If you’ve got a lawn, then you really don’t have any other option but to get it mowed. Now, you have two choices; you can hire someone to mow it for you, or you can mow it yourself. When picking one of the two options, you might want to consider the benefits of mowing your lawn.
Believe it or not, mowing the lawn isn’t just good for the grass; it’s also good for you. Let’s see why.
The Benefits of Mowing The Lawn (The Short Explanation)
Regularly mowing your lawn has huge benefits for the health of the grass and will help it grow strong and avoid disease. Also, keeping your lawn at the correct height will help deter pests and retain water. Other than the improved condition of your lawn with mowing, you’ll also see benefits in your own physical and mental health.
Why Mowing is Important for Your Grass (4 Benefits)
If you are considering mowing your own lawn, then let me share with you some of the benefits you might not be aware of. Here are some benefits of mowing your lawn that you might be interested in.
Mowing Promotes Stronger Grass
At the top of my list when it comes to the benefits of lawn mowing is the actual health of the grass. Grass just loves to be cut. This is beneficial to you because once you run your lawn mower over your grass, the plant reacts by thickening and deepening its root. So, having a mowing schedule really helps you have a great lawn.
Grass Clippings are a Natural Fertilizer
If you decide to use a lawn mower without a grass collection system, you’ll actually be getting free fertilizer. This is because as grass composts on the lawn, it provides nutrients to the soil.
The nutrients equal about 1% phosphorus, 2% potassium, and 4% nitrogen. Now, this free fertilizer will give your lawn about 25% of the fertilizer it needs throughout the year. So, not only is mowing your lawn beneficial to the grass, but it’s also beneficial to your pocket.
Improved Pest Control
Another reason why mowing is important is that it improves pest control for both your lawn and the yard. This is because some pests like to hide in the long grass. Long grass can be a perfect home for animals that you might not want in your yard, like possums, rats, and snakes. So, keeping the grass at the right length will eliminate any visits from uninvited pests.
Water Retention
When we talk about mowing your lawn regularly, this doesn’t mean every day or two, it’s every week or so. Keeping your lawn at the right height by adjusting your lawn mower’s height will help keep the sun’s heat off of the soil and allow it to stay moist for longer. So, being adaptable to your lawn’s needs will benefit the health of the grass, and its ability to retain water.
Health Benefits of Mowing the Lawn (For You!)
Believe it or not, you can look at mowing the lawn as a form of exercise. If you’re like me and not into going to the gym, then you can turn to lawn mowing to achieve a lot of health benefits. Let’s take a look.
Mowing is Good for Your Heart
Most people think you have to do exercise like running to get a good cardiovascular workout. However, lawn mowing actually counts as a cardiovascular activity. You do a lot of walking when you’re out mowing the lawn. Each step counts towards better health.
Better yet, it’s not as hard on your joints since you’re moving at a comfortable pace on cushioned grass. If you really want to get a sweat on, pick a pushmower instead of a self-propelled one. So cancel that gym membership and get mowing.
Benefits of Mowing Your Lawn Include Weight Loss
If you’re looking to shed a couple of pounds, lawn mowing is the perfect activity. You’re out on the lawn, walking back and forth and using your muscles to push the mower.
Additionally, attaching a grass-clipping bag is like lifting weights at the gym. Believe me, you get a good workout carrying the clipping bag to the compost bin. As you begin to regularly mow your lawn, you’ll tone your body and shed those extra pounds in no time.
Mowing is a Great Stress Reliever
These days, most of our lives are spent indoors, and our eyes are focused on some form of screen. I know I’m guilty of spending too much time staring at my computer. Lawn mowing gets me outdoors, breathing the fresh air.
I read an article on Psychology Today which found that mowing the lawn is good for your mental health. The repetitive back-and-forth process of walking the mower, along with the smell of freshly cut grass and the sight of the green grass, lowers your stress levels and calms you. So next time you’re feeling a bit anxious, go work on the yard!
Other Personal Benefits of Lawn Mowing
Well, we have talked about the benefits of mowing lawns when it comes to the grass and your health, but there are a few other ways you will benefit. So, here are a few more benefits of mowing your own lawn to think about.
Saving Money
Besides mowing being good for your lawn and your health, it’s also good for your wallet. If you follow my guide on how to get a good used mower for cheap, then within a couple of months or less, you will have paid for your lawn mower by cutting the lawn yourself.
While lawn mowing services are great for large weed removal, tree maintenance, and landscaping, it’s sometimes not worth it for simply mowing the lawn. So why not save some money and mow your own lawn? Who knows, maybe you’ll meet with your neighbors while you’re out in the yard and get invited to a barbeque or two.
Cost Efficient
So, not only will you save money by cutting your lawn yourself, you’ll also avoid having to undergo any major yard cleanups. The costs to have a landscaper come in and clean up your yard because of neglect can run into the hundreds if not thousands of dollars. So, with a little bit of work each week, you’ll be able to maintain your property and avoid any future costs.
Avoid HOA Problems & Curb Appeal
A benefit of mowing your own lawn is you’ll have great curb appeal. Now, this, in most cases, is a requirement of some homeowners’ associations and is one of their rules. So, if your lawn isn’t mowed regularly, you’ll get a note in the letterbox. Also, if you want to keep the value of your property up, then you’ll want to keep it looking nice. After all, who wants to buy a jungle?
Controlling when Your Lawn is Cut
Another benefit to mowing your own lawn is that you decide when the lawn is mowed. Professional mowing companies regularly change up their schedule according to weather conditions and other clients. So, you may have a loud heavy-duty lawn mower for an alarm clock at 7 AM on a Saturday. Or you could mow the lawn yourself and control the noise level around your property.
Also, professional lawn mowers are significantly louder than your pushmower, even a self-propelled one. So, not only will your ears and nerves benefit, your neighbors will thank you.
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