First, never mow your lawn when it's wet. A wet lawn can allow grass clippings to clump together more easily. This clump of grass can smother the grass beneath it leaving a dead spot or create a spot where weeds can take root. Wait for a day or two after a rain storm and avoid mowing right after you've watered the lawn.



Tip number two is to never cut more than one third (1/3) of your lawns height at any one time. Most well maintained lawns are between 2 to 3 inches in height, so they should be mowed before they reach 4 to 4 1/2 inches in height. How frequently that occurs depends on your climate of course. The reasoning behind never cutting more than 1/3 of your lawns height at once is to avoid stressing the turf.

The third rule of mowing is to keep you lawn mower blades sharp. Most people use a standard gas powered rotary mower that cuts grass like a machette. The sharper the blades, the more even the cut. A dull blade will tear the grass rather than cut it, and this can lead to brown tips at the end of the blade of grass. Lawn mower blade sharping is an easy maintenance task that can be done with a grinder (even a Dremmel will work), or you can have it done by a professional for approximately $20.

Forth, don't mow in the same direction every time. Many people develop a habit when mowing the lawn and they mow exactly the same way every time. This causes the grass to develop a "grain" just like a piece of wood because the grass growing off to the sides does not get cut as evenly as the grass growing upwards. It is best to mow at a right angle to the direction the grass was last cut. So, for example, if you mowed your lawn from east to west last time, try mowing from north to south this time.

Finally, don't bag your clippings. Grass clippings are an easy way to return nutrients to the soil and reduce the need for artificial fertilizers. If you mow your lawn before the grass gets too tall, you won't notice the clippings anyhow. That and the fact that it's less work to ignore the clippings makes this a winner of an idea!

So, now you have five easy tips that don't add any extra work to week and possibly decreased your work load if you've been bagging your clippings. These won't make your yard look as good as a golf course, but they will help ensure that your lawn stays green and lush without any extra maintenance on your part.