A huge part of natural lawn care, or really, any lawn care, is lawn cutting…duh! And one of the best and most exciting debates is over “should I mulch, catch or what?” This article isn’t about that because we all know that mulching is the way to go (yeah, don’t argue, just mulch!)… but what is the best mulching mower on the market and why?
Enter, the Lawn Boy Insight Series. Now I have been mowing lawns and working in the lawn industry since I was 16-years-old (I am 36 now) and this is the very best homeowner style mower I have every used. Lots of power, quality construction, starts on first pull everytime…
It mulches, catches and side discharges, but we are mostly concerned about the mulching part.
You see, when you buy a mulching lawn mower you want one that is powerful enough to grind up the clippings into small bits, and not leave clumps. If you have a mulching mower that leaves clumps, it is either underpowered or it’s not really a mulching lawn mower… trust me, I have seen both. It also may not have a deep enough deck, allowing the clippings to fall out too soon before they get chopped up. The Lawn Boy Insight Series mowers, however, don’t have any of these problems. They are truly smart mowers.
Anyway, the Lawn Boy Insight Series packs plenty of power, has a great self-propelled rear wheel drive system operated by “sense-a-speed” instead of levers and handles, and it also has really fat tires, making better lawn stripes. And we all know how cool it is to have nice lawn stripes!
I promise you this is the very best self propelled mulching lawn mower you’ll ever own. The cheapest price is below too… cheaper than any store I have seen, even with the shipping. Check it out you lawn care nuts!
Wow, what a boring title right? But trust me, after reading this, you will understand the single most important part of piece of the natural lawn care regimen. Is that too dramatic? Well, lawns are important… at least to me!
How Often Should I Aerate My Lawn?
Aerating your lawn is the single most beneficial thing you can do every season. That’s right, I said “every season.” Some folks have taught that aerating the lawn only needs to be done every couple years, but for grass that is treated naturally, we need to give it that healthy boost every spring and every fall if we can. And honestly, even if you do use commercially available synthetic fertilizers and weed and feed products, aerating your turf twice a year is still a very good cultural practice. So, not to belabor this point, but PLEASE aerate your lawn every spring and every fall without fail.
What Exactly Is Lawn Aeration?
Glad you asked! Aeration is the process whereby a machine that is a little larger than a lawn mower is fun over the lawn and cores of soil are actually removed from the ground. These cores are about the size of a half-roll of dimes, or about 2″ long. By removing cores of soil, we very effectively relieve soil compaction, allowing the turf roots to expand and thicken. In case you didn’t know, a thicker lawn root system reveals a thicker top grass plant… and a thick lawn is what we want guys!
You have to be sure that when you either rent an aerator or have your landscaper do it, that you actually get a “core aerator.” So many times I have come across people who rent machines or buy tools that only poke holes in the soil. While this is going to be helpful, there is a lot more to aeration than just “poking holes.” Removing cores is what truly relieves compaction.
In addition, removed cores are deposited back on the soil surface where soil organisms are redistributed throughout the turf area. These organism feed on thatch layers in the lawn, helping to control it!
Can I Overseed With Aeration?
yes yes yes you can! In fact, it is a great idea to overseed your lawn just before you aerate. Take your regular lawn fertilizer spreader and fill it full of fresh seed mix. (I usually recommend a mix of perennial rye and KY bluegrass). For an existing lawn, you should apply between 3 and 4 lbs of grass seed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn space. Once you have spread the seed, run the core aerator over the lawn and keep it all wet for about 7 days with light and frequent waterings. This process included with the overseeding is best done in the fall time.
That’s really it guys, that simple. There are many advantages of natural lawns, but if you don’t aerate, you will be hard pressed to experience them. So when you set off to take on your organic or natural lawn program, be sure to include aeration in the mix, without fail! Of course, if you want to know how I treat my own grass naturally, step-by-step, you can pick up my e-book right here, right now for just $7. yep, cheap but full of info… it gives you a complete lawn care program for the entire year. Check it out will ya?
A huge part of natural lawn care, or really, any lawn care, is lawn cutting…duh! 
And one of the best and most exciting debates is over “should I mulch, catch or what?” This article isn’t about that because we all know that mulching is the way to go (yeah, don’t argue, just mulch!)… but what is the best mulching mower on the market and why?
