Mowing Tall, Tall grass

Quick question....I had problems with a mower recently and it took a while to get it fixed. Since then, my grass had grown out of control. Now, when I try to mow it, the mower stalls when it hits the real deep stuff. I eventually get through it and all is fine. I was just wondering...is mowing the really deep stuff bad for the mower or engine?

Thanks.

 

Ideally no more than 1/3 of grass blades should be removed at a time. Set mower at highest setting. If grass is as tall as you say, you will have to make do. Grass will likely not look so good for a while until it recuperates. Removing too much from the blades shocks the plants. Depending on type of mower can affect how much grass a mower can process. If you have a side discharge mower, you can prop the discharge cover up if it's hinged and simply let cut grass blow. You may have to make several passes to get the grass cut and may have to rake some clippings. These can go into the compost.

 

If your mower has the quick easy height adjustment - set up high as it will go. If you have to unmount the wheels to raise it - you decide As mentioned grass doesn't like a big shock, especially when it's hot and dry. I wouldn't force the mower and make it stall, take your time, let it cut a little at a time, maybe pull it back and go again when in the deep grass.

 

If you take your time, don't force anything, and let the engine work without overworking, then no...it's not really bad for the engien or mower. Usually we don't take the time to let it work that way though, and we rush it as much as we can. That's a bit harder on the engine, and harder on the mower too if it is not a direct drive blade. A freshly sharpened blade will make it faster, easier, look better, healthier for the grass, and less strain on the mower and engine.

1/3 or less of the length of the grass is ideal, but a mower can handle much more than that without strain. It's just best for the grass itself to cut that much at a time.