Mowing Tips for Montana Homeowners

There are some basic things you have to do to mow your Montana lawn the right way, like choosing the correct mower, keeping the blades sharp, mowing in the morning or evening, and varying your mowing patterns. 

Proper mowing technique helps your grass grow thicker and stronger and can make your lawn stand out in your neighborhood. Here are some mowing tips to transform your yard from ordinary to extraordinary. 

Choose the Right Lawn Mower

The right mower makes all the difference when mowing. The size of your lawn, your budget, and how much manual labor you’re willing to put in play a role in choosing a mower. Here are the different types of lawn mowers:

• Push mowers are ideal for small lawns (less than 10,000 square feet). They are easy to use, affordable, and lightweight. However, be ready to sweat because they require more manual labor. Push mowers come in gas, electric, and manual options. We recommend self-propelled mowers over manual push mowers unless your lawn is less than 2,000 square feet. 
• Riding mowers are an excellent choice for lawns larger than 10,000 square feet. They are easy to use — you just have to sit and ride to cut the grass —  and mow faster. They also come with attachments like mulching kits and baggers. Riding mowers are either gas-powered or electric. 
• Robotic mowers operate automatically and require little to no effort from your side to mow the grass. They use sensors and programming to navigate obstacles and are an excellent choice for lawns between 10,000 and 30,000 square feet.

If you want to know more about lawn mowers and their cost, read this lawn mower pricing guide. 

Sharpen Mower Blades Regularly

Lawn mower blades cut through grass effortlessly when sharp. Dull blades damage grass instead of cutting it and consume more fuel. We recommend sharpening your mower’s blades after every 25 hours of use. 

Cut a small patch of your yard with your mower to know if the blades need sharpening. If the patch looks uneven, sharpen the blades. Here’s how to sharpen lawn mower blades:

• Disconnect the spark plug to prevent the motor from starting accidentally, and empty the gas tank. 
• Remove the bolt on the blade with a long-handled wrench. Ensure to mark the blade with a marker to install it with the correct side facing upwards. 
• Spray WD-40 and clean the blade with a brush. Use a putty knife to remove stubborn grass and dirt. 
• Place the blade in a vice and sharpen it with a file or bench grinder. Sharpen following the blade’s original angle. Repeat the same on the other side. If the blade has significant wear, we recommend replacing it. 

Pro tip: When sharpening the blades, rinse the mower deck and scrape off accumulated debris with a putty knife for better performance. Also, make sure to replace the oil and oil filter in gas-powered lawn mowers after every 100 hours of use. Clean the air filter after 25 hours of operation, and replace it once a season or after 300 hours of use.

Mow at the Right Time

Mowing your lawn at the right time influences how strong and healthy your grass is. The best time to mow your Montana yard is between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is less moisture and heat during these hours, and your grass will get enough time to heal before nightfall. 

The worst time to mow your lawn is in the early morning between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. because the grass will still be wet from the dew. Mower blades tear wet grass instead of cutting it, and the tires will leave ruts.

Avoid mowing after 6 p.m. because your grass won’t get enough time to heal before nightfall. 

Vary the Mowing Pattern

Alternating mowing patterns every week prevents soil compaction and ruts. It also keeps the grass from leaning in one direction. Here’s our recommended mowing pattern for each week:

• Week 1: Mow horizontally 
• Week 2: Mow diagonally, starting from one corner of the lawn 
• Week 3: Mow vertically 
• Week 4: Mow diagonally in the direction opposite to the second week

Mow to the Right Height

Montana is home to two different climate zones because of the Continental Divide mountainous range that runs along the border of Montana and Idaho. Both cool-season and warm-season grasses perform well here. Learn about the best grasses for Montana in our guide. 

Here’s the recommended mowing height by grass type: 

Grass Type	Recommended Height	Mow When It Reaches This Height
Kentucky bluegrass	2.5 – 3.5 inches	3 – 4.5 inches
Perennial ryegrass	1.5 – 2.5 inches	2.25 – 3.75 inches
Tall fescue	3 – 4 inches	2.5 – 5.25 inches
Fine fescue	2.5 – 3 inches	3.25 – 4 inches
Buffalograss	1 – 2 inches	1.5 – 3 inches
Blue Grama	2.5 – 3 inches	3.75 – 4.5 inches

Cutting your grass too high attracts pests and diseases while cutting too low makes the grass less resistant to heat, foot traffic, and weeds. The general rule is to never cut more than one-third of the grass in one mow. 

Here’s how to adjust your lawn mower for an accurate cutting height:

• Park your mower on your driveway or any hard, even surface. 
• The distance between the surface and the blade is the mowing height. Measure it with a tape. 
• Adjust the height as needed with levers on the wheels. 

Here’s a video on how to adjust the mower’s height. 

Mow When the Grass Is Dry

You should never mow your lawn when it’s raining because it does more harm than good. Here are the reasons to mow your yard when it’s dry: 

• Grass cuts easily
• Avoid ruts
• Less risk of compacting the soil
• Prevent clumping (wet grass clumps together and clogs the mower)
• Prevent diseases from spreading
• Reduced risk of slipping and falling when mowing

Leave Grass Clippings on the Lawn

Clippings don’t cause thatch, so let them decompose on your lawn. Here are the benefits of leaving grass clippings on your turf:

• They are rich in nitrogen, a macronutrient necessary for healthy and green plant growth. Decomposed clippings provide your lawn with the equivalent of one free fertilizer treatment per year. They also contain potassium and phosphorus but in smaller amounts. 
• Decomposed clippings enhance soil texture and fertility. 
• They minimize runoff. 
• They act like mulch and help conserve water, which can be beneficial during the hot summer months of Montana. 
• Leaving them reduces the green waste sent to landfills. 
• They make the turf more dense, preventing weeds from germinating and establishing.
  

Pro tip: If you have a riding mower, we recommend installing a mulching kit to chop the grass well before it lands on the lawn. It helps the grass break down more quickly and provides slow-release nutrients to your turf. 

Though leaving grass clippings on your lawn has various benefits, here are some exceptions:

• Remove clippings if your grass is severely infested with lawn diseases like leaf spot or dollar spot to prevent the disease from spreading. 
• Bag grass clippings when you have planned a backyard gathering. 
• If you have just seeded your lawn, don’t leave the clippings until the grass establishes to prevent smothering the seeds. Here’s a guide on when to plant grass seed in Montana. 

Blow grass clippings from the sidewalk and driveway or sweep them with a broom. 

Edge Your Lawn

Mowing isn’t complete without creating an attractive boundary between your grass and flower beds, sidewalk, driveway, and other sections of your lawn. 

A manual or powered edger, string, garden shovel, and leaf blower are the tools required for edging your lawn. Once you have them handy, follow these steps to edge your yard: 

• Use a string or garden hose as your edging guide. 
• If you’re using a powered edger, you should hold the tool firmly and control it properly. Avoid moving too fast so the edges come out well. 
• When edging a straight line, start from one point and move to the other. For a curved edge, choose a point that works best for you. 
• Step back and take a look at your work. Remove excess soil with a garden shovel to refine the edge. 
• Blow grass clippings, dirt, and other debris off the pavement. 
• Add the debris produced during edging to your compost pile or dispose of it. 
• Leave the grass clippings on your lawn, or use them as mulch.

Note: Avoid taking the mower too close to trees and flower beds so you don’t damage them and your mower. That’s what an edger is for. 

Take Breaks When Necessary

If you have a large lawn, don’t try to mow it all at once. Break the job into smaller sessions so you don’t risk heat stroke. Also, keep yourself hydrated. 

Note: Wear sunglasses, gloves, long pants, and closed-toed shoes when mowing. Don’t forget to wear a hat and apply sunscreen. 

How to Stripe Your Lawn

“Once you finish mowing around any features and move on to mowing the open lawn, I suggest homeowners establish a mowing pattern, whether that’s straight rows or circles; again, whatever works best for you and your lawn,” says Brad Leahy, owner of Blades of Green — a lawn care company that has been cutting Maryland and Northern Virginia lawns for over 25 years.

Lawn striping is bending grass blades in opposite directions so the light reflects off the opposite sides of the blades, creating a baseball field look. It makes your turf stand out in your neighborhood. Here’s how to stripe your lawn:

Attach a Striping Kit

A striping kit is a mini lawn roller made of plastic or metal that bends the grass in the direction you mow. A 24-inch roller works well for most lawns. 

Decide a Pattern to Create

You can mow your grass in different patterns based on what you like. Here are some popular ones to try:

Stripes:

• Mow around the perimeter of your lawn. 
• Cut a straight line parallel to the edge for your first stripe.
• Turn the mower in the opposite direction and mow parallel to the last stripe. 
• Continue cutting in different directions until you stripe the entire lawn.

Checkerboard:

• Create the basic stripe pattern using the steps mentioned above. 
• Mow lines perpendicular to the finished stripes. At the end of each line, turn the mower to mow in the opposite direction. 

Diagonal:

• Create the basic stripe pattern. 
• Mow a diagonal line from the edge. A self-propelled mower works best because you can stop and lift the mower each time you turn. 

Why Mowing is Important

Mowing is what separates a lush, vibrant lawn from a brown, bland disappointment. Richard L. Duble, a retired professor and well-known turfgrass specialist for the University of Texas A&M, wrote “Without regular mowing, even a fine turf quickly becomes just another weed patch.”

Here’s why you should mow your lawn:

• Enhances appearance: Mowing your lawn to the right height instantly uplifts your property’s curb appeal. 
• Promotes growth: Mowing stimulates your lawn to grow faster and greener. It allows sunlight and nutrients to reach the roots. 
• Prevent weeds: Weeds are bad for your lawn because they spoil the appearance and compete with your grass for nutrients. Regular mowing makes your turf dense, blocking sunlight from reaching the weeds and stunting their growth. 
• Prevent pests: Overgrown grass creates a perfect environment for pests to thrive. Cutting the grass at the right height makes your yard less inviting to unwanted guests. 
• Prevent diseases: Regular mowing prevents diseases by allowing sunlight and other nutrients to reach the roots. 

FAQs

How often should I mow my Montana lawn?

We recommend mowing your lawn every week during the growing season. However, the exact frequency can vary depending on the grass type. Tall fescue grows faster and requires more frequent mowing, while fine fescue, buffalograss, and blue grama need less. 

Should I mow my Montana lawn in winter? 

No. Stop mowing once the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit for warm-season grasses and 50 degrees for cool-season grasses because it does more harm than good. 

Can I mow and fertilize on the same day? 

You can, but we recommend mowing at least three days before fertilizing for easier application and better absorption. 

When to Hire a Professional

Mowing can be fun if you like working outdoors. However, if you’re like most homeowners, you’ll want to spend your weekends with your family and not cutting your grass. Let LawnStarter pros in Montana take care of your lawn while you have fun. 

Main Image Credit: Andrey / Adobe Stock