Before you mow your lawn, you should always clear away any large sticks or stones. If there are trees bordering your lawn, and you haven't mowed since last summer, it would be risky to mow without clearing the lawn of debris first. Although most mowers will make short work of twigs and pinecones, you should avoid sticks that are over an inch thick.
Mowing your lawn without clearing away fallen branches, even small ones, could lead to several issues.
Sticks May Become Missiles
A mulching mower can turn sticks and twigs into reusable mulch for a garden. However, a standard push mower should never be used to destroy sticks that are lying around on a lawn. Like stones, sticks can ping off lawn mower blades and either hit you in the face or fly off in another direction to harm someone else. They may even break a nearby window.
Sticks Dull Mower Blades
Under normal circumstances, you should sharpen your mower blades at least 2-3 times a year if you mow regularly. However, if when you mow your lawn, you are haphazardly churning up sticks and twigs, your mower blades will dull much faster than normal.
Moreover, if you aren't careful, you may even end up bending the blades or tearing the shear pins, which will mean replacing those mower parts.
Dull Blades Rip Grass
A lawn mower is designed to cut grass, not rip it. However, if you continually mow over sticks, your mower's blades will dull. Moreover, if you haven't inspected your mower's blades before you next mow your lawn, you could be doing more damage than good. If you mow your lawn with dull blades, you'll notice your grass turning yellow a day or two afterwards.
Even with sharp blades that cut cleanly, there is some yellowing around the tips of grass blades. However, when a mower rips rather than cuts, it damages the grass blades. Not only does this cause more yellowing, but it also leaves grass more susceptible to pests and diseases. Weeds may also move in, taking advantage of the situation.
Clear Away Sticks Larger Than an Inch
Anything thicker than an inch is a threat to your mower's blades. Always make sure that you clear away sticks and stones before mowing your lawn. Not doing so could damage your lawn mower blades and your lawn. Moreover, you could end up turning what was once a harmless stick into a deadly missile.
I love the taste of fresh fruit and have always encouraged my kids to enjoy fruit and vegetables too. When we moved into our new home a couple of years back, we wanted to change the landscaping design to include lots of fruit trees, but I had never grown these trees before. I am so excited to share what I learned about adding fruit trees to our garden. From choosing the right type of tree to the care they need, my blog will help you to become a fruit tree grower too. It does not matter how many trees you plan to plant as just one is all you need to give your family the thrill of producing something healthy.