Title: (Optional) Describe the process for mowing turfgrass.
Course: Agricultural Education - Development (18003-I) > Section: Investigating the Landscaping Industry

Description should include

- following safety procedures according to Gearing Up for Safety and the Virginia FFA Association Tractor Operator Rules
- checking fluid levels
- mowing regularly with a sharp blade at an even height
- not mowing when turf is wet
- not removing more than 30 to 40 percent of the plant tissue
- alternating the direction of cut from previous mowing
- scarifying and raking to remove thatch and prevent tufting.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What happens when one mows the grass, passing in the same direction each time?
- What are the general safety features on a lawn mower?
- How does one adjust the blades on the lawn mower?
- What are common injuries associated with mowing the lawn, and how can one prevent them or minimize the risk?

Teacher Resources:

- Gearing Up for Safety, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Purdue University
- Lawn Tractor Operators, Virginia FFA & 4-H

- Virginia Lawn and Garden Tractor Operators Contest, Virginia Cooperative Extension