lawn safe from season to season.
Hiring a professional landscaper eliminates the stress of seeing unsightly columns and lines on your lawn.
Sharpen and Replace Blades Frequently
The more you use your mower, the duller your mower blades will become. Dull or warped blades can result in uneven cuts, which include unattractive lines. To avoid leaving stripes in your grass, sharpen your blades using a grinder at least once or twice per mowing season.
You can purchase these grinders at any local hardware store. When purchasing a grinder, consider the size grinder you want to use. Most landscapers suggest using a professional angle grinder. Angle grinders are tabletop grinders that run anywhere between $15 to $100.
Pay attention to other damage that your blades may have taken. Any signs of warping, bending, or indents in your blades are reasons to replace your blades. Most people replace blades once every four seasons.
Overlap Rows
Overlapping each row prevents your mower from leaving lines in your yard. Many people forget to mow over their tire lines which is an issue because it leaves lines in your yard.
To prevent leaving uncut lines between your rows, overlap your rows by several inches. Even if you cannot see the uncut lines, they may be present underneath your tire lines, mow where your tires were, and do not follow the same tire rows.
