Episode: 8
Title: Lawn Mowing Tips
Broadcast: 7 May 2016
Presenter: Nigel Ruck

A good-looking lawn is something to truly cherish and a good place to start is with proper mowing practice. In this segment Nigel shows us this important practice that plays a vital role in your lawn’s health and appearance.

• Mowing is needed to keep the lawn looking smooth, lush, thick and healthy. It also minimizes the establishment of weeds by cutting them down before they have the chance to set seed and spread.
• Keep your mower well maintained. The blades should be sharp and in good condition. Blunt or damaged blades will tear and feather the leaf blades resulting in water loss and an increased chance of disease and it will also affect the lawn’s appearance.
• Make sure the wheels are in good order and not loose or wobbly, as this will cause uneven mowing and scalping.
• Do a general inspection of all the other parts.
• Never use old fuel, it goes off fairly quickly and can damage the engine. The fuel mix for two stroke engines is somewhere between 25:1 and 50:1.
• An annual service is recommended for new spark plugs, filters and the like, with new blades every Spring.
• Before starting remove any sticks and debris from the lawn. Check that the blade height is set correctly.
• Stick to a regular pattern with a slight overlap of the blades to ensure you get a clean cut.
• Avoid moving too low and scalping the lawn. This causes stress and damage and is also an open invitation for weeds.
• Never remove more than a third of the leaf in any one mow. More frequent, light mowing is the go for that velvet look.
• Most of us have warm season lawns like buffalo, couch and kikuyu, which become partly to fully dormant through winter depending on where you live.
• Keeping the grass longer from autumn until spring is critical, so raise the blades a notch or two, and in shady areas keep the lawn longer still for better photosynthesis.