This Is the Best Mowing Pattern for a Healthy Lawn.
If you mow your lawn regularly, you may get into the habit of walking in straight lines up and down, starting and ending in the same places, throughout the season without thinking about it. But following the same pattern week after week can do your grass a disservice.
The grass bends and begins to grow in the direction in which it is cut, meaning over time it will grow unevenly rather than vertically. Mowing in the same pattern over and over again can cause soil compaction and ruts, which is not detrimental to the health and longevity of your yard.
The best mowing pattern is varied.
The mowing pattern doesn’t have to be fancy or perfectly precise, and you don’t have to go both horizontally and vertically in one mowing session. The best part is that you change direction every time you mow, so you get variety throughout the season.
Once you’ve cut a width or two off the edges of your lawn, including trees, beds and any narrow spots, mow the remaining grass in horizontal lines. Next week, cut the strips diagonally at a 45 degree angle. Continue subsequent sessions with vertical lines, then diagonal lines from the opposite corner, and then back to the horizontal. Even alternating horizontal and vertical is better than laying the same path week after week.
If you have a robotic lawnmower , you can select a pattern (depending on the model) that will prompt the machine to change direction every time it turns off.
According to Scott Porteous, robotics product manager at Husqvarna, changing direction every time “avoids wear, promotes uniform grass growth and keeps your lawn in optimal condition.”
Finally, in your search for the healthiest lawn pattern , keep in mind the other basic rules of lawn care : don’t mow it too often (once a week, maybe twice) and don’t cut it too short (less than three inches).