This Lawn Mower Mistake Is Wrecking Your Grass

If your lawn is looking beaten down and ragged, there might be nothing wrong with the grass. The culprit could be your lawn mower, specifically it’s blade. Most people overlook the blade when it comes to lawncare. They start up their mower and run it all season before putting it away in the fall. The problem is, your lawn mower blade can actually end up doing quite a bit of damage to your lawn. 

Related: This Simple Spring Mistake Can Wreck Your Lawn Mower Fast

What a Dull Blade Actually Does

A mower blade should slice cleanly through grass. But when a blade is dull it ends up tearing the grass instead. When this happens, your lawn ends up with brown tips. The grass loses moisture more quickly with an uneven cut, which makes it more vulnerable to drought and disease. This is why your lawn can look more stressed than it should when you’re done mowing. 

Why A Dull Blade is Crucial Right Now

When your lawn is coming out of dormancy, it’s more fragile than it usually is. When you cut it with a dull blade, it makes it more difficult for the lawn to recover and thicken, which it needs to do in order to compete with aggressive spring weed growth. 

Related: EGO’s Dual-Blade Mower Is a Powerhouse for Big Yards

How to Tell If Your Blade Is Dull

The best way to determine if you’re moving with a dull blade is to look at the results after you’re done mowing. A dull blade will leave grass leaves that have tips that look shredded or frayed. Your lawn may also have white or brown hue to it after you mow. Uneven cutting is also a clear sign of a dull blade. 

The Fix

The fix for a dull blade is simple: sharpen the blade. You can either sharpen the blade using a grinder or a metal file or by taking it to your local lawn mower repair shop and having them sharpen the blade. Going forward make a habit of sharpening the mower blade at the start of each mowing season.