Mowing grass: a complete guide to a perfect cut

NEWS · 31 March 2025

Mowing grass is an essential operation for the maintenance of vineyards, orchards, gardens and parks.

Whether you are an experienced farmer or an agricultural equipment enthusiast, knowing the right techniques and tools will enable you to achieve excellent results with minimal effort.

Zanon, with its wide range of agricultural machinery, offers innovative and high-performance solutions for every need.


Why is it important to cut the grass?

Keeping grass under control is not just a matter of aesthetics but an essential factor in the health of plants and soil. Regular mowing makes it possible to:

- Prevent the proliferation of pests and diseases.

- Facilitate access to crops and irrigation systems.

- Reduce the risk of fires in the summer months.

- Improve the efficiency of farming and gardening operations.


Soil preparation: the first essential step

Whether it is a vineyard, orchard or public park, before starting to mow the grass, it is essential to prepare the soil properly:

- Removing debris: stones, logs and other hidden objects can damage the blades and compromise safety;

- Checking for obstacles: check for branches or other obstacles that could interfere with the work;

- Checking the soil: check for unevenness or holes that could make the equipment unstable.


When to cut the grass: the right time for a perfect cut

The time of year and the time of day affect the quality of the cut. In order to achieve an effective cut and not damage the lawn or crop, it is essential to choose the most suitable time for mowing. The season plays a crucial role: spring is the ideal time, as the grass is in an active growth phase and has a greater capacity to recover after mowing.

Mowing can also be carried out during the summer, but we recommend avoiding mowing during the hottest hours of the day so as not to subject it to water and heat stress.

Winter, on the other hand, is generally not recommended for mowing, as the grass grows more slowly and may suffer from mowing.

The time of day is also important: it is best to mow in the early morning or late afternoon, when temperatures are milder.

In addition, to ensure an even and clean cut, it is preferable to work with perfectly dry grass: the presence of moisture, such as from morning dew or recent rain, makes the grass heavier and more inclined, compromising the effectiveness of the cut and increasing the risk of tearing, which can encourage the proliferation of fungal diseases, such Mal Secco.


Zanon techniques and tools for cutting tall grass: a guide to the ideal choice

When grass grows too much, cutting it can become a challenge. First of all, we recommend that you choose the tool based on how tall and dense the grass is and the type of soil.

For medium to large areas, such as parks and extensive gardens, a mower is the ideal solution, ensuring an even and effective cut.

If the soil is steep or difficult to access, our fabulous ROBY-PRO remote controlled lawn mower offers a great alternative, allowing you to work safely even in the most inaccessible areas.

For trimming edges or removing grass in difficult spots, the DCS 400-P electronic brushcutter ensures precision and convenience.


Those who want a more manoeuvrable and cordless solution can instead opt for the lightweight and ergonomic DCS 300 cordless brushcutter.

Finally, when tackling very tall and dense grass, such as that found in uncultivated fields, the mulcher is the best choice, providing power and durability even in the most difficult conditions.

Once the work is done, the cut grass can be used for composting or as mulch, reducing waste and returning useful nutrients to the soil.

Some lawn mowers and mulchers allow mulching, i.e. shredding the grass cuttings, which is then left on the soil as a natural fertiliser.


How to cut very tall grass in several passes

If the soil has been fallow for some time or the vegetation has become too dense, it is important to choose the right method to avoid wasting time and energy.

If the grass is very tall, avoid cutting it all at once so as not to strain the tool's motor. A good trick to avoid overloading the blades is to work in several passes.

The first cut can be higher, and then gradually lower to the desired height. It is best to avoid working with wet grass, which can clump up and slow down the work, and always check that the blades are sharp for a clean, fast cut.
If the vegetation exceeds one metre in height, an ordinary lawn mower may no longer be sufficient. In these cases, you need a more powerful machine that can handle tough grass and difficult soil.

In extreme cases, the use of a weed shredder can greatly simplify the work, allowing vegetation to be effectively reduced before mowing operations.

Designed to cope with the toughest conditions, this powerful tool is capable of shredding brambles, brushwood and bushes, transforming uncultivated soil into clean, maintenance-ready surfaces



How to cut tall grass without a brush-cutter

If you don't have a brushcutter at your disposal, as mentioned above, you can resort to a powerful mower with reinforced blades, a flail mower, or if the greenery to be managed is small, you can use a manual scythe or sickle bar.

If you don't have a brushcutter but need to trim lawn edges or difficult areas, you can use good alternatives. A electronic battery-powered hedge-trimmer can be useful for small trimmings along driveways or around trees.

If you have an adjustable mower, you can use it with a higher cutting setting to get closer to the edges without risking damage to surrounding plants.

Conclusions

Cutting high or very high grass is no problem if you use the right tools and follow the proper techniques. Choosing reliable equipment such as that produced by Zanon guarantees faster, more efficient and safer work, both for agricultural professionals and for gardening and motoring enthusiasts.

Want to know more about our grass mowing equipment? Contact us or contact one of our dealers.