How To Position Your Lawn Mower Blades for Different Types of Grass

When dealing with various types of grass, you can’t go wrong with low-lift-positioned blades, right? If only it were that simple! Believe it or not, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for lawn management, and this applies to positioning your blades for different types of grass. You need to learn how to balance mower blades to get the best results.

It’s easy to get into the weeds (pun intended) or the technicalities of lawn mower blade positioning. Luckily, we at MowTown Blades are here to help with our condensed but comprehensive guide to proper blade positioning.

Learn how to balance mower blades for different types of grass and mow your way to a pristine lawn regardless of what grass you’ve got.

Why Grass Type Matters in Blade Positioning

How you position your mower blades can mean the difference between a stunning lawn and one riddled with brown patches.

Different types of grass will flourish with different lawnmower blade positions. For example, high-lift positioning is ideal for grass that grows during the cooler seasons. By contrast, you should lower your blades if you’re cutting warm-season grass varieties like Bermudagrass.

There’s more to choosing your blade positioning than keeping your lawn healthy, however. Besides keeping your grass looking pristine and vibrant, positioning according to grass type is also beneficial to your lawnmower’s longevity.

Having the same blade position for all types of grass or choosing incorrect alignments or lifts can add wear and tear to your mower, decreasing its functionality over time.

Blade Positioning for Cool-Season Grass

Let’s begin with how to balance mower blades for cool-season grass.

When we say cool-season grass, we mean varieties like fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. For the best results, here’s how to position your blades:

• Remove and Inspect Your Blade’s Sharpness: You should start by disconnecting the spark plug to prevent an accident. From here, remove your mower blade and check its sharpness. If it’s cracked, bent, or severely damaged, you’ll have to replace it.

• Sharpen and Balance Your Blade: The next step is to sharpen your blade and check its balance. Place it on a balancer and check its alignment. If one side dips, grind it until it’s even on both ends.

• Re-attach the Blades at About 2.5 to 4 Inches Above the Ground: At this height, your blade will be able to deliver a cleaner cut without damaging your grass significantly.

Blade Positioning for Warm-Season Grass

If you’re wondering how to balance your mower blade for warm-season grass varieties like Zoysia and Bermudagrass, there are only a couple of differences.

One difference is the blade height. More specifically, you should set your blade just one to two inches off the ground.

Another difference is the importance of a sharp blade. Your blade must have sufficient sharpness to easily cut through drought-resistant grass like Zoysia without tearing through it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Mowing Different Types of Grass

If you’re serious about keeping your lawn healthy and pristine, avoid these mistakes:

Not Checking Your Blade’s Balance

It doesn’t matter how sharp your mower blades are. When you fail to balance them, your cuts will be uneven, resulting in unsightly patches. Worse yet, if you’re using low-lift blades, some of your cuts may result in brown patches if one of your blade’s ends dips too low.

With these things in mind, you should check your blade’s balance before mowing. Doing this is critical to giving your lawn an even more polished appearance.

Blades Set Too Low

Setting your blades low may seem like a safe solution when you’re unsure. After all, low-set blades can deliver the closest cuts. However, a close cut isn’t always a good thing. In fact, it can result in an unsightly finish because blades that are too low can nip at your grass roots, exposing your soil.

Not Mowing According to Your Lawn’s Grass Type

As mentioned, cool and warm-season grass varieties have different mowing needs and responses. For this reason, you must be aware of what type of grass is on your lawn and how to balance mower blades accordingly.

Key Takeaways: The Right Blade Balance and Position for the Right Type of Grass

Dealing with different grass varieties is easy. As long as you’re checking your blade’s sharpness, balance, and height, you’ll be on your way to a more pristine and lush-looking lawn in no time.

Let’s be honest, though:

All that checking, sharpening, and balancing can take a toll on your schedule and willingness to keep your lawn looking like a million bucks.

If you need mower blades that take the guesswork out of blade balance and positioning, check out our extensive selection of high and low-lift blades.

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