One of the essential practices in helping to keep you lawn healthy is through proper mowing. Clipping off the growing points of grass makes the grass branch out and making it denser. This in turn turns the thousand of grasses into a tightly woven turf. However, just the act of mowing will not make the lawn look good. How healthy and attractive your lawn looks is determined by mowing height and mowing frequency. This is because the leaves are responsible for photosynthesis and cutting too low or too often can be stressful or even harmful for the grass.
Most grasses have a recommended range of mowing height. During the hot season or drought, it is advised to stay in the upper end of that range but during the cooler season, you can cut a bit lower. Following the one-third rule of mowing is important. Never cut more than a third of the grass in one mowing. If the grass grows a bit higher than usual, probably due to wet weather or your busy schedule, it is essential to move the cutting height of your mower to its topmost setting to avoid cutting the grass too low.
The table below shows the suggested mowing heights for different grass types,
| Grass Type | Height |
| Bahia grass; fescue, tall; blue grama; buffalo grass | 2 to 3 inches |
| Bent grass | 1/4 to 1 inch |
| Bermuda grass, common | 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches |
| Bermuda grass, hybrid | 1/2 to 1 inch |
| Centipede grass | 1 to 2 inches |
| Fescue, fine; St. Augustine grass | 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inches |
| Ryegrass | 1-1/2 to 2 inches |
The finishing touches of mowing are edging and trimming and both are very similar to each other. There are tools that are called edgers and are designed to trim the lawn along solid surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks. Trimmers on the other hand can be used on solid surfaces, tight spaces, near planting beds, and practically almost anywhere. Both trimmers and edgers leave off clippings which may need sweeping up or you can leave them be because they can break down easily and act as fertilizers.
When using a lawn mower, it is important that you know the equipment you are using. This is because power lawn mowers can be dangerous even when they are being used properly. It is essential that you familiarize yourself with its safety features and to never disable them. It is also highly advised to check the lawn before mowing. Rocks and other debris may become dangerous and be the cause of injury when hit by spinning cutter blade. Wearing heavy shoes and long pants may provide the protection needed from flying debris. Re-fuelling is another hazard that needs attention. It is important to allow the engine to cool for at least 10 minutes before attempting to re-fuel and to use a gas can with an appropriate pouring spout to avoid spillage.
Doing the yard work with a motorized lawn mower, trimmer, edger, or blower can be hard on the ears as these equipments have high decibel ratings. This makes it necessary to protect your ears by using earplugs or any other type of hearing protection. It is also important to remember to turn the mower off when it is unattended.