At first, some may think that lawn care is something that’s super easy and manageable—something that doesn’t require much planning or thinking. But there’s a reason why people hire professionals to care for their lawns, and that’s because there are some aspects to lawn care that you really need to pay attention to and think about.
If you’re thinking of setting up your own lawn care business, you must be a master of your craft and you should really know the different aspects of lawn care and management. More importantly, you must know what kinds of questions to ask.
Before
How do I ensure that my lawn mower efficiently does the work?
First you need to ensure that you have the right type of mower for the lawn area that you need to mow. You need to set the mower deck at the right height, and it’s also best to ensure that your mower’s gas tank is just about 3/4 full; you shouldn’t fill the gas tank completely because you want to allow venting.
Can you just mow the grass anytime?
You may ask how often you should cut your grass, and the answer will depend on the season. Seasonal changes (and the weather) should be considered when scheduling and planning your mowing. For one, remember that taller grass is actually more resistant to drought and heat effects, so as the temperature rises you should mow your grass a little less. During times of drought, you should avoid cutting the lawn because drought stress will damage the grass even more.
During
How short should I cut the grass?
When it comes to deciding how short to cut the grass, there’s a common misconception that the easiest way is to cut it as short as possible. However, you have to remember the general rule of thumb that says you shouldn’t be cutting more than 1/3 of the grass’ height at a time because taking too much of the grass height per cutting actually stresses the grass and keeps it from being lush and healthy. If it’s cut too short, it’s more susceptible to heat damage, drought, and weed invasion.
This means that even if you’re dealing with overgrown grass, you have to cut it gradually and put adequate space between the mows. If you follow the 1/3 rule and also educate your customers about this rule, then you’ll eventually come up with a good rhythm and schedule.
Once you're into a regular schedule you should have the mower blade height set at a minimum of 3" or 7-8cm. In summary, by increasing the leaf length you:
Is there are a proper way to mow grass?
Most lawn mowers are pretty straightforward, and using them is not rocket science. Just make sure that whether you’re using a walk-behind mower or driving a lawn tractor, you’re mowing the lawn moving forward. Come up with an orderly pattern to make sure you’re able to mow the entire lawn area in the shortest possible time.
If you’re working with a regular customer, it’s best if you can switch it up a bit and change your mowing pattern every time you go and mow the lawn because grass actually develops a grain depending on the direction of your cutting. If you alternate the pattern, this causes the growth to be more upright.
After
What do I do with the grass clippings?
If you think you should bag those grass clippings and throw them away, think again. Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn is actually beneficial because it recycles the nutrients back into the soil. Think of it as free fertilizer, because grass clippings contain the same nutrients that you can find in fertilizer—nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
The only thing that would prevent some from keeping the grass clippings is the fact that it doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing when you just leave it there. To improve how it looks, you can ensure that you’re regularly cutting it and at the recommended height. The smaller the grass clippings are, the better it will look when you leave it. Not mowing when the grass is wet will also help, because it will only make the lawn look sloppy.
Alternatively, you can also use a mulching lawn mower. The mulching plug allows you to send the grass clippings back to your lawn, as it has blades that actually chop the grass to much tinier pieces before doing that.
What should you do if your lawn is always dry?
Water is an important part of lawn care, but you shouldn’t water the lawn too often, especially during the hot months. Overwatering could also cause problems because when your soil is too wet, you could cause some physiological problems for the plants and soil organisms. Diseases also thrive when conditions are wet.
Constant and shallow watering are also not a good idea, because what’s better for your lawn is actually deep and infrequent watering just a few times a week. It’s important to educate your customers about this because they’re the ones who are in contact with their lawns every single day. This will help them achieve the green and lush lawns that they want.
Naturally, it’s also important to inform them about the ideal time to water the lawn. It’s best to water either early in the morning or early in the evening. Watering during noon when the sun is at its hottest is not a good idea at all. Watering for 10-15 minutes is recommended.
Is it important to keep the mower well maintained?
Think of your lawn service equipment as the lifeblood of your business; if your equipment is faulty or inefficient, it will eventually affect your operations and prevent you from doing your job well. It is, therefore, important to keep your mower well maintained and take care of it after every mow. You need to keep your blades sharp because if they’re blunt, they will tear instead of cut the grass.
Conclusion
Understanding the basics of lawn care will help you get started with your business. Also, you have to remember that you shouldn’t just be thinking about what to do during each grass cutting. You also have to look at what to do before and after.
