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Lawn mowing mistakes
LAWN MOWING MISTAKES
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Mowing mistakes? They happen - especially in the spring. You may be unintentionally making things harder than they need to be. Spartan Mowers has been around the yard a time or two, and we have seen even the most experienced lawn care professionals make rookie mistakes. 


Here are some to avoid:


1. MOWING WITH DULL BLADES



This is perhaps the biggest culprit. Mowing with dull blades not only hinders your mower from doing its best, but it also causes the blades to damage your grass. Using new or sharpened blades will provide a nice clean cut, which allows your grass to grow more evenly and look pristine! Your mower will also log fewer hours. Also consider replacing the blades every 2 years, or when the metal develops chips and/or uneven characteristics that can cause a very uneven lawn.


Spartan Mowers makes the blade removal process a breeze with easy-to-access decks. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, consider having your mower serviced by one of our professionals at a Spartan Dealer.


2. MOWING OVER THE CLUTTER



Before you begin mowing, make sure there aren’t any limbs, toys, or other items on your lawn. If there is a potential mowing obstacle, clear it, bag it, move it to where it can’t cause a problem. One of two things can happen if you don’t do this. You will either not see the items and mow over them, sending potentially damaging and deadly flying objects toward your house or towards other people, OR you will have to stop often and remove objects as you are mowing. 


Take care of things before you begin and you will mow safely, not causing harm to your property, people, or to your machine.


3. MOWING TOO LOW


Cutting your grass short may seem like a budget-friendly thing to do - hoping you’ll have to mow less. Realize that a short cut can be harmful to the point of actually killing or severely damaging your lawn. A longer grass blade actually helps to shade the ground, slowing moisture evaporation. This will also help keep weeds to a minimum. A low mowing height can leave brown or bare-looking spots in the grass. If the grass is repeatedly cut too short or scalped, it can seriously deplete the grass's energy reserves, weakening or killing grass



A rule of thumb is to mow ⅓ of the length of your grass, leaving ⅔ standing. During extreme heat, it is good to leave your grass 3” tall or more. In shady areas, let the grass stand even taller.


4.  MOWING THE SAME DIRECTION EVERY TIME


Many people fall into the habit of mowing the same way, with the same pattern every time. The grass tends to lean in the direction that you mow. Changing your direction will actually cause your lawn to become healthier. Mow side to side, then next time front to back. Reversing the pattern is key. Some people are even more creative mowing at different angles each time. Bottom line: mix it up.


5. CUTTING WET GRASS



Avoid cutting grass when it’s wet. Period. When the grass is wet the blades will tend to stick together, causing the cut to be very uneven. Wet clipping not only can cause the mower deck to clog, but can also clump together on your lawn, blocking the sunlight. Your wheels will also mat down the grass. When they dry, your lawn will look uneven. Fungus can also develop underneath clogs of wet grass. AND remember, wet grass is slippery and can cause someone to stumble.


6. BAGGING YOUR GRASS


Although using a bag to catch the clippings may seem like a good thing to do, did you know that leaving them behind can actually help fertilize your lawn, returning nitrogen and other nutrients back to the soil? Of course, if your lawn is super high you may want to use the bag - but for the most part it is best to leave the clippings behind and not use the bag.


THE SPARTAN ADVANTAGE



Regardless of how you mow, you will realize optimal results with one of our Spartan mowers! Experience the Spartan Advantage on all of our 2022 models. These advantages, many that come standard on EVERY Spartan, set the bar much higher in the zero turn mowing industry. Other brands may have similar features, but none are equipped with so many of these advantages. 


Find a Dealer near you and come test drive one for yourself! We know you’ll be impressed. To view all of our 2022 models in 360 degrees, visit us at SpartanMowers.com.


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