Don’t we all want a perfect lawn?  Most of your clients will, no doubt, so make sure you follow these five tips if you want to ensure every lawn you mow looks its best.

1.    Ensure you get the right mowing height.  You should look at trimming off around a third of the height of the grass.  If this is the first time you have mowed a particular client’s lawn and the grass is very long, don’t be tempted to cut it nice and short to begin with.  This will result in the grass experiencing shock, which is how you get that horrible brown color.  Always err on the side of caution.

2.    Sharpen your lawn mower blades.  You won’t get the best result with anything but good sharp blades.  Since you will use your mower virtually every day as a lawn care professional, you need to make sure your blades are sharpened regularly.  Check them at the start of every day to ensure they are ready for the work ahead.

3.    Mow around the edge of the lawn first.  This makes it easier to tackle the bit in the middle.  You also won’t be in any danger of running the mower off into the flower beds.  Instead you can go around at right angles to them and trim the edges first to help make the job easier.

4.    Work out which direction you are going to mow the lawn in, and stick to it.  Strictly speaking, for the best look you should go along from end to end, assuming those two ends are the furthest away from each other.  So if you have a garden that is four meters by six meters, go up and down the six meter stretch.  This gives the illusion of a longer lawn as well, thanks to the stripes.  Always defer to the wishes of your client however.

5.    Trim the edges for the perfect professional finish.  Once the lawn is mowed you can go around and trim up the edges finely using your trimmer.  You won’t need to do this every time but if the edges start looking straggly they will need cutting back.  Keep an eye on them and only trim them once the lawn is cut.  You will get a better finish as you can see what needs doing and how much.

Once you get the hang of following these five tips you’ll have a procedure to follow every time you tackle a lawn – whether it’s for a regular client or someone new.  People can tell whether you knowing what you’re doing or not; having a plan of action will mark you out as being confident and knowledgeable in your job.

One final point – if your client should ask why you aren’t cutting their lawn as short as they wanted it to be, make sure you educate them on the issue of shocking the grass.  They’ll be glad you didn’t do that, and they’ll also be sure to ask you back again soon to complete the job!

Interested in starting a Lawn Care Business? Click here to learn more about our Lawn Care Business Guide.