Few things look better than a lush, green, freshly mowed lawn. It is the centerpiece of a beautifully landscaped yard. However, maintaining the perfect property requires quite a bit of work. Some people prefer to mow their own lawn while others would rather hire professional landscapers to do all of the dirty work – mowing, trimming, etc.
Whether you are taking care of your own lawn, putting your kid to work, or hiring a team of professionals to get the job done, there are some essential pieces of information that you should be aware of. If your goal is to maintain a beautiful and well-kept lawn this summer, then you have come to the right place. This article is going to cover everything from the benefits of mowing your lawn, how it can be beneficial to hire a professional lawn care company, and so much more!
Maintaining a picture-perfect lawn is no easy task and requires a great deal of work and upkeep. Many homeowners prefer to take on this task themselves. While there are many benefits to hiring a professional company to maintain your yard, let’s take a look at the advantages associated with taking care of your own lawn.
#1 Mowing Your Own Lawn Saves You Money
Hiring a team of professionals to take care of your lawn is undoubtedly easier, though some would prefer to save a few bucks and do it themselves. The cost of lawn care depends on factors such as where you live, the size of your yard, and the company that you hire. You can always hire the neighborhood kid who mows lawns, but they are likely only going to offer a very basic service and lack the necessary expertise and experience to do the job right.
If you aren’t considering hiring somebody else and would rather mow your own lawn, one of the most important things to do is invest in a high-quality lawnmower. This won’t only result in a very well-manicured lawn, but it will also make your job much easier. Just remember there is a fair amount of maintenance required with having your own mower – changing the oil, sharpening the blades, and routine tune-ups.
#2 It Is A Form Of Exercise
If you have ever cut your own lawn, then you are very well aware of the physical output required to push a mower over your entire yard. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with a riding mower because you aren’t doing much physical labor. However, mowing the grass with a push mower is a form of moderate physical activity. If your mower isn’t self-propelled, then you are getting even more of a workout!
#3 It Is Good For Your Mental Health
According to Psychology Today, mowing your own lawn can be beneficial to your mental health. The repetitive motion helps to calm the mind while being outdoors in the fresh air is excellent for boosting your mood – turning a weekly chore into a mindfulness practice.
#4 You Are In Control Of How Your Lawn Looks
Most lawn care companies will do an outstanding job in maintaining and mowing your lawn. They likely have better equipment than the average homeowner and are experts in their field. When you care for your own lawn, you get to determine how everything goes. You can choose the direction in which your stripes go – horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. It is all up to you.
Usually, people fall into two categories regarding mowing their own lawn: they love it, or they hate it! While some people relish in the extra time spent outdoors, others would much rather spend their free time doing something else. Whether or not you prefer to mow your own grass, there are still many benefits to hiring a professional lawn service. Here are just a few:
#1 More Free Time
For those who spend most of their week at work, it is essential to have a couple of days on the weekend to relax and enjoy some downtime with your family. Even if you are someone who enjoys the actual activity of cutting your own grass, a few extra hours over the weekend certainly can’t hurt.
#2 You Don’t Have To Worry About Equipment
Lawn care equipment is not cheap – lawnmowers, weed whackers, and even the gas to power your equipment can quickly add up over time. Also, lawn care equipment does not have the best reputation regarding longevity and can cause quite a few headaches over the years. Rather than dealing with a mower or weed whacker that just won’t seem to startup, you can hire someone who uses their own equipment to maintain your lawn and their own gas and lines.
#3 Improve The Look Of Your Lawn
Curb appeal is one of the most important factors of any home. Not only do landscaping professionals bring an exceptional level of expertise to your yard maintenance, but they also use top-of-the-line equipment to ensure the highest quality of lawn care. One thing is for sure, your lawn will always look neat and trim.
#4 It Is Quick
Hiring a team of professional landscapers results in a much quicker and more efficient experience. Professional landscapers are not only great at mowing your lawn quickly, but they also do an excellent job at removing overgrown foliage and grass while also trimming and leaf blowing all areas to ensure that your yard is neat and tidy before they leave.
#5 It Is Consistent And Reliable
One of the most significant benefits to having your lawn professionally maintained is that you can always rely on your service provider to be there on the same day of each week, ensuring your yard is adequately cared for. With the exclusion of inclement weather, you essentially get to decide when and how often your professional landscaper mows your lawn, and you know what to expect each time.
How many homeowners mow their lawn only when it starts to look overgrown or unsightly? There should be more thought in determining when and how often you should cut your lawn. This plays a significant role in your yard’s overall presentation and quality. Other contributing factors to good lawn health are regular watering, fertilizing, and, of course, cutting your grass to ensure a healthy life cycle for your yard and vegetation. Diligence and consistency will result in a much healthier and greener lawn.
Two factors that contribute the most to determining how often you should mow your lawn are water restrictions and the season. During the cooler winter months, you can usually stop mowing your lawn altogether or mow your lawn every month, depending on your area’s weather conditions. However, during the warmer spring and summer months, when growth is more rapid, it is standard to have your lawn mowed once a week. It’s best to trim your yard on the same schedule as cutting it ensures a neat appearance.
The great thing about hiring professionals to mow your lawn and maintain your yard is that they’re going to know exactly how long or how short your grass should be. However, if you choose to mow your own grass, you likely have questions about how long your grass should be. How high should you cut your grass when you mow it? Luckily, there is a general rule of thumb. During cooler seasons, you should cut your grass so that it is about 2 1/2 inches tall, and when you mow your grass, you should be sure that you were only removing the top 1/3 of the blade. During the summer and spring months, you can let your grass grow slightly taller to about 3 inches tall. The ultimate goal is to create a balance that allows your grass to look as beautiful as possible.
Have you ever driven past the yard and seeing those beautiful lines that go across a freshly mowed lawn? That’s called striping which refers to the stripes and other patterns applied to a long stretch of yard by using a lawnmower. The stripes result from sunlight that’s reflecting off of the blades of grass. Edges that are bent towards the sun look darker, while those leaning away look lighter. This creation of dark and light patterns caused by the mower while cutting the grass is what gives you the striped, checkerboard, or other patterned effects to your lawn.
Push Reel Mower
Believe it or not, the original lawnmower was invented in 1830. These push reel mowers, which are still used today, are simple machines that spin between five to eight spiral-shaped blades to slice the grass as it is pushed across a lawn. It is safe and easy to use but requires the most physical output out of all lawnmowers.
Walk-Behind Power Lawnmower
The most common lawn mower used today, mainly by homeowners, is a walk-behind power lawnmower. These come in either electric or gas options. They are less expensive than riding mowers, and they can cut through tall grass and overgrowth easily.
Riding Mowers
As lawns have become larger, riding mowers have become much more popular. These mowers are fitted with seats and driving controls so the operator can relax while controlling the mower. Most of these have a manual transmission and are more expensive than push mowers.
Your yard is typically the first thing that anybody passing by or visiting your home sees. Therefore, it must give off the right impression. This is achieved through regular maintenance, cutting your lawn, and caring for it properly. How you go about maintaining your yard depends entirely on your unique situation. Determining whether or not you want to hire a professional or do it on your own is just as important as figuring out which kind of mower is best for the size and conditions of your lawn. Figuring out these factors will ensure that your yard looks its best.