Lawn Mowing Patterns and Techniques

Lawn mowing patterns are not created by accident. They’re the result of careful planning, execution and practice. When done well a pattern can give your lawn a clean, professionally manicured appearance that elevates the look of the entire property.

But mowing patterns for lawns are more than just a way to make your property look like it paid a visit to the salon. Properly executed lawn mowing patterns and techniques also provide an array of other benefits that we’ll get into later.

Lawn Mowing Patterns and Techniques (The Short Answer)

To successfully mow a pattern into your lawn, you’ll want to first begin by mowing the perimeter of your lawn to form the boundary. Then, you’ll want to mow the across lawn reference cut. Next, use the reference cut for your following cuts. For patterns that require double cutting, repeat the process by mowing the first reference cut, followed by the remaining cuts. A curved pattern can be formed by either eye or using a reference line.

A Few General Pointers When Attempting Lawn Mowing Patterns

Before we look at how to create different patterns here are a few basics to keep in mind that apply to most of these patterns.

Start With the Edge

No matter what pattern you intend to impose on your lawn you want to start by making a couple of swings around the periphery of the lawn to ensure the grass at the edge is even and properly trimmed.

Use a Landmark to Create a Reference Stripe

Many patterns use some form of striping. In order to ensure those stripes are in visual harmony with the rest of the landscape elements, use the edge of a walkway, driveway or patio as a straight edge and make your first stripe parallel to that edge. The rest of your pattern will use this first stripe as its reference point.

Return to the Edge to Finish

Once you have finished your pattern return to the perimeter of the lawn one more time and go all the way around it. This process is called “framing” and will clean up turn marks produced along the edge when creating the pattern.

Now let’s look at how to create some different lawn mower patterns.

6 Different Lawn Mowing Patterns You Can Master

I’m going to start with the simplest of the common lawn mowing patterns and tackle the more complex ones toward the end. That said, let’s get started.

1: Stripes

Definitely the most popular of the lawn mowing patterns, stripes have become a staple of suburban residential lawn mowing. Stripes (sometimes referred to as “rows”) create a high contrast pattern that’s easy to accomplish and can transform your hum-drum lawn overnight.

To create visually compelling stripes establish the perimeter as I explained above, then lay down the first stripe by using a landmark as a directional guide. Then mow successive rows in opposite directions parallel to that first stripe. It’s essential that you master the art of mowing stripes before you move on to some of the more complex patterns we’ll get into shortly.

The trick with stripes is to make sure you line up successive passes with one another and not spill one row over into the next. And, of course, make sure to take a final pass around the perimeter to cover up evidence of your turns. Once you’ve mastered stripes you can move on to more complex patterns with confidence.

2: Checkerboard

Once you have mastered standard lawn striping patterns the next logical step is to try your hand at the checkerboard. The checkerboard IMHO is a big step up in sophistication from stripes, which in itself is a big step up from standard mowing. The checkerboard is often seen in the outfield of baseball parks and creates quite a bit of visual interest.

To achieve the checkerboard pattern you need to do the entire lawn in the striped pattern first. The difference is that instead of cleaning up the edges and calling it a day once the stripes are in place, you’re going to push or drive the mower to the edge of the lawn and do another complete stripe pattern at a 90° angle to the first. These overlapping stripes will create the checkerboard effect.

When you’ve finished the second set of stripes you can go over the lighter stripes again if you wish, as this will sometimes make them pop a bit more. But it’s not necessary. Just remember that when you have your checkerboard in place to go around the entire perimeter to clear away evidence of your turns.

3: Diamond

The diamond is another of the lawn mowing patterns you will often see in baseball outfields as it echoes the diamond shape of the basepaths. Although it uses straight lines, it’s one of the most sophisticated patterns and many consider it one of the best lawn mowing patterns, if not the best.

With practice and patience, the diamond pattern can be applied to just about any lawn. But let’s be real: the flatter, more symmetrical and more open your lawn (i.e. no trees or bushes) the easier it will be and the better it will look.

For the purpose of these instructions, I’m going to assume you have 4 corners on your lawn. Label those corners 1-4. After you do the traditional pass around the entire edge make a diagonal pass with the mower between corners 1 and 3. Turn the mower sharply and mow the next stripe in the opposite direction, right next to that diagonal.

Here’s where it gets interesting. After that first return pass, lift the blades and ride back to the opposite side of the lawn and then do a second return pass right next to the first. When you finish this pass you should have a diagonal stripe 1 mower wide from corner 1 to 3, and a return stripe in the opposite direction that’s 2 mowers wide next to that center stripe.

After that, do a single stripe in the same direction as the center stripe, right next to the double-wide return stripe. Then create another double-wide return stripe. Then a single stripe in the same direction as the center stripe, and so on, out to the edge of the lawn.

Once the first set of diagonal stripes is complete, make a single diagonal stripe between corners 2 and 4. Then repeat the same single stripe/double stripe diagonal pattern in this direction out to the edge of the lawn. Don’t forget to do a clean-up pass around the perimeter before calling it a day.

4: Waves

The wave pattern depends mostly on your ability to create smooth, agreeable wavy stripes across the entirety of your lawn. That will definitely take some practice for most people, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t nail it the first time.

After doing the obligatory pass around the perimeter, mow a stripe right down the center of the lawn that you will use as a reference when you create your first couple of wavy stripes. Once the centerline is established, set up your mower like you’re going to do a standard return pass for a stripe pattern. But instead of going straight back in the opposite direction do a wavy return line using the center line as a guide.

Start with the left edge of the centerline on the right side of the mower. As you do your wave to the right across the centerline, turn back when the left side of your mower reaches the right edge of the centerline, and so on to the end. Your wave can be as tight or loose as you want. But the fewer back and forths with the wave, the easier it will be.

That’s it. Once you have the first wavy line established, use it as your guide as you do single passes in each direction, just as you would with a standard stripe pattern. Don’t forget to clean up the edge before you quit.

5: Circles

To create alternating circles on your lawn, use the same principle as striping. That is, one pass in one direction, and then turning and doing the next pass in the opposite direction. Only in this case you are going to start in the middle of the lawn and create ever-bigger circles.

The hardest part about creating a compelling circular pattern is making sure the first few circles are as perfect as can be. All subsequent circles are going to use them as a guide, so any imperfections in the shape of these first few circles will be magnified as the circles become larger and larger.

So, how can you get the perfect circle in your front yard? Well, you can use a guide rope. This is basically where to place a stake in the very center of the circle and then connect a free-turning rope or cable between the lawn mower and the stake. About five to ten feet should be good. Then, as long as you keep the rope/cable taught while you mow, you’ll get a perfect circle. Once you have your reference circle, you can remove the stake and rope and continue mowing using your reference as a guide.

As with all mowing patterns for lawns, remember to do your perimeter pass both before you start your circles and at the end to frame your work.

6: Arches

The arches pattern calls for creating alternating stripes in the shape of a boomerang or chevron. This can be challenging because you need to make sure that the starting point and ending points of each stripe are exactly opposite each other.

Also, you will only be doing half the lawn with the chevron pointing in one direction, and then the other half with the chevron pointing in the opposite direction (see image). This will ensure the most compelling pattern.

After making your pass around the perimeter your first stripe will be such that the 90° bend occurs at the center of your lawn (again, refer to the picture). After that first stripe, do alternating stripes until you reach one side of the lawn. Then return to the center and create the arched stripes in the opposite direction all the way to the other side of the lawn.

Don’t forget to do your clean-up pass around the periphery.

What Type of Mower is Best for Lawn Mowing Patterns?

The lawn striping patterns described above can be created using any type of mower. However, there are people who believe the zero turn mower is a superior choice when it comes to creating lawn mowing patterns, simply because they allow for tighter turns at the end of each run. But it’s entirely up to you.

The best type of lawn mower to mow any type of pattern in a lawn is a reel mower with a roller. This is because the blade only pushes the grass in one direction. Regular lawnmowers that have a horizontal cutting blade and a closed deck tend to blow the grass blades in all different directions. So, if you are looking to recreate the prominent diamond pattern of Fenway Park, then a reel mower is by far the best option. But these types of lawn mowers are extremely expensive, so your next best choice is a lawn mower with some type of roller either as part of the drive system or attached to the rear. That being said, any lawn mower will make the patterns. However, not all of them will make the pattern as visible.

The Benefits of Well-Executed Mowing Patterns

You don’t need to have a perfectly flat, perfectly maintained lawn to be able to create beautiful patterns. Certainly, it makes it easier if your lawn is as flat and symmetrical as the outfield at Fenway Park, but it’s not necessary. Any reasonably smooth, reasonably well-maintained lawn can be patterned.

That said, there are several reasons beyond simple aesthetics why someone would want to consider imposing a pattern on their lawn, including:

Patterns Can Create a Healthier Lawn

A well-done pattern can be a very satisfying thing to behold, but its benefits go deeper than that, beginning with the fact that lawn patterns can actually improve the health of your lawn. Most lawn mowing patterns call for the grass to be cut higher than normal, and most lawn experts will tell you that longer blades are healthier blades, to a point anyway.

Mowing the lawn very close might help you practice your putting but it doesn’t do the grass any favors. A close-cropped lawn with its short blades does not absorb much sunlight, which has a negative effect on photosynthesis. The bottom line is that the grass is not as strong and may become susceptible to disease and the encroachment of dandelions and other weeds.

Keeping the blades short also tends to stunt root growth. Since they don’t have to feed longer blades the roots grow shallow. While that might not seem like such a big deal, it can have serious negative consequences if you go through an unusually dry growing season. Longer blades required by different lawn mowing patterns will result in longer roots and a heartier, more resilient lawn.

Patterns Will Hide Weak Areas

It’s not uncommon for a lawn, any lawn, to have some areas that are not quite as filled in, or are dryer than some other areas. The ability of the mowing pattern to diffuse the way your eye sees the lawn can make those dry or thin areas much less visible to the casual observer.

Also, the fact that lawn mowing patterns require the grass to be a little longer than normal can also help to visually smooth over those rough spots. And, of course, longer blades mean longer roots (as we just mentioned), and longer roots help the grass spread and fill in those rough patches.

Mowing in Patterns Reduces Stress on the Lawn

Mowing your lawn the same way time after time is going to undermine its health and put tremendous stress on the blades, roots and underlying soil. Whether you’re using a push mower or riding mower having the wheels follow the same basic course every time is going to create strips of compressed soil where those wheels roll.

Covering the same route every time is also going to produce a formidable thatch in those areas between the wheel tracks that will give the lawn a strange look and make it feel uneven underfoot. Using different lawn mowing patterns will minimize the impact of mowing on any given part of the lawn.

Can You Mow Any Grass Type to Patterns?

Yes, you can mow any grass to a pattern, but not all grasses will create a visible pattern, especially if you’re aiming for that ballpark look. For example, Fenway, Wrigley, and Yankee Stadium all use Bluegrass/Ryegrass because the grass is easy to pattern due to its single strands of grass. As you go south, you’ll start to see grasses like Bermuda used in stadiums, as this grass type does better the further south you go and is also good for patterns. But as of yet, nobody has decided to use St. Augustine at their stadiums. If you have a St. Augustine lawn, then you’ll know why. While you can cut St. Augustine grass to a pattern, you won’t be able to achieve the really dark and light green strips because the grass is just too springy.

Final Thoughts

The best lawn mowing patterns will provide an immediate boost to the appearance of your property. If your lawn is visible from the street it will also enhance your home’s curb appeal to a significant degree. Mowing your lawn in patterns will also enhance its health, help fill (and in some cases distract from) bare spots, and enable more robust root growth that will serve the grass well should you experience a long dry summer where you live.

If I were to issue one word of caution it would be this: carefully consider the shape of your lawn before deciding on a pattern. For instance, diamond and arched patterns will not work so great on lawns that are interrupted by trees and walkways. And if you have a more or less square or rectangular lawn a circular pattern may look out of place.