Admit it, every spring when baseball season starts you look at those beautifully striped diamonds and outfields and think, “that’s how I want my lawn to look.”
That perfectly mown grass with those sharp stripes and eye-catching designs have reached out and grabbed most of us. But if you think you need years of experience working on a Major League grounds crew in order to make your own lawn stripes, we’re going to let you in on a secret: You don’t.
In fact, striping a lawn is pretty easy, whether you’re working for the Cincinnati Reds or your own front yard, you can do it in a few careful steps.
It’s all in the lighting
First, it’s important you understand how striping works. Simply put, lawn striping works when the grass itself is bent in such a way that the light and shadows create the light or dark shades you want. Grass bent toward you appears darker because you see the shadows under the blades. Grass bent away looks lighter because you are seeing the light reflect off the top.
So how’s it done?
Start at the perimeter and mow one strip around like an outline. Then mow alternating directions up and down or across the lawn for the stripes. To make sure you stay straight, fix your eyes on a point or an object 10 feet or so in front of you, don’t look immediately in front or directly at the mower because it probably will result in crooked lines.
Overlap each pass a few inches so you don’t leave an uncut strip between. If lawn obstacles like trees or birdbaths or whatever comes up, mow around on the uncut side so on the next pass you can cover it up.
Make it stand out
There are a few ways you can intensify the stripes. One way is to cut at a higher height, up to 3.5 inches, to really make the bent grass stand out. Another way, which is what most pros do, is to use a lawn striping kit (you can find them online) or a roller, which you can rent. These rollers bend the grass even more, making the striping patterns more dramatic.
Zero-turn mowers typically do the best job because they’re so easy to maneuver in opposition directions and around obstacles. However, if you do use a push mower, it’s a good idea to lift the deck when turning for the next pass to ensure the stripes stay in lines at the edges and not curves.
Other thoughts
Switch up the pattern every so often because grass will actually begin to “learn” how to grow a certain way. This isn’t good for the grass and could make it tough to change the pattern in the future. You can try a checkerboard or other patterns from time to time to mix it up, and you might also find that certain patterns stand out better for your lawn.
Also, certain types of grass are better for patterns than others. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda are more rigid and therefore tougher to bend, while colder grasses like bluegrass do better.
So are you ready to create a beautiful pattern on your lawn? If you need some tools to help get the job done, don’t hesitate to contact Snappy’s Outdoor Equipment. Whether it’s a zero-turn mower, striping attachments or rental equipment, we have everything you need. Call us today at 419-879-1196 or stop by our store at 2120 N. Dixie Hwy in Lima, OH.
