Brush old, dried-on grass from its cutting deck — a stiff bristled brush will come in handy, like this one from Garden Trading — and make sure the blade is sharp so it cuts well. Lawn expert David Hedges-Gower reminds gardeners that rotary mowers are essentially a very fast, mechanised version of a scythe and back when scythes were the only tool available, nobody would have dreamt of using one without sharpening it each time.
Every time a rotary mower is used, the blade is slightly blunted, so he advises sharpening it at least once a fortnight, or ideally once a week. Need a new mower? Click here to work out which type of mower is best for you. Find out how to aerate your lawn here. Watch Now! Lawn type: Not all mowers are created equal! Some will give a much higher quality cut than others. If you are after a high-quality finish, consider a cylinder mower. This type of mower cuts a lot shorter, and is good for achieving a striped effect.
Maintenance: You'll get the best results with sharp mower blades. You can sharpen rotary blades yourself, but for sharpening a cylinder mower, you're best to take it to a professional. There are four main types of mower: cylinder, rotary, hover and ride-on. Mulching mowers are another mower you will come across, but these are a type of rotary mower.
Mowing itself is relatively straight forward. It is the mowing height that can cause problems. Follow these tips to get the correct height:. If you are unsure of what height to use, the general guideline is never remove more than one-third of the leaf shoots in any one mow.
A striped lawn looks very impressive, and isn't that difficult to achieve if your mower has a rear roller. Wheeled rotary mowers do not produce good quality striping. Rectangular lawns are easier to stripe than irregularly shaped lawns, but with a bit of practice, you can stripe up any lawn. It is a good idea to vary the direction of cut, alternating straight with diagonal stripes on different occasions, so that ruts do not form in lawn from going backwards and forwards in the same direction on numerous occasions.
An uneven finish, with torn grass is usually caused by blunt blades. However, it can also occur if the bottom and cylinder blades of a cylinder mower are incorrectly set. Ragged cuts can also occur when the grass has been left to get very long, when the mower is operated too fast, or when the cutting height is set to maximum. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. Take action Why take action? Support us Donate Careers Commercial opportunities Leave a legacy.
Join the RHS today and support our charitable work Join now. Hot links Browse inspiration articles Buy plants online. Buy tickets. RHS members get reduced ticket prices Join now. Harlow Carr North Yorkshire. Hyde Hall Essex. Rosemoor Devon. You can also buy nozzles separately.
RHS Chief Horticulturalist Guy Barter says that allowing our cuttings to turn into hay is great for seed-eating birds. He explains: "Leave the summer mown grass in place for a few sunny days to become 'hay' and release seeds to refresh the lawn for next year and also provide food for seed-eating birds and other wildlife.
The 'hay' can then be removed and composted. In need of some positivity, heartwarming countryside news and spring gardening advice? Sign up to our free Country Living newsletter for your weekly dose of escapism. Love what you're reading? Type keyword s to search. When should you mow the lawn for the first time that year?
Don't mow all of your lawn Choose the part you'd like to be neat and tidy but then let the rest stay a little messy. Consider a mow path In the spirit of helping wildlife, do you need a whole area to be mown or could a pathway leading through your wildflowers be enough? Have a pre-cut tidy After months of being starved of sunshine, your garden may look a little neglected.
Check for nesting animals Check the area you are about to mow for any animals that might have made it their home during winter. Don't leave it too late Although the difference in climate can vary depending on where you are in the country, research has shown that the first two weeks in April are the most popular time to dig the lawnmower out for the first grass cut of the year.
Billy Currie Photography Getty Images. RHS Burgon and Ball stainless digging spade. DeWit double leaf rake. Sicilian lemon kneeler pillow. Garden Apron. Webb electric rotary mower ER40 15".
Opt for a more eco-friendly electric lawnmower as opposed to a petrol one. RHS Burgon and Ball stainless steel digging fork. DeWit Dutch hoe. Galvanised Watering Can. Set of 6 Plant Tags. Tool stool. Fiskars Solid Lopper Bypass L RSPB Garden wildlife camera - new. Soil test kit. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.
We have a selection of wildflower mixtures for gardens and landscapes that are tailored to your specific needs. Accessing our website tells us you are happy to receive all our cookies. However you can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out more. The first cut: when should I mow?
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