Many homeowners would rather do anything else than face the boring chore of cutting the grass - but one garden expert has issued a stark warning about the common blunders people make with their lawn mowers. Brits are known to spend an eye-watering 15 hours each year mowing their lawns, which works out at roughly an hour every two weeks. However, all that hard work might be in vain, according to gardening expert Bo Petterson.
Bo took to TikTok, posting under the handle @dadadvicefrombo, to share his four golden rules for achieving a "dad quality lawn". Starting off his clip, he stressed the importance of commitment to lawn mowing, saying it "really matters". He advised: "In the spring, you need to mow a couple of times a week and you need to cut it short. That teaches your grass that it can't go up so it has to go out, giving you a thicker lawn.".
For the summer months, Bo suggested less frequent mowing and keeping the grass longer to protect the roots from the scorching sun with shade. He also recommended altering the mowing pattern each time, including vertical, horizontal, cross pattern, or even wavey cuts. "If you don't do that your lawn will learn to grow sideways like a combover," he warned. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) backs this tip, noting it helps prevent ruts in the lawn. Lastly, Bo pointed out that if your grass has ripped ends, it's likely due to dull lawn mower blades.
His solution is simple: "You need to sharpen them or change your blades." Bo also advised: "Inspect your grass every few months to look for ripped cuts, that will tell you it's time.". Finally, the guru suggested using lawn clippings as mulch, noting: "The trick is you have to mow often and it helps if you really love your mower.". Followers were quick to express their appreciation for the gardening advice in the comments section. One individual wrote: "I didn't know about changing the pattern! " while another joked: "Realising I've never mowed a yard correctly in my life." A third shared: "I wish I saw this years ago! I've always struggled with my lawn, I'm going to use all these tips.".
Another enthused: "I didn't know that about cutting short in spring. Love learning new grass tips! ! " The father-of-six began creating content as part of efforts to fund research into a cure for his daughter's brain injury sustained from a soccer game accident. Emily has been left battling with both the physical and mental aftermath of the tragic incident, undergoing seven experimental treatments over the last few years.
