SHORT CUTS TO SUCCESS

Where lawns are concerned, there aren't that many. Mowing little and often is the key to success -  'little' in this case meaning not too closely. Light cutting encourages the grass to produce extra shoots, and stunts weeds and coarse grasses

Most lawnmowers offer the facility of raising or lowering the height of cut - in various ways. Mower blades need to be set at different levels according to the weather and amount of growth.

As a general rule, in summer you should cut the grass at least once a week, preferably twice if you can manage it.

Don't mow too closely or the colour and texture of the grass will deteriorate

During droughts and in the Spring and Autumn months, mowing once a week is sufficient.

Before you start cutting, make sure that the grass is as dry as possible and free from surface litter. Lightly brush off dew or rain, wormcasts and dead leaves.

When cutting the grass. you should always push the mower forwards steadily. Don't pull the machine to and fro and try not to lean heavily on the handle (even if you do feel tired!).

To produce the sought-after striped effect, you simply cut the grass in parallel lines, mowing alternate lines in opposite directions. Each time you mow, remember to work at right angles to the direction of the previous cut; north-south one week; east-west the next.