With the Mother’s Day forecast being dry and warmer, no doubt many people will be mowing their lawn for the first time in a while…maybe this season!

Are you doing it wrong?

Wait, WHAT?

Homes & Gardens shared some ways you might not be doing it right…and they should KNOW…it’s in their name! Are you:

Always mowing in the same direction?  You probably alternate on each pass and go back and forth…they’re talking about switching it up every time you mow.  Do each pass the opposite of how you did it last time. If you always mow the same patch of grass in the same direction, it trains it to lean that way and it’s not great for the grass or the soil, but some people want that baseball-field look. #GoSox

Starting in the middle?  It’s mostly just inefficient because you have to move your mower around the yard more but it’s also bad for the grass.  Ideally, you just want to make one pass over each part of your yard and not have to roll your heavy mower over (and over) it again.

Using the wrong mower for the job?  Do you really need a riding mower?  They’re hard to maneuver if your yard isn’t big enough and the general rule is you only need one if you’re cutting half-an-acre or more.  Most people aren’t and should stick with a push mower instead…plus you get a GREAT workout!

You’ve never sharpened the blades?  Dull blades can tear your grass instead of cutting it.  You can buy a sharpener…just don’t get them TOO sharp because that’s not good either.  Razor-sharp blades are more likely to chip if they hit a rock.  You’ll want them to be about as sharp as a kitchen knife, but not as sharp as a razor blade.

And PLEASE be careful when doing it…why not leave it to the experts at Ithaca Agway Ace Hardware? That’s what we do!

Happy mowing!

And if you really can’t be bothered, you should let it grow, let it grow: “Meadowscaping” is BIG right now, embracing unmanicured, native plants!