Lawn mowing and edging. Rules, tips. Photo

Regular lawn mowing is the key to its well-groomed appearance and requires a lot of time and effort. This procedure has its own mandatory rules.

Maintaining a lawn in perfect condition contributes not only to its beauty, but also is a measure of prevention of problems arising in the process of its cultivation.

Mowing a lawn takes quite a lot of time and effort, since sometimes it is enough to skip it once to make the lawn look unkempt and unkempt. Taking care of the appearance of the lawn also implies caring for its edges - it is they who provide the clarity of the contours and need constant attention.

Manual and mechanical lawn mowing: what is it for?

Lawn mowing: photo work

Not only the beauty, but also the health of the lawn cover directly depends on the mowing. Indeed, it is the systematic repetition of mowing the lawn that contributes to the compaction of the upper layer of the soil, which ensures the active growth and development of grasses, their ability to cope with the negative influence of weeds.

The more often the lawn is trimmed, the less often problem situations arise. And vice versa - a missed haircut is fraught with much more difficulties than in the case of other procedures.

In central Russia and regions with cold winters, lawn mowing is traditionally carried out from late spring to early autumn. In places with milder winters and a longer spring-autumn period, the time interval when a haircut is possible increases.

However, the optimal time to start manual mowing of the lawn is the moment when the height of the grass is 8 cm. It is recommended to end the season with the first autumn cold snaps.

The golden rule of lawn mowing, which requires strict adherence, is its regularity, regardless of the circumstances. This is the only way to keep the lawn in perfect condition.

Irregularity and haphazard mowing of the lawn leads to damage to the sod, overexpenditure of its useful qualities and a decrease in the attractiveness of the lawn coverage. Therefore, if it is not possible to follow this rule on an ongoing basis, it is worth finding an alternative solution for decorating your lawn.

The frequency of mowing the lawn depends on how quickly the grass grows: it should be done as soon as the grass reaches the 8 cm mark. The taller grass will be more difficult to cut in one go, and it will also begin to deplete the turf and deeper soil layers.

The inevitability of frequent lawn mowing is compensated by the availability of solutions that make this task easier. So, a large selection of garden equipment greatly simplifies this process and can even turn it into a pleasant pastime.

Manual lawn mowing is only effective for small lawns; more area will require a mower. The range of lawn mowers is extensive and includes gasoline, electric, self-propelled, mechanical models.

The main criteria for choosing a reliable lawn mowing tool should be the following characteristics: - the level of noise produced; - the ability to change the height of the haircut; - suitability for uneven terrain; - mulching function.

In areas with particularly difficult terrain, you may need additional devices such as a gasoline or electric trimmer, as well as scissors. Remember the safety precautions when working with garden tools.

Care after mowing the lawn

Lawn mowing: photo work

The need for a lawn turf for mowing depends on its growth rate and the type of seed. Typically, a weekly procedure is sufficient for a regular lawn in a garden or park.

Decorative or sports species require a different approach, which is usually governed by the recommendations of the herbal formula manufacturer. Ideally, mowing should not be too frequent, as this will worsen the condition of the lawn just as infrequently.

The growth of grass development is also influenced by weather conditions. Thus, a moist environment accelerates growth and shortens the interval between haircuts from 7 to 5 days. In dry periods, their frequency decreases, you can mow the lawn every 8-9 days.

Most often, the rapid growth of grass occurs in May-June, at which time the lawn may need to be cut twice during the week.

First mowing of the lawn. Mowing height

Lawn mowing: photo work

Excessive mowing when mowing a lawn is just as harmful as insufficient or too little mowing. Exposure of the sod leads to the spread of weeds and various diseases, and in the spring-autumn period it is exposed to low temperatures.

Traditionally, garden and park types of lawns are cut at a height of 4 - 4.5 cm. This minimum mark is suitable for the middle of the season, if the lawn coverage is sufficiently strong and develops rapidly. The first 3-4 spring haircuts, as well as the last mowing of the season, suggest a height of 5.5 - 6 cm.

Approximately the same mark should be adhered to in dry summers. Parterre lawns are usually cut to a level of 3 cm, and sports ones - about 2 cm. Of course, no one is immune from missing this important procedure, and the grass grows too tall.

This is fixable, but it will require compliance with certain haircut rules. So, you cannot cut the grass immediately to the required level. In the first, after the skipping, the grass with a height of 10-15 cm can be shortened by half, in the second - it can be lowered to the desired height.

There are a few more important recommendations regarding effective and safe lawn mowing:

• The direction of the cut should be periodically changed - this will have a beneficial effect on the quality of the turf. It is best to move each time perpendicular to the direction taken during the last haircut. This avoids the thickening of the stems, which makes the grass stiff and prickly.
• It is recommended to cut rectangular lawns starting from the narrowest part of the lawn. In the case of its rounded shape, you should start moving along the contour, and then lay parallel stripes from the center of the sludge and the elongated section.

Smooth edges and maintain a flawless shape

Lawn mowing: photo work

The perfect edge is very important for the appearance of the lawn. The formation of clear contours not only ennobles the lawn, but also prevents the spread of turf to the territory of neighboring flower beds.

There are several ways to keep the edges of the lawn in perfect condition: - systematic trimming of the edges; - edging with a border; - the formation of borders with the help of flower beds with the transition from perennial crops (this method still requires manual editing of the edges).

Creating a border from a curb is considered the easiest and fastest way to form lawn boundaries. The frame is quite simple to lay out from clinker tiles or stones. Or you can choose more solid options like stone or concrete fences.

The curb can be created from wooden pegs, plastic, steel elements, combined materials. Finally, you can simply sprinkle gravel or a layer of mulch around the perimeter of your lawn.

Aligning the edges by hand is more difficult than the previous method and requires more effort. First of all, this method requires repeated repetition throughout the season. Planks are laid along the edge, along which, with the help of a shovel or a sickle-shaped hoe, manual leveling of the edges of the lawn is carried out.