mowing

Mowing is the act of cutting vegetation, typically grasses, to a uniform height. In lawn care, mowing maintains a dense, healthy turf by encouraging tillering and by suppressing seed heads and weeds. In agriculture, mowing may be used to harvest forage or to manage cover crops.

Mowing is performed with various tools: manual reel mowers, powered rotary mowers, riding mowers, and autonomous robotic mowers. Blades are either steel or composite and are designed for cutting with a shearing action in reel mowers or a chipping action in rotary mowers. Many units offer mulching or grass bagging functions.

Principles of mowing include keeping the blade at an appropriate height for the species and season, typically about 2 to 3 inches for cool-season grasses and 1 to 2.5 inches for many warm-season grasses. Mowing frequency depends on growth rate, climate, and use; patterns and clippings management can influence turf health and appearance.

Maintenance and safety: keep blades sharp, remove debris, check for stones; disconnect power before servicing. Wear eye and hearing protection as appropriate. Mower safety includes keeping bystanders away and avoiding mowing on wet or slippery slopes.

Environmental considerations: mowing reduces plant biomass height and can affect carbon balance; using mulching mowers returns nutrients to the soil via clippings; reducing mower use or using efficient electric models lowers emissions. In agriculture, mowing schedules align with forage quality and regrowth rates.

History: The practice dates back to early lawn cultivation in Europe; mechanized mowing emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries with gasoline-powered mowers and later robotic systems.