The effect of stripes you see on a lawn or playing field is just light reflecting off the grass blades. Blades bent towards you look dark, while those bent the opposite way look lighter. Simple, right? You can see some of the same effect with normal mowing, and creating patterns just takes it to the next level.
You always must make sure that you aren't leaving a little bit of space in between the columns you mow. If you don't leave a gap, the mower's blades will pull upwards and the tires will press downwards, which is what creates the lines in the grass. Again, you can't just mow the edge of the rows you just previously cut.
A basic striping technique is to mow around the perimeter of your lawn and then turn making parallel lines. However, one of the easiest ways to stripe your lawn is with a lawn striper kit.
Outfitting your lawn with a set of simple stripes isn't that hard, and it's good for your lawn, too. Light reflecting off of blades of grass bent in different directions create the dark and light patterns. The grass most often is bent down by the pressure applied by rollers attached to the back of a lawn mower.
However, you don't want to re-stripe your lawn in the same pattern and direction more than every two weeks—doing so can result in grass that permanently lies flat. For best results, alternate the pattern after every two-week period.
Mark the area for your mowing strip lawn edging by using flour or powdered chalk. We recommend that it is between 6 and 12 inches wide. Then use a spade to cut through any sod and remove it, excavating a 6- to 8-inch-deep trench.
Cutting your lawn on the diagonal will often help with uneven cutting and rut marks. Doc records himself cutting his Bermuda lawn on the diagonal and the results so far. This can be done with a reel mower, riding mower, or rotary push mower.
Circular Mowing Pattern
Depending on the shape of your lawn, this may actually be more efficient. Concentric circles use the same time-saving technique as mowing in stripes: it's all about the turns. Mowing in concentric circles reduces turns and makes the turns wider, so you spend less time maneuvering the mower.
The most efficient way to mow is the spiral: start from the outside and do the border, spiraling in to the middle.
Mowing strips are used at the boundary or edges of a lawned area and provide a flat strip that makes it easier to mow against hard edges such as walls, or to retain the grass when it lies against a flower bed or similar.
The stripes themselves are formed when the fertilizer is overlapped or gapped, thus creating light and dark stripes of green. So while, taking care of your lawn is a passion for some homeowners, it can be a challenge for most.
Proper watering is essential as sod pieces are like a sponge. When they get dry, they shrink and expose more of the lines. Sod lines usually disappear after the first grass cutting (3 weeks).
"There is no "right" order when it comes to mowing and edging." As I mentioned earlier, there are arguments to be made for both approaches. Let's look at the pros and cons of each. “There is no “right” order when it comes to mowing and edging.”
With this healthy appearance comes faster lawn growth. When your lawn begins to grow faster, you'll need to mow and edge more frequently to maintain a clean finished look. You may not need to edge every time you mow but you'll still want to assess the integrity of your edge lines after each mowing.
Mow First
By mowing first, you know how short to trim grass along edges and will be less likely to scalp those areas, giving rise to bare or weedy patches.
In general, cool season grasses like fescue, ryegrass or bluegrass are better for striping. This is due to the fine texture and ability to stay healthy at higher heights of cut. For warm season grasses, a finer bladed zoysia, like InnovationTM Zoysia, can stripe pretty well.
To get stripes in your lawn, you'll need to mow your lawn in different directions with a lawn mower that has a roller. As the lawn is mown, the roller angles the grass blades in opposite directions creating the 2 different lighting effects when you look at the lawn.
It's also a tad easier to do earlier in the season before the grass is lush and thick. Typically, you'll need to edge once a year, though some homeowners like to refresh the look later in the season. Don't forget to wear protective gear such as gardening gloves and eye protection.
Edging With A Manual Edger
Using a manual edger is a lot like using a shovel. Drive it straight down into the ground with your feet, so the lip at the bottom touches the soil. Make sure it's completely straight—that will make your edge more defined. Rock the edger side-to-side, then gently pull the handle back up.