- Remove anything you can – Always remove debris, but it’s also usually worth the time to move any tables, chairs or even some statues if they are not too permanent, before mowing.
- Mow before you trim – This is up for debate, but when mowing lawns that have a lot of obstacles, you may be surprised at the spots you can or can’t reach with a mower. Mowing first will make it obvious, so you can save time weed eating.
- Do the hard part first – Mow a border around obstacles first. This will keep you from having to slow down much when you mow the bulk of the lawn. Sometimes you might even start with a border around a central object then just keep spiraling out to mow the rest of the lawn. On the other hand, if you are striping a lawn, you can go around an object as you come to it. But be sure to make your roundabout cut into the uncut side so you can cover it over with a straight cut as you go.
- Divide and conquer – Either mentally or on paper, divide the yard into uncluttered geometric areas so you can mow each section uninhibited by the obstacles that divide it. For example, if there is a large planter in the middle, treat that as a divider and mow the open sections on each side rather than navigating around it while you try to mow the whole lawn at once.
- Adjust blade height – In some yards, after removing small objects like rocks or toys, you still may be a bit wary of many unseen “landmines.” In a few cases, if you mow lawns that don’t need very short cut heights (like larger fields or less-used wooded areas), it might be worth raising your blade height a little.
- Use a maneuverable mower – Even when you know how to mow a yard strategically, your best bet for getting it done quickly is to use the right mower. A highly maneuverable mower such as the Wright Stander I™ will multiply your productivity on high-obstacle lawns. Many Wright mowers have features like small footprints to maneuver closely around obstacles, combined with the power and cut speed to mow lawns with large open areas quickly.
