Service Manual

Service Dealer’s Guide to Great Quality of Cut 2 - 3
Elements of Great Quality of Cut
Mowing Tips
Explain to the operator that the operator’s manual
contains tips for getting a great quality of cut. Remind
the operator of the following:
• The best ground speed is normal walking speed.
However, if the engine bogs down at this speed,
slow down to avoid degrading the lawn
appearance.
• With a mulching mower, it may be necessary to
mow more slowly than with a bagging or side
discharge mower. Compared to bagging or side
discharging, the time spent in mowing more slowly
with a mulching mower is made up for by not
emptying a bag or raking discharged clippings.
• The best height of cut varies with the type of grass
and the season. In the spring and fall, when
temperatures are moderate and rainfall is higher,
height of cut can usually be decreased. In the
summer, when the temperature increases and
rainfall decreases, it is usually better to increase
the height of cut.
• To maintain the health of the grass, turf grass
agronomists recommend cutting no more than 1/3
of the grass height. Most rotary mowers designed
for urban and suburban use work best when set
up to cut no more than 1/3 of the grass height.
• When the height of cut is changed, the lawn takes
a couple of weeks to adjust to the new cutting
height. If the height of cut is increased, the grass
may droop until it adjusts. If the height of cut is
decreased, the lawn may temporarily look less
green and lush.