Q: I was told you should mow against the slope of the lawn. If the lawn slopes toward the street, mow parallel to the street. Last summer, I noticed many lawns being mowed perpendicular to the slope! Did the direction recommendation change?

A: Very observant! According to UGA Extension, when using a push mower, it is proper to start at the bottom of the hill and mow across (side to side) until you reach the top. But when crews are on riding mowers, it is okay to mow up and down, so long as the slope isn’t too steep. Interesting to think about. And this week in my Master Gardener class, I learned that (in a flat yard at least), you should mow in a different direction or pattern each time. And a good practice during the summer heat is to raise the blade height prior to and during periods of stress, be it heat or drought.

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