Do you want your lawn to have that pristine and professional look that’ll make it the neighbor’s envy? That’s not as hard a task as you might think! Lawn patterns are the result of reflection; when grass blades are bent in different directions, they reflect the light differently, which results in the pattern. Wide blades appear brighter because they reflect more light, while the tips of blades appear darker because they reflect less light and have shadows under them.

We at Bucklin Tractor & Implement want to help you make the best of your lawns so we’ve compiled this list of tips to help you get the best lawn patterns. 

If you’re looking for lawn mowers for sale or professional lawn mower service in Kansas, get in touch with us and have a chat with one of our expert staff members. We’re proud to be your local lawn mower dealer! 

Use Lawn Features as Guides

If you’re not careful, all your hard work will end up being unaligned or misshapen, which results in a shoddy, amateur look. To ensure you get neat and precise lines, use features on your lawn (such as driveways or sidewalks) as guides when you’re creating your lawn patterns. You’ll also have to take into account any decorations you’ve placed on your lawn to ensure they will blend aesthetically with your chosen pattern. 

Let Your Grass Grow

One of the best ways to get those dark bits of your chosen lawn pattern to really pop is to use your lawn mower once the grass has grown a bit taller. This helps the grass blades to bend more as it increases its flexibility. When the grass blades are too short they have a tendency to straighten out quickly. If the blades are longer, they’ll keep the pattern longer, which means less work for you in the long run.

Edge Your Lawn

You should try to run two passes at the outside edges of your yard with your lawn mower or lawn tractor before you actually begin to work on the lawn pattern. If your lawn is edged by other buildings or fences, you might have to make three passes. It’s a bit of extra work but if you do this, it allows you more room to take turns on your lawn mower and make sure that the edges of your lawn stay even. 

Press With a Roller

If you’ve got the right lawn mower for the pattern you’ve chosen, it’ll be easy to get the pattern with your machine. However, it’s good to intensify the difference between the light and dark sections of your lawn pattern. To do that, use a roller to bend the blades further.  You can also use a striping kit for your mower to do this. This will enhance the look of your lawn and you won’t have to use your lawn mower or lawn tractor too soon.

The Right Kind of Grass

There are different types of grasses and some types lend themselves better to achieving lawn mower patterns than others. Cool season grasses that grow mostly over the spring are much more flexible and are often preferred for making lawn patterns. If you live in the southern states, you might have warm season grass that usually grows over summer on your lawn. These grasses are sturdier and harder to bend so not often used for patterns. 

Change Patterns for Lawn Health

You might have a favorite pattern or there might be one pattern that really makes your lawn pop, but it’s recommended to keep switching up the lawn pattern instead of sticking to one design. This is because when you keep making one pattern,  your lawn mower tires always press down on certain areas, reducing the airflow and ultimately leading to bald patches or even weeds cropping up. To ensure no area gets too compacted, you should change the patterns. 

We hope you’ll find these tips useful when you start working on your lawn pattern! If you need more help or are looking for quality lawn mowers for sale in Kansas, get in touch with Bucklin Tractor & Implement and one of our expert staff members will gladly help you out. We’re also here for all your professional lawn mower service and repair needs!