Here's something I noticed pretty fast after I started mowing yards around Seminole: two lawns can be cut at the same height on the same day and still look totally different a few days later. A lot of the time, the difference is the mower blade. A sharp blade makes a clean cut. A dull one rips the grass, and you can see it.
So today I want to talk about blades. It's not the most exciting part of lawn care, but it's one of the easiest ways to make a yard look better.
What a dull blade does to grass
When a blade is sharp, it slices through each grass blade like scissors through paper. When it's dull, it's more like tearing the paper with your hands. The tips get shredded and frayed instead of cut.
Those torn tips usually turn tan or whitish within a day or two, so the whole lawn can look a little faded even right after it's mowed. Torn grass also has a bigger wound to heal, which means it can lose more moisture and take longer to recover. St. Augustine, which is what most yards around here have, has thick, wide blades, so a dull mower really shows on it.
How to tell if your blade is dull
You don't have to take the mower apart to get an idea. Here's what I look for:
- Look at the grass a day after mowing. Get down close. If the cut tips are ragged or split instead of clean and straight, the blade needs attention.
- Watch for a brownish haze. If the lawn looks lighter or dull-colored right after a cut, frayed tips are a likely reason.
- Notice uneven strips. A dull blade can leave some blades standing taller than others, or it can push grass over instead of cutting it.
- Listen and feel. If the mower seems to bog down in grass it used to handle easily, the blade might be part of the problem.
If you do check the blade itself, always unplug the spark plug wire first (or take the battery out on an electric mower) so it can't start by accident. A dull edge looks rounded or shiny-flat. You might also see nicks or dents from hitting rocks, sprinkler heads or tree roots.
How often to sharpen
There's no single answer, because it depends on how big the yard is, how often it gets mowed, and what the blade runs into. Sandy soil, like a lot of what we have near the beaches and in west Pinellas, can wear an edge down faster. Hitting acorns, sticks or the edge of a driveway does too.
A good habit is to check the blade a few times during the mowing season and any time you hit something hard. If a blade is bent or badly chipped, it's usually better to replace it than to keep sharpening it. A bent blade can make the mower shake, and that's not safe.
Other things that help the cut
A sharp blade is the big one, but a few other things make a difference too:
- Mow when the grass is dry. Wet grass clumps, sticks to the deck and is harder to cut cleanly. After one of our afternoon or overnight showers, I give it time to dry off if I can.
- Keep the deck clean. Built-up clippings under the mower can mess with airflow and leave a choppy cut.
- Don't cut too much at once. Taking off only about the top third of the grass at a time is easier on the lawn and easier on the blade.
- Change up your pattern. Mowing the same lines every time can wear ruts and make the grass lean one way.
- Pick up the yard first. Walking the lawn and grabbing sticks, pinecones, toys and fallen fronds before mowing protects your blade and your windows.
How I handle it
I check my blades often and keep them sharp, because I want every yard I mow to look clean, not chewed up. I also walk each lawn before I start so I'm not running over debris. Then I edge, blow off the driveway and sidewalks, and haul away the yard debris so you're not left with a pile by the curb.
If keeping up with the mower isn't how you want to spend your weekends, I'd be happy to help. Ready 2 Mow is owner-operated, insured, and takes all payment types. Quotes are always free. You can call or text me at (727) 304-7803 or fill out the short form on my free quote page.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you around the neighborhood!
Isaac, Ready 2 Mow