One of the hallmarks of a professionally mowed lawn is the striping pattern that’s left behind. So what’s the secret behind this symbol of lawn maintenance superiority?
Lawn stripes are the result of light reflecting off the grass. Grass bent away from you looks lighter, while grass bent toward you looks darker. The more the grass is bent, the more dramatic the visual effect.
Given the physics behind lawn striping, some people assume a lawn roller is needed to really bend the grass down. While a roller can definitely help, it is not a necessity. Many factors play into striping a lawn. When mowing crews adhere to the key principles, stunning stripes are the result – without extra accessories needed!
Think about the mechanics behind lawn striping. The more the grass is bent, the more it reflects light. Thus, it makes sense that longer grass will reflect light better because it bends more. By maintaining grass at a longer height, you have a better chance of creating those stunning stripes without the need for a lawn roller.
Keep in mind that some grass types are better-suited to striping due to their longer recommended cutting height and overall composition. Cool-season grasees–such as Tall Fescue, Bluegrass, and Ryegrass–which are maintained at taller heights and have more flexible blades, tend to stripe better. That said, heartier warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Zoysia and Bermuda can still stripe, but the stripes generally are not as pronounced as when mowing cool-season grasses.
Here are some generally accepted grass length recommendations:
Grasshopper zero-turn mowers make it easy to adjust your deck height. FrontMount™ decks feature Grasshopper’s exclusive PowerFold® technology, which includes electric height adjustment so operators can raise or lower cutting height with the simple toggle of a switch. MidMount™ decks have a QuikAjust™ Drop Pin Height Adjustment which is also fast and easy to use.
Striping is also made easier when the grass is healthy. A lawn that is properly irrigated and fertilized will grow greener and thicker, which helps accentuate the striping effect when reflecting light. Incorporating additional turf care practices such dethatching, aerating and overseeding can further help improve the overall health of the lawn.
It’s also important to resist the urge to mow off too much grass at once. However, taking off more than one-third at once is unhealthy for the grass. Given the recommended grass lengths mentioned above, this is about as long as you should allow the grass to get before mowing it:
It’s also important to maintain sharp blades so the grass can be cut cleanly. Dull blades tear the grass, leading to a dull appearance and opening the door to disease. For the best possible cut, sharpen your blades every 8 hours of use. You can also watch for signs that it’s time to sharpen them–like torn or frayed blade tips–which indicate the blades are tearing the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. And, inspect your blades regularly to look for dings and damage, which would require the blades to be replaced.
Also keep the underside of the deck free from an overaccumulation of grass clippings. Too much buildup can restrict airflow and impact cut quality.
Laying down some impressive stripes is also made easier when you’re using the best-cutting zero-turn mower.
Grasshopper mowers feature extra-deep DuraMax® decks which create a high volume of airflow. That helps stand the grass up straighter so it can be cut more evenly. Every Grasshopper mower is equipped with genuine GrassMax™ blades, designed for optimum airflow, minimal grass buildup, and a superior cut. Blade style can really make a difference with cut quality. Different blade styles are available for different cutting scenarios, such as mulching, bagging, moist conditions, dry conditions, etc.
There are all kinds of mowing patterns you can use. As long as each pass with the mower is in the opposite direction as the pass adjacent to it, you can achieve that light/dark visual striping effect.
Be careful not to overlap excessively–going beyond 10% (about 4 or 5 inches with a 48-inch deck) can reduce the light/dark contrast, since a larger section of grass ends up being bent in both directions.
The most common mowing patterns include:
Find out if the customer has a preference. You should also consider how the sun will land on the lawn at different times of day. For instance, if the customer really wants those stripes to pop around the noon hour, think about where the sun will be at that time of day. Stripes will show up better when the sun is behind the person looking at the lawn.
That said, it’s not a good idea to follow the same pattern every time you mow. Mowing in the same direction week after week can create ruts in the lawn and train the grass to grow in a certain direction. Pick at least two different patterns that make sense for the property, follow the other tips offered in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to creating stunning stripes that your customers will love and your crews can be proud of.