Beginner’s Intro
It’s hard to believe that there’s a single person who doesn’t care about their lawn. But for those of you who truly love your lawn and aspire to perfection, mastering lawn striping is essential. After all, how else will you be able to impress your neighbor each morning when picking up the newspaper and checking your mailbox? Your garden is a reflection of you, and the heart of it is the lawn. It doesn’t matter if you are a complete newbie when it comes to gardening! We are here to walk you through the best techniques! We will show you the best blade and the most efficient mower, so when you finish reading, you’ll be ready to become a professional lawn master.
The Basics of Lawn Stripping
Whether you realized it or not, you have already performed a basic strip of your lawn. That is if you have mowed your lawn at least once, either with a tractor mower or a regular push. The lawn striping occurs when you flatten one row of grass with your mower in one direction, and then comb the neighboring row in the exact opposite direction.
Grass Length
Lawn striping is mostly about bending the grass; much like in a haircut, short strands are more resilient, refusing to lie down. In order to overcome this, you need to make sure the grass blade is long enough after mowing. The desired and recommended length ranges between 1 1/8 and 2 inches when first using the rotary mowers. Right afterward, you can rollover the same area after disengaging the mower blades. One down-to-earth note, it’s commonly known that intensively used lawns should be mowed at about a third of the height of the grass. Too short trimming can seriously damage the density and lead to a really unsightly look. Therefore, it is always indicated to be precise about the height at which you will mow, notwithstanding the types of lawn mower used.
Lawn Striping Patterns
Even the most basic manner of lawn striping will have a clear visual impact. This is how patterns are created. From standard models to advanced ones, here are some of the most popular lawn patterns up to date:
Stripes
This is probably the easiest and most common pattern of them all. You just have to mow one row in one direction, and the row next to it — in the opposite direction. But we will not be going for standard here. Even when your goal is a simple stripe pattern, you can give it a nice contour by mowing the entire perimeter of your lawn first. Another thing to consider is the fact that overgrown grass will clog under your mower’s deck, leaving behind unsightly grass clippings. No need to panic, simply use the gas lawn mower you can find to discharge the clippings.
Checkerboard
The square style is pretty much the same as the previous one, except for the fact that after completing the stripes on length, you will have to repeat the process on your lawn’s width as well. When you finish, the lawn should perfectly resemble a checkerboard.
Diagonal
Also known as Criss-Cross, this pattern can be obtained by running your mower diagonally across your lawn, using the same technique used for the stripe pattern. Once you have finished mowing the entire lawn in parallel diagonal rows, it’s indicated to mow the perimeter once more, so that you can cover up the turn marks.
Curves and Bends
While strict and rigorous persons appreciate the first three styles more, a free-spirited individual might prefer a more relaxed, curvy pattern for his/her lawn. Obtaining a curved pattern is also easier in technique, but will require a lot more precision. The curves created on one row have to be in concordance with the ones from the neighboring row. Perspective is essential for this lawn stripping technique, and the end result should denote harmony.
What Lawn Striping Accessories Do You Need?
A lot of people ask this question and expect a long list of items for an answer. In reality, a basic lawn striping kit is pretty much everything you need. However, there are numerous useful accessories you could go for if you are looking for a more professional approach.
Lawn Tractors
If you want to handle lawn striping like a pro, then buying a garden tractor is the first step to take. Most models come equipped with PTO, which translates to rear power take-off, and a couple of other special implements. Professional gardeners use either rotary blade mowers or roller styled ones. When it comes to tractors, the lawn striping kit is actually an additional roller or dragger, attached at the back of the vehicle. This will help bend the grass even more.
Advanced Lawnmowers
If you own an extremely wide lawn, you could consider buying a lawnmower specially conceived for professional work. These models have more powerful engines, with faster ignition and four-wheel drive. Lawnmowers that work on gas will offer you the best ratio between productivity, price, and quality. If you are new to lawn stripping, you could consider opting for a self-propelled model. This way, you present the mower to do the job for you. As for the engine, things are pretty simple: a stronger engine equals a higher speed and, thus, a much faster level of cutting grass. It’s also important to choose a model of lawn mower that comes equipped with a grass bag. Otherwise, you will need to collect the grass manually after each row you mowed.
DIY Items
If you don’t want to buy a tractor and an expensive lawn striping kit, then you can also cover the process with simple DIY household items. For centuries now, gardeners have successfully used a wide range of items for grass bending and lawn stripping. Honorable mentions are sandbags, PVC pipes filled with sand, boat rollers, or large pieces of rigid rubber.
Conclusion: Perfect Lawn Stripping for a Pitch-Perfect Lawn
From a landscaper point of view, the lawn is one of the most important decorative elements of our gardens. And now you have learned pretty much all the basic lawn striping techniques, as well as the main accessories gardeners use. However, when you draw the line, a good mower, a high-quality blade, and a lot of practice are really all you need to master lawn striping successfully.
Author’s Bio:
Kevin is a mechanic specialist who also enjoys working in the garden to make the perfect landscape. He can repair everything that’s related to a house and garden. Everything in his house is made by his hands. his free time he prefers surfing the Internet, reading and sharing his knowledge creating content.
