Does your mower leave strips of grass during mowing?
If yes, there’s definitely something wrong with your lawn mower blades that often results in messy cutting, leaving stripes of grass all across the lawn.
However, a temporary solution to this problem can be overlapping the rows so the corners look polished. If overlapping doesn’t work for you, quality blade care is the only way to retain the sharpness of blades so they cut like before.
In this guide, our experts talk about how and why the mower leaves stripes of grass so you can find and fix the culprit to bring the
Why Do I Have Lines In The Grass After Mowing?
If you often find strips of grass on your freshly-cut lawn, there are a handful of things you should take care of. Check out these reasons why a lawn mower leaves strips of grass during mowing.
- Dull or Damaged blades
- Incomplete fuel
- Wrong blade size
- Improper mowing
- Fault in lawn mower parts
- Speed problems
- Clogged Deck.
Let’s have a look at 7 Common reasons why a lawn mower leaves stripes of grass that you don’t know about.
12 Reasons Why Mower Stripes Of Grass
1. Dull or Damaged Blades
If your lawn mower leaves rows of uncut grass, it’s probably because of the dull or damaged blades that have lost their sharpness.
With a dull blade, chances are you might not be able to cut through the grass effectively and use more force than usual when trying to cut the grass. As a result, this may cause damage to your equipment, and your mower may leave strips of grass.
Therefore, it’s important to keep your blades sharp so they cut efficiently all year round.
Step 1: First, take your lawn mower out of the garage or shed and place it on a level surface.
Step 2: Next, remove the blade from its casing by unscrewing it from its shaft.
Step 3: Once the blade is removed from the casing, place it upside-down on a workbench so that the edge is facing up.
Step 4: After placing your lawn mower blade on a level surface, use a file or grinder to sharpen any of its edges until they are razor-sharp.
2. Incorrect Blade Size
Blade size is another common reason why lawnmowers leave strips of uncut grass across the grass trail. Lawn mower blades are usually 15 inches long and are designed to cut all the rough & tough grass, giving beautiful results.
As per the thumb rule, check the blade size and try to fit it in your lawn mower to avoid any problems.
If your lawn mower blade is too short, it won’t cover enough area in order to remove all of the grass. If your lawn mower blade is too long, it will not be able to cut through thick grass areas quickly enough.
The best way to ensure that your lawn mower blade is properly sized for your needs is by measuring its length before purchasing it. However, you can also adjust the height of your mower blades so that they can reach deeper into tall grasses and thicker layers of soil.
3. Unbalanced Blades
Another cause of uncut grass during mowing is the unbalanced blades that were either not installed properly or have left their position.
However, the most common problem with unbalanced blades is that they can’t handle the torque from a motor that’s not designed to run without them. This causes the blade to spin uncontrollably, which can cause damage to your machine and harm the user.
However, aligning lawn mower blades isn’t tricky at all if you follow the steps below.
- Simply turn the side of the blade that has moved from its place.
- Bring it back to the original position in a way that one side of the blade faces upward while the other side faces backward.
- If moving the blades requires extra effort, place a wooden block in between the blades to move them slightly.
4. Overlapping
Once you’re done mowing your lawn, overlap the boundaries to ensure there are no uncut strips of grass left on the lawn. Lawns that overlap naturally have a tendency to grow into each other, which means they’ll keep growing.
However, a golden rule of thumb is to overlap at a distance of at least 1-2 inches between two rows, so it looks nice and sharp.
5. Lack Of Power
If your lawn mower lacks power, this can be due to many different factors. Usually, it’s probably due to the lawn mower sitting for a long time which causes debris to enter the carburetor.
As a result, this makes the engine lose power and blocks the fuel system. All this combined impacts the mower performance and gives the answer to why lawn mower leaves strips of grass.
Here are some handy solutions to gain the power of your mower back.
- If your lawn mower has a problem running smoothly on the lawn, try using some WD40 or other lubricants on all moving parts, especially on blades, drive shafts, handles, wheels, etc.
- Try to have an equilibrium between the mower blades and tires in order to achieve a great cut.
- Keep the engine speed normal on average to avoid cutting the same area twice and keep the tire tracks off your lawn.
- Overlap the cutting with each pass you make to avoid the mower leaving stripes of grass.
6. Mowing too fast
If your lawn mower is not cutting the grass properly, it might be because of problems with the speed control.
Speed control is what controls how fast the blades spin when you’re cutting grass. If it’s not working properly, it could be causing your mower to slow down or stop cutting altogether, leading to unevenly-cut grass.
If the blade moves too quickly or too slowly, it won’t be able to cut through all of those healthy blades of grass in one pass. As a result, some areas will be left uncut while others are completely cut off from sunlight and nutrients—which can lead to poor growth rates.
Therefore, it’s important to set a moderate speed when mowing
7. Choose A Mowing Pattern
Do you love the stripes of the mowing pattern on your lawn? If yes, look for a mowing pattern that can easily be created and doesn’t leave strips of grass.
However, the best way to create stripes on the lawn is by mowing in the back-and-forth direction so that there are no rows of uncut grass left.
You may also choose patterns like straight lines, diagonal patterns, and checkerboard effects for a consistent design across the lawn.
8. Clean Mowing Deck
When you clean the mowing deck, chances are that your mower will run consistently and give smooth results on the lawn. To clean the deck of a lawn mower, use a hard-bristled brush dipped in a cleaning liquid to absorb dirt easily.
Follow these steps to clean the mowing deck in the next 5 steps.
- Turn Off the Mower Engine
- Remove the Spark Plug
- Trip The Mower, Not Above 15 Degrees Incline
- Use Any Hard-Bristled Brush To Scrape Off All The Grass.
9. Wrong Airflow
In any lawn mower, having smooth airflow makes it nearly impossible for the lawn mower to leave strips of brands. Also, it prevents clogging and keeps the grass healthy for an enhanced look on the lawn.
- First, check the air filter and make sure it’s clean and free from dirt and debris.
- To ensure smooth airflow, use a leaf blower to blow up into the air while using the blower.
- Contact your lawn mower maintenance service provider to correct the vacuum imbalance in your mower.
10. Deck Wheels
Have you ever heard of anti-scalp wheels before? These are the wheels present on the deck in the opposite direction. Unlike normal wheels, anti-scalp wheels are a little above the ground and give low tire pressure that might leave stripes of grass.
To avoid this, set the deck wheels at the same height, so they are equally above the ground and don’t leave rows of uncut grass.
11. Clogged Deck
A dirty deck means a clogged deck that creates trouble by mowing, why does your mower leave stripes of grass?
Not only does it affect mowing but it also causes engine troubleshooting problems which is why it’s important to set the deck up properly.
For this reason, clean the deck after every mowing session to get rid of dirt, debris, stones, and grass in minutes.
12. Low-Quality Equipment
The quality of your lawn mower at the time also determines its performance across the lawn. Older lawn mowers are more likely to leave strips of grass than quality lawn mowers with sharp blades.
Whatever the reason, if you’re in a situation where your equipment isn’t great, replace the damaged parts or change the lawn mower.
How Can I Cut Without Lines?
There are multiple ways to cut without lines so you save at least 10 percent of your efforts while mowing. As you approach the edges of the lawn, leave at least 10 feet off the side to mow so you avoid leaving strips of grass on the lawn.
Here are a few ways to cut without lines so your lawn looks great, polished, and excellent every time after mowing.
- Don’t cut wet grass
- Don’t mow on clumps of grass
- Clean the lawn before mowing
- Set the mowing height
- Sharpen the lawn mower blades
Let’s discuss each one by one below.
1. Don’t Mow On Wet Grass
Mowing on wet grass is more than 40% of the reason why mowers leave strips of grass while mowing.
As the blades touch the wet grass, it attracts moisture and sticks all the clippings together, forming clumps of grass.
However, mowing wet grass can also make the blades dull and damaged so wait a few hours after rain or water the lawn to cut dry grass.
2. Cut Tall Grass Short
Every mower has a different cut height adjustment to give desired cuttings which means less chance of uncut lines.
If you think the grass has grown tall enough from its length, it’s best to cut it off before it gets hard to cut grass. Between every mowing, at least keep a difference of two to three moments before mowing again.
3.
FAQ’s
How Does A Lawn Mower Blade Cut In The Middle?
Some lawn mowers cut in the middle because of their specific blade shape that helps cut more swaths of grass in less passes.
These are mostly reel mowers with cylindrical blades that require enough power to cut the grass in a scissor action. Whereas rotatory lawn mower cuts in the spin direction of the horizontal blade
Why Does My Honda Mower Leave A Strip Of Grass?
Though Honda lawn mowers are powerful, people often have questions about why my honda mower leaves a strip of grass. If you’ve encountered rows of uncut grass on your lawn, sharpen the lawn mower blades so they overlap less and cut more.
If this still doesn’t solve the problem, try a lawn mower from any other brand and perform regular lawn mower maintenance.
Why Does My Mower Cut Better When I Pull It Backward?
Experts say lawnmowers cut better when they are moved in the reverse direction instead of forward. As a result, the reverse movement of the blades continues to spin unless the grass is sliced perfectly.
Should Mower Blades Overlap?
As per observation, overlapping blades do nothing but harm to the lawn by leaving rows of uncut grass that look ugly.
For better results, mow rows with at least a distance of 7-10 centimeters to leave you with beautiful lawns.
How Can I Cut My Grass Without Lines?
To cut without lines, always set the blade at the right position and sharpen it regularly to avoid any uncut spaces. With a well-sharpened blade, you’re better likely to mow in a straight line and set the mower at an adjustable height.
Why Does Push Mower Cut Lower On One Side?
If your mow cut grass unevenly, it’s probably because the front of the mower deck is a little higher than the back. To fix that, level the blades so the blades are in an even movement.
How do I Keep Tire Tracks Off My Lawn?
Tire tracks look very ugly on the lawn, but there are ways to avoid them with a few handy tips. Always mow with near medium to high tire speed, so you have an easy time mowing the exact pattern.
Conclusion
Lawn mowers leaving stripes of grass can be a thing to worry about as it may break the beauty and health of your lawn. If you have been having this problem for a long time, we hope the guide will probably help you fix rows of uncut grass and avoid streaking.
