Lawn striping is a new technique that gives your yard a manicured look. However, the method isn’t easy because you’re mowing in different directions or even a straight line.
Success in lawn striping will depend on the kind of grass in your lawn, the time of the year, or the type of mower you use. Lawn striping has rules to follow, depending on whether you need a basic or a fancier design.
If you want to do lawn striping, this is the right place. We have highlighted various ways on how to do lawn striping below.
Let’s get started:
Contents
- How to do Lawn Striping
- 1. Pick a Pattern
- 2. Watch How You’re Mowing
- 3. Intensify Your Stripes
- Tips to Strip Like a Pro
- 1. Understand that Grass Matters
- 2. Choose Mowing Tools
- 3. Start-Up the Lawn Mower and Try Striping
- 4. Practice Striping
- 5. Pick a Pattern
- FAQ: How to do Lawn Striping
- Is lawn striping suitable for all grasses?
- Can I strip my lawn without using a roller?
- Should I use striping kits?
- Author
How to do Lawn Striping
When creating stripes in your lawn, you have to bend the lawn mower blades in opposite directions while mowing. Light will reflect differently on those grass bent from one direction to another.
While mowing, you have to keep the basic principle in your mind. You also have to do other things like choosing grass variety and mowing equipment.
These factors will help increase the bend for it to hold longer.
Here are the steps to consider while striping your lawn:
1. Pick a Pattern
The first step to successful lawn striping is deciding on the pattern to create. This will help, particularly when you do it for the first time.
You will need a sketch of what will fit your lawn because of the endless lawn striping patterns.
2. Watch How You’re Mowing
While mowing, you need to keep watching how the patterns are forming. Unless you want a wavy pattern, you must mow in a straight line.
Use a driveway or sidewalk as the reference line. If they are straight in your lawn, mow parallel to have a straight pattern.
However, to keep mowing in a straight line on your lawn, always look ahead about 10 feet. Don’t look at the ground right where you’re mowing to avoid losing the pattern.
After completing one row, you must lift the mower deck while turning and continue to mow in the opposite direction to the previous pass.
Perhaps you want a fancy checkerboard look, for example, mow your lawn at 90 degrees for a second time after the first mowing. And you can finish by making stripes at the edges of your lawn.
3. Intensify Your Stripes
After mowing, you may have created a basic pattern that will not get your neighbors talking. So, the next thing is what will make the patterns more pronounced.
If you want to intensify the stripes, the secret is bending the grass blades, which you may need a lawn roller. And if you don’t have a roller, you have to splurge or rent one.
Once you have it, go back over the mowing stripes, and roll the grass into the direction you mowed. You can see a dramatic difference, and that will bring you well-deserved shout-outs.
Also read: Which riding mower works best in lawn striping
Tips to Strip Like a Pro
If you want to strip like a pro, consider these tips:
1. Understand that Grass Matters
The first thing to consider is the lawn. The yard should be smooth and evenly planted. These features will provide a perfect lawn strip.
Perhaps you have fescue, ryegrass, or bluegrass types of grass; that is an added advantage for you. These are grass species that work best for striping. That is because not all types of grass are fit for striping.
Longer grasses with fine leaf blades are excellent in striping. They tend to stay flat after rolling.
Also read: Universal baggers for Zero turn mower
2. Choose Mowing Tools
Most homeowners will create pale striping, which is worth trying. However, that may not provide the dramatic effect you want.
You need to ensure the blades of grass will blend appropriately. Therefore, you will need a striping kit such as a Harrison Specialities striping kit or a mower having a full-width roller.
3. Start-Up the Lawn Mower and Try Striping
Choose a striping design layout you want. In some designs, you may need to have a ruler. But you can try with a straight sidewalk, straight edge, or a driveway as a guide.
Mow parallel to the straight edge, and when you want to pivot, lift the mower deck. Also, consider mowing in the opposite direction of the first pass.
Also read: Miniature toy lawn mowers
4. Practice Striping
Keep your gaze 10 feet ahead to help you achieve confidence while practicing. The other is to mow high, to keep grass soft and long, thus more pliable. It will also be easy to tamp down using a roller.
5. Pick a Pattern
Now you have mastered stripes; it’s time you pick the pattern you want. You can choose from countless patterns, but you should start with simple stripes. That can help you practice consistently.
Once you understand how to stripe, you can consider trying some of these patterns: circles, waves, checkerboards, or diamonds.
See also: How to ask your neighbor to cut their grass
FAQ: How to do Lawn Striping
Is lawn striping suitable for all grasses?
There are grasses suitable for lawn stripings, such as fescue, ryegrass, and bluegrass. These grasses can stay healthy when cut at high heights.
They also have fine textures and don’t bend too much, which means not all grasses are suitable for lawn striping.
Can I strip my lawn without using a roller?
If you don’t have a roller, you can strip your lawn. Cut the grass to the desired height. When you start lawn striping, lower the lawn mower at its lowest setting.
Run the lawn mower up and down in a straight line. At the end of the lawn, change the directions of your mowing to form stripes.
Should I use striping kits?
You don’t need to have a striping kit. With a standard mower, you can still get the stipes you need on your lawn. However, investing in a striping kit will make the lines cleaner and crisper.
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You can use your lawn mower to create the beautiful strips you see in other lawns. The stripes make the grass look like ballpark grass.
The process is simple; we have highlighted above how to do lawn striping like a pro in this article.
Lawn striping can be a fun activity, satisfying, or even meditative hobby that makes your neighbors jealous.
