As I was mowing the lawn last Friday afternoon, I was thinking about efficiency. I usually cut it right after work to get it out of the way and free up some of the weekend time and Friday night time. I try to keep the entire job of mowing and weed eating to one hour. For the most part I cut a diagonal pattern in the front, back, and side. I think it gives a professional look so for me I think I’m looking for the right balance of quality and efficiency. I’ll call it “efficient quality”.
I knew United Parcel Service (UPS) Drivers only make right turns. http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=3005890&page=1 They have computers, codes and programming that allows them to plot out right-turn routes. For UPS right-turn routes saved 28,541,472 million miles, and three million gallons of fuel. Right hand turns take less turning radius/distance and involve less traffic. So I started to think “Will I cut my grass faster if I cut in patterns that only take right turns”? We’ll the answer is not. The success in roads is the length of the pattern of the turn in lanes. Your yard has no lanes so left versus right is a moot point.
There are a number of factors that can affect the amount of time it takes including thickness, height, wetness, dryness, number of hills, and the number of yard features you have flowerbeds, fence, etc.
So with a bit of research I found the keys to the fastest mowing:
1. Start with Features. If your lawn has features that will be an obstacle to mowing in a uniform pattern, you can usually save time by getting those areas out of the way first.
2. Work in Rows. Mowing in rows is usually the fastest, most efficient way to cut your lawn.
· The key to fastest mowing is to make fewer turns so you can work more quickly.
· If your lawn is wider than long cut in line with the longest part or horizontally. If it is longer than wide you should mow in rows parallel to the width.
3. Concentric Circles. Allow for continual cutting with no turns.
So far making the least amount of turns wins and experts say, proper maintenance of your mower also plays a key role in faster mowing. Mowing is also done faster when you do it early in the morning and avoid it when the grass is wet from heavy rain. Want to see more arguments on the topic visit these sites:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fastest-ways-mow-yard-40022.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/a5935/how-to-mow-a-lawn-patterns/
http://blog.lawneq.com/faster-mowing-methods-mowing-in-half-the-time/