How to Prevent Grass From Sticking to Your Mower Deck

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It’s frustrating when you begin to mow your lawn, only to discover that grass is sticking to the deck.

Located underneath the main part of a lawnmower, the deck is a large and open area where the blade spins. Normally, a lawnmower will dispense the cut grass in a removable bag or out the mulching chamber. There are times, however, when grass may build up inside the deck.

So, how do you prevent grass from sticking to the deck of your lawnmower?

Clean It

If your lawnmower’s deck is clogged with grass, you’ll need to clean it.

With the motor turned off and the spark plug removed, carefully lift your lawnmower and turn it on its side. Next, use a plastic scraping tool to remove the grass in and around the deck.

For stubborn grass, you may need to use an air compressor. A few blasts of pressurized air should dislodge hardened grass.

Of course, you shouldn’t use water to clean the deck. Exposing the underside of your lawnmower to water may cause it to rust.

Therefore, if you’re struggling to clean it, use an air compressor.

Coat With Vegetable Oil

It may sound unusual, but coating the deck of your lawnmower with vegetable oil can protect it from stuck grass.

Like most oils, vegetable oil is a lubricant. When applied to a mower deck, it creates a nonstick surface that prevents the accumulation of grass.

After cleaning your lawnmower’s deck, wipe it down with a few paper towels soaked in vegetable oil.

When finished, you should then be able to use your lawnmower without grass sticking to the deck.

Mow During the Day

Wait until the midday hours to mow your lawn.

Some homeowners prefer mowing their lawn during the morning or evening hours when it’s cool. If the sun isn’t out, though, your lawn will likely be covered in moisture.

And when you mow it, the wet grass will stick to your lawnmower’s deck where it clumps into large balls.

Make Narrower Passes

Finally, you can prevent grass from sticking to your lawnmower’s deck by making narrower passes.

In other words, don’t try to mow the entire length of the deck. Instead, make passes that cover about half of the deck.

With less grass entering it, your lawnmower’s deck should remain relatively clean. And if it gets clogged, you can always turn it over for a quick cleaning.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

The post How to Prevent Grass From Sticking to Your Mower Deck appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.

Fescue vs Bermuda Grass: Which Is Best for Your Lawn?

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Can’t decide whether to seed your lawn with Fescue or Bermuda?

Although there are dozens of varieties of lawn grasses, Fescue and Bermuda are among the most popular.

They both produce a clean, uniform-looking lawn that can enhance your home’s curb appeal. Fescue and Bermuda aren’t the same, however.

While similar in appearance, there are some key differences between them that shouldn’t be ignored.

What Is Fescue?

Fescue is a turfgrass that’s characterized by ultra-fine leaves.

When compared to Bermuda, Fescue has thinner blades of grass. As it grows, Fescue’s ultra-fine blades will help to fill your lawn. If there’s an area of your lawn with little or no grass, seeding it with fescue is a surefire way to treat it.

It’s also worth mentioning that Fescue is more tolerant of cold temperatures than Bermuda. Fescue grows in many warmer climates, including Texas, but it’s able to grow in cooler climates as well.

What Is Bermuda?

Bermuda, on the other hand, is a fast-growing variety of lawn grass that’s characterized by moderately thick leaves.

It has thicker and coarser blades of grass than its fescue counterpart. More importantly, Bermuda is considered an invasive grass because of its ability to grow and spread with minimal effort.

With its invasive nature, some homeowners view Bermuda as a nuisance.

If your lawn currently consists of a different variety of grass and Bermuda begins to take hold, it will likely create a messy-looking lawn. Rather than a single variety of your grass, your lawn will now have two varieties of grass. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you only seed your lawn with Bermuda.

When exposed to cold temperatures, Bermuda may go dormant. It’s less tolerant of cold temperatures than Fescue, which may deter some homeowners from choosing it.

The good news is that Bermuda offers a high tolerance to heat. It can withstand hot climates without dying. That’s especially important for us in Central Texas, which is why Bermuda grass is very common here.

In Conclusion

You really can’t go wrong with either Fescue or Bermuda.

Fescue has finer leaves and is more tolerant of cold temperatures, whereas Bermuda has thicker and coarser leaves and is more tolerant of hot temperatures.

Just remember to choose a variety of grass that’s appropriate for the climate, as well as soil conditions, where you live.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

The post Fescue vs Bermuda Grass: Which Is Best for Your Lawn? appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.