I’ve used countless lawn mowers throughout my lifetime.
And sometimes they stop functioning without any warning. Other times, they perform poorly for no apparent reason. When this happens, it’s not always difficult to fix.
In fact, most of the time it’s not an issue with the mower itself.
If you have a mower that’s not performing correctly, then you’re in luck. I’ve compiled a list of 9 foolproof ways to make your lawn mower cut better.
At one point or another, I’ve experienced the problems mentioned below.
Let’s get into it.
How To Make Your Lawn Mower Cut Better (9 Foolproof Ways)
1. Make Sure It’s Clean
It’s important to clean your lawn mower regularly. If you don’t, the build-up of lawn diseases can affect grass roots. This means you have to spend additional time fixing the problem.
Plus, your lawn aesthetics suffer.
In addition, if the blades are not clean, they can rust, which can also affect performance.
Here’s how to clean your mower…
- Disconnect the spark plug wire. This will prevent the lawn mower from starting accidentally while you’re cleaning it.
- Remove the blades. Some lawn mowers have removable blades, while others require that you take it apart in order to remove the lawn mower blades. If you fall into the latter category, be sure to read the owner’s manual carefully so that you know how to properly disassemble it.
- Clean the blades with soapy water. Afterward, you can use a degreaser. There are many commercial degreasers available on the market, or you can use a household cleaner such as WD-40. Applying a degreaser prevents grass from sticking to the blades in the future.
- Clean the rest of the lawn mower, especially the underside of the cutting deck. Use a cloth or a brush to wipe down all plastic, metal, and rubber pieces.
- Reassemble the parts once everything is dry.
2. Sharpen The Blades
Sharp blades are important because they help you cut the grass more efficiently. A dull blade means you will struggle to cut the grass, which leads to frustration and a slower job.
And who wants that, right!?
An excellent way to know whether your mower blade is dull is to inspect your grass. If the grass blades are brown in color, it means your mower blades need sharpening.
Follow these 8 steps to sharpen your lawnmower blades:
- Park the lawn mower on a flat surface
- Remove the spark plug wire or cap to avoid accidental starting.
- Loosen the blade bolt with a wrench.
- Remove the mower blade.
- Sharpen the blade using a file
- Be sure to sharpen both sides
- Reattach the blade and tighten the bolt with a wrench.
- Reattach the spark plug wire or cap
To make things easier, I recommend putting the blades in a vice. This helps keep them secure, making your job a lot easier.
3. Slow Down
Mowing the lawn can be a chore, but it’s definitely more enjoyable when you take your time and do it correctly.
When rushing you’re more likely to make mistakes and end up with a less-than-perfect lawn.
And that won’t get the neighbor’s attention, is it!?
Plus, when in a hurry, you’re more likely to get frustrated and angry, which isn’t good for anyone.
So, take your time, relax, and enjoy the process. You’ll end up with a nicer yard and a better attitude.
4. Make Sure It’s Reliable
Choosing a lawn mower is not easy. With many different brands competing for the top spot, it’s hard to determine the best one.
However, rather than judging on a product basis, I like to look at companies. If a specific company has a successful track record, you can be confident purchasing its products.
But that doesn’t help you, does it? You want the best brands on a silver platter, right!?
No problem!
If you’re interested in purchasing an electric mower, I recommend Cub Cadet. They sell everything, from push to riding lawn mowers.
For electric, (insert name) are a great choice. They have been operating for (number) years and are known for being the best.
Another excellent brand is EGO Power. They only sell electric push mowers; however, their reviews speak for themself.
5. Clean The Air Filters
The air filters on your lawn mower help protect the engine by trapping dirt and debris. Over time, this build-up can affect the performance of your mower. It’s important to clean the air filters regularly to ensure optimal performance.
To clean the air filters on your lawn mower, first, remove them from the engine. Vacuum or brush off any dirt or debris.
You can also use a garden hose to rinse them off. Then, reattach the filters and start up the mower.
Because of the improved air filters, your engine will get cleaner air. This results in better performance and additional power.
Great for when your mower feels ’sluggish’.
6. Adjust The Height
The height adjustment on your lawn mower controls the cutting deck. If it’s set too low, the grass will be cut too short and could die.
If it’s set too high, not enough grass will be removed. I recommend removing about ⅓ off the top.
Of course, this will be more if you’re dealing with an overgrown lawn.
To adjust the height of your lawn mower deck, first, find the height adjustment lever.
You can find this near the front or back of the mower. Then, move the lever to the desired position.
Some levers have different settings, so you may need to experiment to find the right height for your lawn.
Refer to the instruction manual if you’re unsure.
Once you’ve found the right height, test it out on a small section of your lawn. Make sure the grass is evenly cut and that there are no signs of damage.
If you notice any problems, try adjusting the height again.
7. Mulch Your Grass Clippings
Mulching is a great way to improve your lawn’s health. When you mulch your grass clippings, they are recycled back into the soil.
This helps to improve the soil quality and encourages healthy growth.
Additionally, mulching your grass clippings helps to reduce the amount of time you spend mowing your lawn.
By mulching your grass clippings, you can reduce the frequency of your mowing by up to 50%. The reason? You won’t have to keep emptying the grass catcher bag.
No wonder it’s one of the most common lawn maintenance tips.
8. Make Sure The Grass Is Dry
It’s important to make sure your grass is dry before cutting.
Wet grass clogs the blades and can cause your lawnmower to overheat.
This happens they can’t spin properly and the motor has to work harder to move them.
Also, ‘most’ wet grass is also more difficult to cut.
However, it depends on a number of factors, such as the type of grass, the height of the grass, and the condition of the blades.
However, in general, wet grass is more difficult to cut than dry grass. This is because when the blades are wet, they are heavier and don’t stand up straight. This makes it difficult to get a clean cut.
9.Get A More Powerful Mower
When I first started cutting grass, I used one of the cheap wired mowers.
Wow – feels like a lifetime ago.
Every time I would cut thick dense grass, the lawn mower would stall. Even with shorter grass, it would sometimes happen.
After dealing with this frustration for a long time, I decided it was time for an upgrade. After all, what’s the point of trimming the lawn if your mower stalls every few minutes, huh!?
After careful research, I purchased a gas-powered mower.
And the difference was night and day.
I admit it was more costly, especially with the frequent gas refills. However, I saved a ton of time. Not only that, but I didn’t need to worry about tripping over the wire constantly.
Eventually, I got my hands on a riding lawn mower. And that’s when things really started to change.
It was comfortable, had excellent power, and saved me lots of time.
So, if you have a cheap mower that’s stalling, I recommend upgrading to a better one. It’s going to cost more money at first, but what’s the point in using a cheap lawn mower that can’t do anything?
Should You Mow Your Grass In Different Directions?
Your mowing pattern is a personal choice. Some people believe that this will help to evenly distribute the grass clippings and nutrients across the lawn. Others believe that it is better to mow in the same direction each time.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer. You may want to experiment with different directions to see what works best for your lawn.
If you want my advice, I recommend mowing vertically one week, and horizontally the next.
Wrapping It Up
In this article, we discussed how to improve your mower, so you can cut grass the right way!
We talked about the importance of adjusting the height, mulching your grass clippings, and making sure the grass is dry.
We also discussed the benefits of getting a more powerful lawnmower. Armed with this information, lawn mowing should be a breeze. However, if you’re still struggling, drop a comment below and I will get back to you.