How To Stripe A Lawn With A Riding Mower

How To Stripe A Lawn With A Riding Mower? (Step-By-Step Guide)

4 minutes

Do you want to make your simple lawn into an attractive one? Actually striping a lawn with a riding mower can give your lawn an outstanding and professional look. 

We have good news for you. You don’t require any training to stripe your lawn. You know you just need a riding mower and some kits to do the task.

Now, come to the crucial fact. Do you know how to stripe a lawn with a riding mower? No need to be worried dear if you don’t know anything about it. 

In this article, we will try to cover all the things you need to stripe a lawn with a riding mower. 

So, without delay, let’s see how to stripe your lawn.

The process to stripe a lawn with a riding mower

When you stripe your lawn, it creates an outstanding outlook and enhances the beauty of your lawn.

How To Stripe A Lawn With A Riding Mower

You know striping is the process of pushing one direction grass downwards and then the other direction to the opposite. Striping just makes a pattern in your lawn and gives you a feel of playing ground.  

But before we start striping, we just focus on some basic things. These basic things will help you to create a good looking stripe of your lawn at home.

What you will need to create a stripe in your lawn: 

There are different types of kits you can use to create a stripe. Actually, when you want to create a stripe at home, you have to attach the following kits at the rear of the mower.

Which length and types of grass are appropriate for striping:

You know you need not give your hair any shape when it is short. You need an appropriate length to give it a shape. Just like our hair, you need an appropriate length of the grasses to create a stripe. 

Basically, striping of the lawn depends on the bending of the grasses. Short grasses are not appropriate for striping. You, at least need 1-2 inches of grass to create a stripe. 

And the winter season grasses are more favorable than the summer season grasses. Because winter season grasses carry some water and make them more favorable for striping. 

How to create a pattern in your lawn:

How To Stripe A Lawn With A Riding Mower

There are 3 types of patterns you can create at home by a riding lawnmower. They are: 

  • Stripes
  • Checkerboard and
  • Criss-cross

For all types of pattern, you should follow a 3-section Y turn:

  1. After striping one row, set the perimeter to the next row.
  2. Reverse the perimeter 
  3. Drive the mower forward to mow the next row. Note that, don’t engage the blade when striping the lawn. 

Now, it’s time to know about the 3 different types of patterns.

Stripes: 

Steps to follow:

Step #1: Create Mowing Perimeter

Create the perimeter of the mowing. 

Step #2: Parallelly Mow The Rows

Mow the rows parallelly across the whole lawn. Don’t mow two adjacent rows in the same direction. Make sure to make a Y turn after mowing each row.  

Step #3: Mow Another Row In Different Direction

Mow the adjacent row in a different direction and cover the mark of the turn.

Checkerboard:

Steps to follow: 

Step #1: Create Mowing Perimeter

Create the perimeter of the mowing. 

Step #2: Make Stripe

Mow the lawn by following the stripes. (see the stripes pattern) 

Step #3: Turn The Mower Into 90 Degree Angle

After creating the stripes, just turn the mower into a 90-degree angle with the last row you mowed. Think of a chessboard. Checkerboard is just like a chessboard. 

Step #4: Make The Stripe Again

Mow the lawn again by following the stripes to create a checkerboard in your lawn. 

Step #5: Mow Another Row In Different Direction

Mow the adjacent row in a different direction and cover the mark of the turn. 

Criss-cross:

Steps to follow: 

Step #1: Create Mowing Perimeter

Create the perimeter of the mowing. 

Step #2: Diagonally Mow The Rows

Mow the parallel rows diagonally. Continue mowing diagonally across the whole lawn.

Step #3: Make Stripe

Follow the striping process but do it diagonally. After creating the stripes diagonally, just turn the mower into a 90-degree angle with the last row you mowed.

Step #4: Mow Another Row Diagonally

Mow the adjacent row diagonally and cover the mark of the turn.

Cautions: 

  • Don’t engage the blade when striping the lawn. 
  • Wear proper safety clothing when operating the mower. 

Final verdict

To sum up, it can be easily said that the striping process of the lawn is not a laborious task. But prior, you must understand the science behind the process. 

You know the striping process is all about the direction of the grasses. Just follow the above-mentioned process to give your lawn an outstanding look.

Hopefully, this article has helped you to understand how to stripe a lawn with a riding mower

So, why wait? Collect what you need and stripe your lawn! 

Todd L Miles
Lawn Mowers Enthusiast
I started "Landscape and Lawns Care" to provide clients with lawn care with better service, better products and, most importantly, better ethics. My promise to every customer is to give the greenest grass possible while controlling weeds, insects, and diseases! The most important thing is that I strive to always do the right thing for you, your lawn and your wallet!