The Surprising Lawn Mowing Mistake You’ve Been Making All Along—And How to Fix It Tonight

Since the 1950s, when postwar suburbia sprouted like dandelions across America, lawns became the bona fide badge of homeowner pride—or at least a subtle flex that says, “Yes, I either sweat over this patch of green or pay someone to.” Now, mowing the lawn might seem like as simple as pushing a noisy lawn appliance back and forth until the grass is trimmed, right? Well, hold your horses! There’s actually a right and smart way to mow that can turn your yard from “meh” to magnificent. Curious why your neighbor’s yard looks healthier even though you both have the same green thumbs? Buckle up, cause mowers and blades aren’t the only things doing the hard work here. LEARN MORE

Since postwar suburbia began spreading across America in the 1950s, lawns have been a source of pride for homeowners. It’s a way to say that you tend to your property (or that you hire a neighborhood kid to do it for you). While mowing seems like a pretty routine task that’s mostly foolproof, there’s actually a proper way to achieve a better-looking, healthier yard.

1. Grass Length Matters
2. The Right Angle of Attack
3. More Mowing Tips to Keep in Mind

Grass Length Matters

You may be tempted to turn over your lawnmower engine and proceed to hack away at your grass indiscriminately. While this works in the sense it will keep you from getting a homeowner’s association letter, it’s not great for your grass. What you should be focusing on is grass length and the angle of the cut.

Many people like to cut the grass short in the hopes they can prolong periods between mowing, a practice known as “scalping the lawn.” But very short grass presents a problem: The blades aren’t long enough to properly absorb the sun’s rays, depriving them of nutrients and leaving brown, patchy, brittle grass. It also means the yard itself is more susceptible to weed overgrowth.