Ever had lawn envy? Passing by a beautiful garden with a perfectly mowed lawn, with the added professional touch of stripes often makes you wonder how its achieved. Fortunately, its rather simple and doesn’t haven’t to cost you a fortune, hiring a professional isn’t necessary and this process is more achievable than you think, as this can be completed by anyone and become your next garden project.

What causes the stripes?

A stripey lawn is a lawn that has been mowed in such a way that the grass blades are bent over and flattened, creating a striped pattern. This can be achieved by using a rear-roller lawnmower, which has a roller at the rear of the mower that presses down on the grass blades as the mower moves. Stripes in any lawn are simply created due to light reflecting off the grass that has been bent and cut in a certain direction. The roller attached to your mower pushes the blades of grass forwards pressing them down, as the mower passes over them. Stripes look best on a healthy and vibrant lawn, so we hope you have done your spring and summer lawn prep with our range of scarifiers or spreaders. 

How do I get stripes on the lawn? 

To get a stripey lawn, follow these steps:

1. Mow your lawn with a rear-roller lawnmower. (If you need to browse for new machines, click here and use our list of filters to select 'Rear Roller' as the mower type)
2. Mow in one direction, then mow in the opposite direction.
3. Adjust the height of the mower blades so that they are cutting the grass blades just above the soil.
4. Mow regularly, at least once a week.
5. Water your lawn regularly, especially during hot weather.

The use of a roller mower also gives you the added bonus of mowing right up to the edges of you borders without the fear of dropping the wheels over the edge and then scalping your lawn. 

Which mower is best for the job?

We sell a large range of rear-roller mowers, with Hayter leading the way having been manufacturing rear-roller mowers since 1946. Our top picks for rear-roller mowers are: 

1. The Hayter Harrier 41 16" mower - push mower ideal for smaller areas
2. The Hayter Harrier 48 19" mower - Self-propelled larger machine with variable speed drive, ideal for larger lawns or areas with a slope. 
3. The Honda HRD536QX 21" mower - Fully professional machine with self-propelled engine, Roto-Stop blades, a folding handle for easy transportation and a strong alloy deck. Ideal for lawncare professional work.
4. The EGO LM1903 mower - For a lighter, quieter option, EGO produce a battery-powered mower capable of retro-fitting their rear-roller attachment. Less fumes, less noise, same perfect finish, and a range of tools designed to fit the same battery as the mower. 

Additional tips for getting a stripey lawn:

• Use a sharp mower blade. A dull blade will tear the grass blades, making it difficult to get a clean stripey pattern.
• Mow when the grass is dry. Wet grass blades will not bend as easily, making it difficult to get a stripey pattern.
• Mow when the weather is cool. Hot weather will stress the grass, making it difficult to get a stripey pattern.
• Be patient. It takes time to get a stripey lawn. Just keep mowing regularly and watering your lawn, and you will eventually see the results.

To shop our full range of mowers, including over 50 rear-roller machines, click here