Learn Basic Mowing Techniques

Use this guide to learn the ins and outs or mowing your lawn, including the various types of tools that will work best for maintaining your outdoor space.

Filed under: Lawn Care

3. String trimmers

These are useful for cutting areas of long rough grass or for use on banks that are too steep for a mower. They operate by cutting with nylon strings, which spin at high speed. String trimmers often give a poor finish, leaving ragged tips that eventually turn brown and die back.

What to Do With Clippings

Cutting a lawn regularly means there is no shortage of grass clippings to add to the compost heap each week. Small quantities should be added to the heap in alternate layers with other garden material since the clippings are very high in nitrogen and can turn slimy and smelly if left in bulk. Carbon-rich compost, such as woody material, cardboard, or shredded newspaper, should be added to the pile as well; this will counterbalance the nitrogen from the clippings. The heap should be turned every few weeks to get air circulating inside the compost — this aids the breakdown of the material and will speed up the process. Remember that clippings decompose better if they have been allowed to dry out first.