Lawn mowing- this is the very technique that allows you to maintain it in the form of a thick, perfectly even green carpet. Mowing the top of the plants stimulates their branching, new shoots grow fluffy and bright, making it more difficult for weeds to break through them.
Why are lawns mowed?
Without maintenance, a lawn loses all its decorative value. , becomes coarser, duller, some of the leaves from old shoots fall off, exposing the stems. The grass stand is in decline. If you do not mow regularly, you can negate all the results of the work of sowing the lawn or laying turf.
Do not allow the grass to grow more than 10–12 cm from the required height. Otherwise, after cutting, the lighting in the thickness of the grass stand will change sharply, which will lead to withering, yellowing and even death of tender shoots that were previously hidden in the shadows.
Infrequent cuttings lead to great stress for plants. Recovery proceeds normally when per haircut, no more than a third of the height of the stem is cut off. If time is lost, but you want to avoid problems, it is best to perform the procedure in the evening or in cloudy weather - then the likelihood of negative consequences is reduced.
ON THE PICTURE: It is better to shorten significantly overgrown grass on the lawn in the evening. The sun's rays plus the stress of pruning will cause the plants to weaken and wilt.
Before winter, cutting is protective in nature: a large amount of frost-dead and rotting grass can lead to the death of the roots, so the volume of green mass must be reduced.
How to properly mow the lawn for the first time?
Seedlings of lawn grasses appear during from the end of the 1st to the beginning of the 4th week after sowing. At the same time, in dry weather the seeds need to be careful.
When to mow the lawn for the first time and what precedes this procedure?
As soon as the height of the plants reaches 5–8 cm, they must be swept, removing debris and fallen tree leaves from the surface of the lawn. After this, the lawn should be rolled with a lightweight roller or the rear roller of a cylindrical lawn mower. This is done to compact the raised soil and form new shoots. The lawn is mowed when when the shoots rise again, no more than 1–2 cm is removed.
To ensure a successful first mowing of your lawn, your lawn mower blades must be sharp. To operate, the front roller of the device must be removed.
ON THE PICTURE: For the first time cutting the lawn grass, an electric or mechanical lawn mower is suitable.
Lawn mowing in spring, autumn and summer + basic rules
Spring
- When mowing the lawn in spring: if the seeds are planted this season, prepare to carry out this procedure regularly, starting from May–June (the exact time depends on the weather outside). Start with a haircut once a week. Also see.
Autumn
- Lawn, autumn sown, requires a haircut only next year.
- After the summer season, the frequency of haircuts is gradually reduced to once a week.
Summer
- How often to mow the lawn in summer, depends on the speed of grass growth, which is influenced by the weather and varieties of cereals. During the period of active growth, you can cut the grass 2 times a week. Wherein a curly haircut requires more frequent updates than a simple one.
ON THE PICTURE: To create such a spiral-shaped lawn, just change the cutting height of the grass on the lawn mower. But only regular haircuts will allow you to maintain the given geometry in a decent form.
How high should I mow my lawn?
- For a parterre lawn, the optimal height is 3–3.5 cm;
- It is recommended to maintain gardening at a level of 4–4.5 cm;
- The height of the sports lawn is 5–5.5 cm.
When to mow the lawn after winter?
The same rule applies here as with the first haircut: as soon as the height outgrows 1-2 extra cm, you can cut it. In autumn, they stop cutting the grass when the temperature reaches +10°C (daytime). In the middle zone, this period falls on the second week of October.
It doesn’t matter how large or small the lawn on your property is, after mowing, its entire surface must be cleared of cut grass, otherwise it can cause yellowing of the grass and the appearance of rotted areas.
How often should I cut my lawn grass?
The frequency of mowing is different for each type of lawn. Most often they mow (at least once a week), followed by. and are mowed only twice per season.
meadow lawn first processed with a mower after the plants produce seeds (in June). The cut bushes are allowed to lie in place for several days for natural reseeding, then they are removed. The second haircut takes place in September.
Moorish lawn care almost the same, only the first mowing occurs at the beginning of July (spring flowers by this time should already produce fully ripened seeds), and the second at the beginning of October, when summer and autumn flowers fade.
Lawn mowing problems
Uneven surface
An uneven soil surface with hummocks can do a disservice when mowing the lawn, since bald spots form on the surface of the elevations, which are subsequently washed out and turn into holes. You can level the area by mulching low places and generally increasing the length of the grass stand. But it is advisable to take care in advance of leveling the area before.
When working with a lawn mower, you do not need to exert much effort, press on it or sharply turn the handle.
ON THE PICTURE: The tussocks of grass are clearly visible. There were also hills on the bald spots that were beveled to zero. As a result, the soil was washed away and “holes” formed.
The grass is torn, not cut
A common occurrence in large gardens and parks, where cutting is carried out by not very qualified workers and gardeners. As a rule, they don't pay attention whether the mower blades are dull or not, namely, a dull mower/trimmer blade causes the grass to be torn rather than cut.
ON THE PICTURE:It is clearly visible that the ends of the grass are torn and not cut off. The whitish, torn lawn patches will eventually form large patches that will stand out on the lawn. In hot weather this will happen quite quickly.
To get rid of areas with torn grass, you need to wait for it to grow back by 5-7 cm, and then go again with a high-quality lawn mower with sharpened blades.
Brown tips of grass
Browning of the tips of lawn grass can be a result of cutting in wet weather, over wet greenery. There is also a possibility that the lawn mower blades are dull or the cylindrical part of the device is damaged.
Uneven haircut
Narrow strips of long and short grass perpendicular to the movement of the mower are left due to the slow rotation speed of the mower blades. Reason: either wet grass or incorrectly selected cutting height.
ON THE PICTURE:Most often, narrow strips of unmown grass are left next to the wheels of the lawn mower.
Learn all about lawn mowing. We'll tell you when the first and last lawn mowing of the season is. Find out by How often is it necessary to mow the lawn, what to do with the cut grass. Learn the basic principles of proper lawn mowing.
Lawn mowing is one of the most important elements of lawn maintenance. Only frequently cut grass will create a thick, green garden carpet. Regular mowing promotes germination and growth of grass, limits development (sensitive to low cutting). Learn how and when to mow your lawn.
First and last lawn mowing of the season
A young lawn (just created) is mowed for the first time when the grass reaches approximately 8-10cm in height. Cut the grass to a height of approx. 5.5-6cm! Only the subsequent haircut is carried out to a height of 3.5 cm.
Next season We usually carry out the first spring mowing of the lawn in late March - early April, however, this period depends on the spring weather! It is necessary to monitor the grass and, when the stems reach 6-8 cm, trim it.
The last one Autumn lawn mowing is usually carried out in mid-October. In some cases, this procedure can be done a little later when warm weather encourages grass growth.
We mow the grass to a height of approximately 4 cm; if higher, it will break and may rot under the snow. Mowing too low is unfavorable for the grass - it exposes the roots to freezing.
After mowing the grass, carefully rake up all the stems and other plant debris (sticks, leaves, etc.) located on the lawn.
How often to mow the lawn
To keep your lawn looking like a green carpet, you need to mow it once a week! Only such frequent grass cutting will ensure the ideal appearance of the lawn. If, however, the ideal appearance of the lawn is not required, we can mow the lawn less frequently, but we must not allow the grass to exceed 8 cm in height, and, of course, we must not allow the grass to bloom - in this case, after cutting the stems, only stubble will remain.
The taller the grass, the less resistant to cutting! You should also remember that at one time we can mow no more than half of its height, so if we want to radically reduce the height of the lawn, it is best to divide the mowing into two times - every 2-3 days. The optimal cutting height is to cut 1/3 and no more than half the height of the grass..
How often you need to mow your lawn depends on a number of factors, including:
- time of year and temperature- Grass grows faster in spring and late summer when it is warm and humid. In July, grass grows much slower due to high temperatures.
- fertilization - an intensively fertilized lawn grows quite quickly, especially when we supply too much nitrogen - then the grass becomes dark green and grows quite lushly.
- glaze– the lawn requires regular watering; when there is not enough moisture, the grass grows much more slowly.
- types of herbs, from which the lawn was created - lawn seeds are sold in the form of mixtures consisting of different types and varieties of grasses, differing from each other in appearance, type and intensity of growth - for example, ryegrass (chaff) grows very quickly, so in the grass mixture there should be as little of it as possible!
What to do with cut grass? Is it possible to leave grass clippings on the lawn?
Grass clippings can be left on the lawn only if the stems are no longer than 3-4cm. This grass decomposes quickly and will replenish the lawn. If the grass is longer or when we do the first and last cutting of the season, it should not remain on the lawn. Long stems and heads of grass decompose very slowly and promote turf decay, which has a negative impact on the growth and appearance of the lawn. They need to be raked or cut using a lawnmower with a grass container. Grass clippings are organic matter, perfect for
A well-groomed lawn is the pride of the owners of a private home. To maintain it in perfect condition, you will need to purchase special equipment. There are many models of such equipment. The choice depends on the characteristics of the site.
To make a decision than to mow the grass, it is necessary to consider all existing options and their features. Today, simple and complex techniques are used for a wide variety of lawns. What points you need to pay attention to when choosing will be discussed in detail below.
Features of lawn care
Many homestead plot owners are interested in the question: how to mow grass correctly. If insufficient attention is paid to this point, bald spots appear on the lawn and the vegetation becomes depleted. Weeds begin to grow in vacant places.
To avoid adverse consequences, it is necessary to mow the grass correctly. To do this, it is recommended to leave the lawn height at least 5 cm. This level depends on the type of grass on the site. The entire process should be carried out in dry weather. However, the soil surface should be slightly moist. This way it is possible to avoid pulling out young, still fragile shoots.
Delving into the question how to mow grass correctly, it is necessary to consider existing technology options. The appearance of the lawn will depend on the quality of the tool. Today, several types of equipment are used that allow high-quality and quick care of the vegetation cover of the site.
Varieties
There are several popular options, how to mow grass on a personal plot. The choice depends primarily on the size of the area being treated. The tool can be autonomous or run on a specific type of fuel.
Hand-held varieties of instruments include litovkas. This is a special lawn scythe that does not require connection to an electrical outlet or other type of fuel. This tool is convenient to use in a small area. However, the quality of processing with such tools is inferior to other types of equipment.
If the area is small (up to 150 m²), you can mow the grass using a hand trimmer. It is pluggable and lightweight. This is a comfortable unit that will quickly bring your lawn to perfect condition. For large areas, gasoline lawn mowers, mini-tractors or riders are used.
Hand scythe
Which is called Lithuanian, suitable for strong people. When using it, you will first need to practice on a trial plot. Only after this can you begin to treat the lawn.
The braid blade is made of high-strength steel. The handle and braid are made of wood. Before starting work, the blade must be sharpened well. In this case, the processing of the site will go faster. This equipment option is ideal for a personal plot where there is no electricity.
It is important to know, how to mow with a hand scythe. An untrained person will not be able to perform all actions efficiently. At the same time, there should be no hills, stones, or trees on the site. Such objects will cause damage to the hand tool. In this case, it is better to give preference to other types of equipment. When using them, the result will be better and the work will be completed faster.
Electric trimmer
Using a trimmer, you can quickly and efficiently process small and medium-sized areas. This equipment can be powered by a gasoline or electric motor. The grass is cut using a fishing line or a special disk. Compared to the previous version of the tool, the trimmer allows you to cut the lawn three times faster. The employee does not have to be physically fit.
Considering best grass trimmers, attention should be paid to electrical varieties. Their cost, depending on the power and set of functions, can range from 1,100 to 13,000 rubles. This instrument is shaped like a cane. There is a switch on it. An electrical cord allows you to connect the device to a household network.
Electric trimmers are lighter than gasoline trimmers. They are quiet and efficient. The maximum motor power can reach 1.3 kW. Such equipment is easy to operate. Therefore, electric trimmers are used almost everywhere today. There are battery models. They can work autonomously for about half an hour.
Choosing an Electric Trimmer
Today, foreign companies supply the market: Hitachi, Bosch, Honda, etc. Devices from Black & Decker, MTD, AL-KO, Gardena and many other brands are very popular. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the power and type of cutting element.
There are models of trimmers in which the engine is located at the bottom. Their power varies from 200 to 500 W. They are used for lawns with soft, short grass. For taller and tougher grass, devices with an upper motor type are used. Their power is 600-1300 W. At the same time, such equipment is less susceptible to the negative effects of moisture.
Even best lawn mower models electric type are not designed for use in wet weather. The capabilities of the presented tool are limited by the presence of a cable. If you use the device in standalone mode, it will not work for more than 30 minutes. Therefore, electric trimmers are used on small lawns near the house. The grass here should be soft.
Gasoline trimmer
Perfect lawn mower for uneven areas and large areas works on Instead of an electric motor, such equipment has a two-stroke or four-stroke motor. It runs on a mixture of gasoline and oil. This is powerful, productive equipment. It is capable of quickly processing large areas that are overgrown with dense, tall vegetation.
Such equipment does not require connection to an electrical outlet; there is no cord coming from it. Also, the presented units can work even in rainy weather. However, gasoline trimmers also have several disadvantages.
The weight of the device is quite large. The unit can weigh up to 5 kg. This significantly reduces maneuverability and operating comfort. Also, the gasoline engine makes a lot of noise. Exhaust gases are constantly present in the air. Maintaining a gasoline trimmer is quite difficult. Therefore, the presented tool is used in most cases on large, complex areas.
Choosing a gasoline trimmer
Gasoline trimmer is the best lawn mower for uneven areas, complex surfaces. For the most inaccessible places, it is recommended to use this equipment. The petrol trimmer is designed for areas from 150 to 1000 m². It is important to use the correct proportion of fuel for this equipment. To do this, you need to purchase high-quality gasoline and oil. The choice of fuel is specified by the manufacturer in the instructions.
Many gas trimmers make a lot of noise. In some models this figure is insignificant. Devices with a four-stroke engine are characterized by lower noise levels. Oil and gasoline must be poured into them separately.
The most popular, quiet models of gasoline trimmers are Caiman VS255W, Honda UMK 435 T, KAAZ VSP255S, MTD 800 41HD800G678 and many other manufacturers. The cost of such equipment ranges from 3.5 to 37 thousand rubles. They consume less fuel and are comfortable to use.
Wheeled vehicles
For very large areas, mini tractors or riders for mowing grass. Such equipment can also be powered by electricity or gasoline. The difference from a trimmer is the presence of wheels. This makes lawn treatment much easier. This advantage is especially important in large areas.
The presented equipment may have a lot of additional functions. Some models have a container for collecting grass. Many other functions may also be provided.
The presented equipment is intended for garden plots with an area of at least 10 acres. Riders and wheeled equipment cannot thoroughly treat hard-to-reach areas. This is a dimensional technique that is used exclusively for large rectangular spaces.
Model selection
Choosing how to mow grass over a large area, it is necessary to consider the most popular rider models. Such a mini-tractor is an intermediate link between heavy garden equipment and a trimmer.
First of all, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the wheels. They must be large enough and firmly attached to the body. These units are designed for uneven areas with tall, tough grass. The most popular models today are Husqvarna DB 51 5048544, Murray TM6000, Craftsman 77374.
When purchasing the equipment presented, you can select the necessary additional functions in accordance with the characteristics of your site. If such rider capabilities will not be used during work, preference should be given to simple models. The presence of additional functions makes the unit much more expensive.
Having considered the options, how to mow grass in different areas, you can choose the best option for caring for your lawn.
A well-groomed lawn will perfectly decorate any area.
When the grass reaches 3 cm in height, it can withstand mowing.
But for it to become like this, you will have to work: you need to water it, mow the lawn. To do this, you need to use a special mixture of various seeds. Most often, it is cereal plants that are used. If there are too many other plants in the mixture, then this is a big risk. You can get a lawn like no other. Most likely, the area near the house will resemble an ordinary meadow, the grass will vary in height and type. In this case, it will be very difficult to fix everything. You will have to dig up the area, destroy the plants and plant everything again. To prevent this from happening, you need to select the seeds correctly.
Many lawn grasses are sensitive to soil acidity and groundwater levels.
For planting in Russia, a mixture of seeds of red fescue, meadow bluegrass, and thin bentgrass is best suited. This grass is included in almost any lawn mixture. But these seeds should occupy only 50% of the total volume. When purchasing seeds, you should always carefully read the composition of the plants. If it contains annual bluegrass, then it is better to refuse the purchase. This seemingly harmless grass is actually a lawn killer. It reproduces using seeds. In the first year, you may find that the bluegrass has taken over the entire area, and then you will have to thin out the grass. This is extra work that no one wants to do. And in the second year, the seeds may not grow, and ugly bald spots will remain on the site. Therefore, it is not recommended to buy mixtures that contain bluegrass. And only very unscrupulous sellers can sell them.
In order for the lawn to please with its appearance, it is necessary to select the grass so that it is:
- winter-hardy;
- perennial;
- physically strong;
- decorative;
- unpretentious;
- had regenerative properties (easily restored);
- fast growing;
- growing evenly;
- forming a dense and durable cover.
In addition to the standard set of seeds, you can find other lawn grass in the lawn mixture. For example, ryegrass. This is a perennial, unpretentious pasture grass. Very popular. The coating is thick and durable, but if not properly cared for, ryegrass can begin to displace other grasses from the area. It germinates and grows very quickly. There is one more drawback - it cannot withstand very severe frosts. Of course, experienced gardeners take all this into account. Therefore, ryegrass takes up approximately 10% of the seed volume. It can be planted on any type of lawn.
In order to choose other seeds correctly, the type of soil and the illumination of the area must be taken into account. For example, white bentgrass can be planted in very moist soil without causing any harm. Oak grove bluegrass is unpretentious and does not require frequent watering and good lighting. It can be planted in dark corners, for example, under trees, on the unlit side of the house. But dog bentgrass requires special conditions; it only needs a parterre lawn.
The number of seeds for planting is determined based on the size of the planted area. On average, 30 g of seeds are needed to sow 1 square meter. m. If you are new to this business, then it is best to leave all the work to specialists. They will properly cultivate the lawn, select the composition of the seeds, and sow the ground with them. Of course, such pleasure will cost more, but it will help you get rid of unnecessary hassle and get it in a short period of time.
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How does the first lawn mowing take place?
It’s not correct, you will have to constantly look after her. The first seedlings will appear very quickly, especially if normal watering is provided. It's no secret that mowing the grass for the first time is necessary even before the lawn appears in all its glory. Therefore, many begin to be tormented by the question of when to start mowing the lawn grass. To do this, you first need to determine the height of the grass. If it has reached a height of 8 cm, then you can start mowing.
The grass is being mowed for the first time because it has not reached its full potential. Sprouts that are too tall can be knocked to the ground by rain. They will sink down and will be difficult to lift. This often causes the death of green cover. Mowing your lawn for the first time is a challenge for many gardeners. They don't know how best to carry it out. Very often they are simply afraid to step on young grass. In fact, this will not only not cause harm, but will also be beneficial. Of course, the grass will be crushed not only under your feet, but also under the lawn mower. Actions such as trampling do not injure green shoots; this will only improve the tillering of the grass.
When mowing a rectangular lawn, start from the narrow sides.
Mowing is carried out after a light rain, when the grass has already had time to dry in the sun, and the soil is still a little damp. If the ground is too wet, you can inadvertently damage the surface. And when it is too dry, it is also bad, you can pull out more sprouts than necessary.
During the first mowing, it will be enough to walk over the surface once with the mower. It is very important to prepare it before work. Knives must be well sharpened. Many people are interested in the question of what height of sprouts to leave. There's nothing complicated about it. The first time you need to mow so that at least 6 cm remains, that is, you need to cut off very little, the very ends.
Since construction equipment can become dull from grass residues, it will need to be thoroughly cleaned after each cutting. Knives often wear down, so they need to be checked from time to time. During mowing, various debris may be found in the area; it must be removed immediately. Rubble of stones and branches spoil the entire appearance.
There are several situations in which a scythe can be optimally useful in a dacha or suburban area:
- the rains passed and the grass began to grow greatly;
- there is too much grass for the trimmer, but there is no lawn mower;
- you need to mow the grass in a place that is inconvenient for a lawn mower (uneven soil, near bushes or trees).
If the grass is too tall - more than 15 cm, then the trimmer will scatter it in the form of small debris throughout the area. In order to remove mowed vegetation quickly and without unnecessary debris, it is advisable to use a hand scythe. How to use it will be discussed in this article.
Weed grass has good adaptability to any growing conditions and grows everywhere. If weeds are not destroyed, then in a couple of years they will turn any area into a wild field. 
Weeds reproduce not only by seeds, but also by rhizomes. Thus, removing some types of vegetation will require a lot of time.
Growing weeds quickly take over the usable area of the site and intensively use nutrients and moisture from. It is impossible to destroy uninvited flora that grows next to useful plants using chemicals.
This will lead to the death of all vegetation. It is for these reasons that it is necessary to mow the grass. To use your time rationally, you need to choose the right mowing tool:
- you need to mow with a lawn mower on a flat, large area - a lawn or a recreation area;
- The trimmer is convenient to work in any area if the grass height is from 5 to 10 cm.
- A scythe is used to cut long grass or vegetation in an uneven area.
When choosing a tool, you must remember that the older the scythe, the better the metal used to make it. 
Modern braids are significantly inferior in quality to Soviet ones. The size of the tool is indicated by a number from 3 to 9. The number determines the length of the blade: the higher the number, the longer the braid.
Important!It is prohibited to work with scythes and other cutting tools barefoot or in open shoes. Before work, be sure to check the reliability of the fastenings of the cutting parts.
The grass must be mowed as it grows. Intensive growth of vegetation occurs in late April - May, especially intensifying after rains.
Mown grass must be immediately removed from the site, since unharvested parts of plants can grow on wet soil. Then you can mow once every 2-3 weeks, depending on the growth of vegetation. 
If you do not start growth, you can mow down small shoots with a trimmer as they appear.
In hot weather, plant growth slows down and you need to mow less often. In hot weather, you should not mow the lawn too low - the grass will start to burn out.
The last mowing of lawns occurs in October.
How to mow grass correctly: technique
Good mowing is ensured by high-quality working tools and their preparation for work.
Did you know? The name of the inventor of the scythe has not been preserved in history. But one can understand that the instrument appeared at a time when iron was expensive. This is evidenced by the braid riveting technology-it causes minimal metal wear.
Instructions for preparing for mowing:
- The tool must be sharp and not become dull while you mow. Sharpen it on an abrasive wheel. The width of the circle is 1.5-2 cm; the blade is moistened during sharpening to keep it wet. The lower part is sharpened.
- Breaking is done using a special hammer. The purpose of beating is to prevent the blade from quickly dulling when mowing.
- Both planes of the braid are sharpened with a whetstone. If you do not have experience sharpening such a tool, then it is advisable to find a professional.
Mowing technique:
- starting position of the mower: take the tool; during work, the torso will bend slightly, following the movement of the hands; the supporting leg is slightly in front; the body is slightly turned to the left.
- the mower's swing will consist of two parts: first the tool goes in one direction, then in the other.
- the strokes are not wide; the hands move like pendulums - from right to left and then a second swing from right to left.
- the swings are smooth - there should be no tension in your hands, otherwise you will quickly get tired.
- To make mowing convenient, the handle should be located at waist level.
- When a mower mows, the heel of the scythe rakes up the mown plants and places them on the side of the mower. It turns out to be a grass swath.
The mow should be straight and its width should not change. Video: how to properly mow grass with a hand scythe
Did you know? The ancestor of the scythe is the sickle. Its images can be found in all civilizations of the ancient world. This agricultural tool became widespread in the 17th-18th centuries.
Sharpening a braid with a whetstone can be difficult for a beginner. Here, as in any other matter, there are instructions:
- Place the scythe on the ground, with the blade and block in your hands;
- the tool in this position has two planes: upper and lower;
- the upper one is sharpened with a sliding movement along the blade away from you to the side;
- the lower plane is sharpened by moving the block with force upward in the direction away from you and forward.
Beam for sharpening scythe
Important! The blade of the scythe is cleaned with a large bunch of grass from the back of the head. Do not clean the blade with your fingers.
The mower places his feet so that a comfortable support is formed when moving (the distance between the heels is approximately 35 cm) and brings the supporting leg forward.
- The swing consists of two techniques: the instrument moves to the right, then returns to the left. The blade cuts the plants. Try to capture no more than 15 cm of grass.
- After 1-2 swings, take a step forward with your left foot.
- Again, 2 swings and step forward with your right foot.
- Don't slouch, as your back muscles will get tired and you won't be able to work for long.
- Watch your breathing technique. Don't rush, just try to perform the movements correctly.
Now that you know how to mow and how to sharpen a scythe, remember that this is a traumatic tool and must be handled with care, especially if there are other people near you. Also, do not be distracted while mowing, so as not to injure your slanted legs.
