Finish Mower blades, sharpness?

I only use a file now for my lawnmower blades most of the time, sometimes I'll use a grinder if I get a good sized ding, but for the most part, if your not running into stones or anything hard enough to gouge the edge, I've found that a file does a better job ( takes a little longer ) in maintaining the shape of the cutting edge of a lawn mower size blade

The reason a golf course does that is to slow down the grow back. It can do alot of damage to the turf to beat the grass down instead of a clean smooth cut.

A smooth clean cut looks better for the lawn, and also does much less damage to the grass plant.

Dull mower blades thrash and beat the tops of the grass blades off. This leaves a ragged top which becomes straw colored and gives the lawn a tan colored hue. Ragged tops are prime points of entry for many fungal pathogens and small turf insects.

Scroll down near the bottom of this Aggie link and it gives the *why* on keeping blades sharp.

• mowing