In a perfect world, we’d never have to mow our lawns to keep them in top condition. However, clipping your grass as short as possible isn’t a good solution to the problem of mowing. Choosing the wrong clipping height can lead to unsightly brown spots, or cause you to replant your lawn entirely. On the other hand, leaving your grass too tall can lead to other problems. When considering optimal clipping height, you’ll also need to account for sloped areas and any small hills or ground features that are not readily apparent.

Hazards associated with clipping your lawn too short

People in temperate climates everywhere are pulling their lawn mowers out of the storage shed or garage and preparing for that first trim of the season. After getting the dust off of the mower, it’s also important to dust off the mind before firing up the engine. Remember, the whole reason for lawn mowing is to promote a healthy, flourishing yard that adds to the attractiveness and value of your property. Let’s go over a few pointers to refresh things you’ll want to know for maintaining an attractive lawn:

Lawn mowing may not always be the most enjoyable activity. It is understandable that many people would prefer to do it as infrequently as possible. To accommodate this, it might seem intuitive to cut the grass extremely short, so as to elongate the duration between mows. This is a bad idea. Grass that is clipped too short will die. A dead lawn will be evident by an unsightly brown colored grass.

Many people mow their lawn too short and effectively kill it in the process.  Your lawn is a plant, and like all plants it needs some of that green stuff called leaves in order to continue to survive and flourish.  A tree will eventually start to die if it loses too many of its leaves- this is what happens to it every winter.  Your lawn behaves in the same way; mow it too short and you may soon notice that your lawn has died and left you with a yard full of brown grass. 

Mowing you lawn at the half-inch setting on your mower is a guaranteed way to murder your lawn… you don’t want to be a lawn murderer do you? 

Mowing your lawn may seem like a simple task, but it must be done with great care. Practicing proper mowing techniques can make a big difference in your lawn's appearance. Here are some tips that can guide you when you're mowing your lawn:

1. When your lawn grass reaches a length of over 3 inches, it's time to trim it. Make sure that for each cut, you don't trim more than 1/3 of the grass' height because doing so will wear out your lawn.
2. Keep in mind that different grass types have different optimal heights. Adjust your lawn mower to cut at a height that is suitable for your type of grass.
   
   

You need to familiarize yourself with the parts of your lawn mower so that you can easily troubleshoot it when something isn't working properly. The first thing you have to know is that a rotary mower is usually powered by an internal combustion engine, although electric mowers are also popular. This engine can either be a two stroke or a four stroke cycle engine. Your mower usually needs to be activated via a pull crank.

Lawn Mower Spark PlugYour gas-powered mower also needs a spark plug to start. If your engine is having trouble starting, odds are, there is a problem with its spark plug. The problem could be a faulty spark plug, or having clogged air filters or stale fuel in your mower. These two things often affect the performance of your mower's spark plug.

Ideally, your lawn mower's oil should be changed every spring. This keeps your lawn mower in good working condition throughout the year. It ensures that the engine is properly lubricated, and that new oil is distributed to important mower parts. Changing the oil on your lawn mower is a fairly easy task, and you can do it well without the help of a professional.

First, clean the area around the oil fill and remove the dipstick. Then, locate the oil drain plug. It's usually under the mower's housing, just above the blade. Sometimes, this area is covered with grass clippings, so be ready with a putty knife and a hose to clean this area out.

The appearance and health of your grass largely depends on your lawn mower. The best lawn mowers cost hundreds of dollars, so it's best to keep your mower well maintained. Here are some important tasks that you can do to preserve and maintain the quality of your lawn mower: