If you have a medium or large sized lawn, then basic lawn maintenance can feel like a real chore. A bigger lawn isn’t easy to maintain unless you have a riding lawn mower, which can make mowing your lawn fast, easy, and even fun. Our riding lawn mower tips will walk you through how to use your new mower and exactly why a riding lawn mower is a great investment
Our riding lawn mower tips will teach you how to safely use your new mower, how to achieve the popular stripe mowing pattern, and how you can care for your new mower and ensure it remains in top working order for this season and beyond. Remember, if you’re new to riding lawn mower use, practice mowing your lawn in a lower gear until you’ve become familiar with how responsive the steering is and how the mower works in general. Feature-packed models can be more complicated to learn how to use, but ultimately, most riding mowers have an intuitive setup that makes them fun and easy to use.
Continue reading to learn how to correctly use your new mower and what mowing techniques will give your lawn a well-manicured look.
Why Get A Riding Lawn Mower
If you’re tired of spending hundreds of dollars every month to pay someone else to mow your lawn, then a riding lawn mower can be a great investment. Of course, you can expect a high initial cost, but over time, considering how much money mowing the lawn can save you, you’ll quickly realize that your new mower will pay for itself in no time.
So, instead of struggling to keep your lawn looking good using a basic push mower or paying a landscaper hundreds of dollars a month, purchase the best riding lawn mower for hills or uneven terrain, a model that’s designed to handle larger properties, easily, and effortlessly. There are dozens of top models to choose from, but if you’re looking for a high-rated mower, one that’s been proven to work, won’t overheat and comes equipped with a powerful motor, then we recommend the Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series.
How to Use Your Lawn Mower More Efficiently
Using a riding lawn mower requires less energy from you, which means you’ll be able to get your yard work done faster, with professional results. When you cut your grass most pros recommend using a lower gear in order to avoid losing control. Some models are easier to control than others, but if you’re a beginner, we recommend using caution in the beginning, until you become familiar with how the mower works and the type of power it’s packing. Mowing in a lower gear will also make it easier to maneuver around obstacles such as brush, bushes, and trees.
How to Safely Operate a Riding Lawn Mower
If you know how to drive, then learning how to use a riding lawn mower should be a piece of cake. However, even beginners who are experienced drivers can still struggle to get the hang of using a riding lawn mower the first few times.
To operate, start off by putting the key in the ignition. Turn the key and press the clutch and brake simultaneously. This will fire up the engine.
Next, you’ll shift the mower into low gear by using the shift lever. Steer the mower towards your lawn, turning the steering wheel the same as you would if you were driving a car. Once you have reached your lawn, press the clutch and brake at the same time to stop the mower. In order to lower the blades, you’ll need to hit the blade engagement button. Next, release the clutch and brake pedals to get the mower going. Ride the mower over the lawn until you’ve cut it to the right height. Once you’re done, simply press the blade engagement to retract the blades before you drive the mower to its appointed storage space. And that’s all there is to it.
Related Questions
How Do I Get Ballpark Stripes With My New Mower?
If you’re dreaming of those beautiful stripes that you often see at ballparks and stadiums, achieving this look with your new lawn mower will actually be pretty simple. The appearance of stripes is actually caused by the light reflecting on blades of bent grass. The blades that are bent towards you will appear darker while the blades that are bent away appear lighter. Aside from looking pro-quality and impressive, this technique is actually very healthy for your grass. In order to achieve this look, you’ll need to buy a striping kit for your mower. This basically consists of a roller that will bend some of the blades of grass as you mow.
Once you’ve purchased the kit, adjust the blades on the mower so that they cut the grass slightly higher than usual. This allows the blades of grass to bend more easily. It’s also healthier for your grass compared to when you cut the blades very short. If you have everything in place, start by mowing the grass using a straight path from one end of your lawn to the other. Be sure you mow in a perfectly straight line, otherwise, you’ll achieve an odd, wavy look. As you’re riding over the grass, the roller will bend some of the blades in the direction you’re riding in.
Once you’ve reached the end of your lawn, make a U-turn, slightly backing up in order to adjust the mower’s turning radius. Next, make a tight turn in the other direction. As you’re making a path in the other direction, be sure you overlap over the original path by three to four inches in order to avoid missing patches of grass, which can definitely ruin the illusion. The result of this cut is nothing short of impressive. Many people are actually surprised at how simple and easy it is to achieve this look with a basic roller kit and a little patience.
How Often Should I Water My Lawn in the Summer?
If you live in a very hot part of the country, where temperatures reach ninety degrees or higher, then you’ll need to water your lawn daily. If your summers are best described as mild, you can get away with watering your lawn every two to three days.
Final Thoughts
A riding lawn mower will totally change the way you care for your lawn. These powerful, easy to use vehicles can make it easy to achieve a beautiful lawn this summer, while saving you time and money.
We hope our riding lawn mower tips will teach you how to safely use your new mower, like a pro, while achieving that well-manicured look that you’re striving for, but with minimal effort on your part. A riding lawn mower will totally change the way you care for your lawn, for the better.