Do you ever feel intimidated by the guy next door whose lawn is always mown to perfection? Or do you ever catch yourself admiring the patterned outfield at a major league baseball game? Well, we have some good news — the creative techniques and lush appearance of a well-manicured lawn can be recreated, and there is no special equipment needed.

Before you start mowing patterns, follow these tips for the best-looking lawn on your street!

Maintain healthy grass

The appearance of your yard begins with the quality of your grass. A bag of turf-building lawn food from Stockdale’s can help to strengthen your grass, deepen its roots, and increase its ability to absorb water and other nutrients. Furthermore, cutting your grass higher means that the blades will have a larger surface area to soak up sunlight, resulting in a lush, better-fed lawn.

Cut at the proper height

Your grass must maintain a certain height to achieve a decent bend when mowing a pattern. You may need to adjust the placement of the mower deck and blade to avoid cutting it too short. Aim for a 3- to 3 ½-inch grass height after you are done mowing.

Understand how the light reflects

              Creating patterns in your lawn is all about paying attention to the reflections and shadows on your grass. Grass will appear darker when it is bent towards you because you are seeing the tips of the blades and the shadows underneath. On the other hand, grass will appear lighter when it is bent away from you, since the light reflects off the wider part of the blade.

Swap up your patterns

              When grass is constantly mowed in one direction, it becomes trained to bend down rather than stand up straight and strong. Additionally, frequently following the same tracks with your mower can result in the soil becoming compacted or the grass damaged. When grass is weakened, weeds can quickly infiltrate. To prevent these issues from arising, change up the pattern each time you mow.

With a healthy foundation and a sufficient understanding of the basics, you are sure to achieve the best results when mowing patterns in your lawn. For lawn care supplies or advice, visit the grow experts at your local Stockdale’s.