Striping

Striping a lawn can create a dramatic effect and elevate the lawn to a new level. When people refer to wanting their grass to look like a golf course, they usually mean the look of the striping rather than the health of the turf. Alternating mowing patterns by 90? or 45? adds to the aesthetic and is good for the grass.

Striping is nothing more than pushing the grass down in one direction and then the other, as you mow. Similar to the grain on suede or velvet, the effect is two different shades of green, a light and a dark.

The bold striping on a golf course or ball field is usually achieved with a finely tuned reel mower with rollers in the front and back of the mower. The first roller is sometimes grooved, and aids in lining up the grass for an even cut by the reel. The reel cuts in a way that pushes the grass down in one direction, and the rear, weighted roller pushes the grass down a final time. Commercial grade reel mowers like those found on golf course and ball fields, are very high tech machines and priced extremely high for the average homeowner

Riding or walking rotary mowers can be fitted with striping kits. A striping kit is attached on the rear of the mower or right behind the mowing deck. It can range from a weighted back roller assembly to a firm rubber flap or brushes to lay the grass down. Home made attachments made of PVC or lumber can also do a decent job of striping a lawn. If you are unable to do it yourself, many lawn care companies are now equipped with striping mowers.

You may have trouble striping a lawn comprised of certain low growing warm season grasses like Bermuda grass. The low growth habit and coarse leaf blade will not allow it to lay over.