No, the little green stalks really don’t have it easy. Little and big feet are constantly trampling on them. And as if that wasn’t bad enough: almost every week they are shortened by a more or less loud machine. And yet – or that’s exactly why the countless stalks hold together tightly and keep getting up. The result: a healthy, green and well-groomed lawn – for children and children.
Are you still a little unsure about the basics of mowing the lawn? We explain the seven most important rules:
The first and most important rule. At least for everyone who cares about their lawn. On average, high-quality, well-maintained stalks gain about two and a half centimeters each week. And this is exactly what the mowing frequency is based on. The lawnmower should be taken out of the shed and the lawn trimmed at least every seven days. Frequent and, above all, regular cutting ensures that the grass blades branch out better at the base and the area remains evenly dense.
Tip: In May and June the stalks grow faster than average. During this time, the lawn can also be mowed every four to five days.
Attack the blades of grass in your allotment garden with the sharpest “weapon” possible. As a rule, so-called sickle lawn mowers are used in Germany. The rotating sickle cuts the grass horizontally. The following applies: the blunter the blades are, the more frayed the meadow will appear after trimming. So check the stalks at the cutting edge after you have finished your work. In addition to the sharpness of the blades, the performance of the lawn mower engine plays an important role. The rule of thumb is: the higher the speed, the faster the knife rotates and the cleaner the cut will be.
The stalks on the grass courts of the legendary Wimbledon tennis tournament measure exactly eight millimeters. With a normal lawn in front of the house or in the allotment, it can be a little more. About four centimeters have proven effective for a multi-use meadow. This looks chic and pleases the stalks. For lawn mowers without centimeter (or millimeter) specifications, it is worth taking a look at the operating instructions. Here you should find an explanation as to which level (usually 1 to 5) corresponds to which cutting height. If in doubt, a short test mowing and a ruler will provide the relevant information.
Blades of grass are more sensitive than many hobby gardeners assume. They are particularly resentful if you overdo it when mowing and cut them by half or more. Why? The vegetation point is located approximately halfway up the stalk. And it shouldn’t be removed if possible. If you cut grass at this point or below this point, the plant needs a lot of time and energy to regenerate and sprout again. Ergo: There are annoying gaps in the lawn. In addition, prolonged drought causes the meadow to “burn” more quickly and subsequently turn brown. The so-called “one-third rule” stipulates that stalks should be shortened by a maximum of one third of their current length. With a cutting height of four centimeters, you should mow at the latest when the lawn has grown six centimeters high.
What is still vital during and immediately after sowing the lawn should be avoided as much as possible when mowing the lawn. If the stalks are wet, the mower cannot cut them cleanly. Particularly annoying: the wet clippings clump together and stick under the lawnmower instead of flying into the grass catcher. In addition, regular wet cutting reduces the life expectancy of the engine.
Tip: The freshly cut stalks dry out very quickly under the blazing midday sun. The lawn should therefore be mowed in the evening if possible and then watered.
Logical, but not a given. While the greenkeepers in football stadiums like to use a lot of patience to create checkerboards or at least stripes in the green, the lawn in the garden should look as even and uniform as possible after mowing. To achieve this, the lawn should be cut as quickly as possible, and not just because of the noise. The double hit is achieved by using the full cutting width of the lawnmower. To do this, the mower should roll exactly one wheel width along the already cut track.
For most allotment gardeners, nothing is further from the mind than starting a dispute with the neighbors over the garden fence or calling the residents in the neighborhood into action. Discussions still arise again and again, especially when mowing the lawn. Mowing the lawn on Sundays and public holidays is generally taboo. Otherwise, the guidelines of the 32nd Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV) apply. Accordingly, petrol lawn mowers may be used from Monday to Saturday at the earliest from 9 a.m. With the now widespread electric mowers, you can start working as early as 7 a.m., except on Sundays and public holidays. The hand mowers, which are rather rare because they require a lot of sweat, are not only quiet, but can be used at any time.
The usage times at a glance
Important: There is no legally regulated, nationwide rest period for lunchtime. In some federal states and municipalities, different regulations apply. If you would rather relieve stress than recharge it, you should put your feet up and put the lawnmower aside between 1 and 3 p.m. After all, that’s what this green gem is there for.
Sources: “mein-schoener-garten.de”; “rasen-experte.de”; “gartenjournal.net”
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