How To Use The Cross-Cut Method For Easily Mowing Your Thick Grass

Every homeowner dreams of a lush and thick lawn. If you're lucky enough to have healthy turfgrass, you probably spend a lot of time keeping it manicured. When you need to trim a lawn full of tall grass, the cross-cut method is a great option. You cut the grass blades from two different directions, plowing through thick, long blades while maintaining a consistent and even appearance. The first pass you make will trim the height of the blades without stressing the roots. The second mow is where you reach your ideal height. Just be sure to stick to the one-third rule — that is, never cutting below one-third of the blades' length.

Why should you spend time cutting your lawn not once but twice every time you mow? For optimal plant health, it's not enough to keep your lawn watered, fertilized, and pest-free. You also need to consider how the lawnmower impacts grass growth. Mowing it in the same direction repeatedly is unhealthy for your lawn. It trains the blades to grow at an angle, leading to a lawn that looks worn out. By alternating the directions as you mow, you can train the blades to grow straight. Additionally, you distribute the mower's weight more evenly across the lawn. This prevents soil compaction, which can restrict the grass roots' access to water and nutrients. As far as aesthetics go, the checkerboard pattern created by cross-cutting is distinctive, adding depth, texture, and a professional look.

To cross-cut your lawn, first, adjust the lawnmower deck to its highest or second-highest setting. Mow your entire lawn in straight, parallel lines, but be sure to push the mower slowly. This gives the blades more time to cut the dense grass. After you've mowed the entire lawn, lower your mower deck by a setting or two. Before taking the second pass at the lawn, evaluate if the first pass was difficult or if the grass was really long before you started. If it was, it's best to wait up to four days to allow the grass to recover before mowing it a second (or more) time on a lower setting.

Next, you'll mow the entire yard again in straight, parallel lines. However, they should run perpendicular to — or cross over — the lines you created during your first mow. For example, if you mowed your lawn in a north to south direction the first time around, you'll need to mow your lawn east to west for this second cut. If the grass is still long, repeat the same process, but diagonally. This technique is widely considered one of the most popular mowing patterns you should try out on your lawn. Aesthetically, the checkerboard pattern it creates is beautiful. Practically, the cross-cut method ensures a consistent trim by catching any blades of grass you missed during the first mow.

Cross-cutting your overgrown lawn alone can maximize grass health. However, there are some additional methods for mowing your lawn more efficiently you might want to pair it with to minimize the time you spend on the chore. Ensure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades rip and shred grass rather than cutting it cleanly. Over time, this leads to a ragged, brown lawn that makes your front or backyard look unkempt. To prevent this, sharpen your mower blades a few times per year or after every 25 hours of use.

It's also essential to mow your yard while it's dry for the best clean cut. Mowing a wet (or even damp) lawn can cause clumping and an uneven cut. Beyond this, wet grass tends to clog the mower blades, reducing their efficiency. Finally, you should start leaving grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. As this natural fertilizer decomposes, it returns vital nutrients and moisture to the soil beneath the lawn. This works especially well with the cross-cut method for lawn mowing because finer clippings decompose faster. However, if your lawn was particularly long when you started mowing it, you should bag the clippings or spread them out with a rake. Large clumps of clippings can smother the grass underneath, damaging it and turning your lush green yard into one full of patchy brown spots.