Lawn mower striper attachment. How To Build a DIY Lawn Striper

How To Build a DIY Lawn Striper

Lawn stripers work by laying the grass down in a specific direction – leading to a different appearance when you look at it from a particular direction. The way the grass lies reflects light or creates shadows, meaning you can create any pattern on your lawn.

Whether you want to create checkers, swirls, or stripes on your lawn, you can make DIY lawn striper kits at home. DIY lawn stripers are as effective as store-bought lawn striper kits but come at a lower cost.

Simple PVC Pipe DIY Lawn Striper

Let’s start with a simple DIY PVC lawn striper. It is the simplest, requiring a few materials – some of which you can find lying around your house.

• At least a 2” wide PVC pipe
• Two end caps to fit the pipe
• Hooks
• Plastic ties
• A long wire
• Sand or gravel
• Start by cutting the pipe to the same length (or slightly smaller) as your lawn mower back wheels. Measure the distance between the outside of each back wheel for the best results.
• Drill two holes in the end caps. This is where the plastic ties will go. Fasten the plastic tie on the inside of the cap, leaving a part of the tie on the outside.
• Attach an end cup to one side of the PVC pipe, then fill the pipe with sand or gravel.
• Close the other end of the PVC cap
• Attach two hooks on the same side of the PVC pipe. Determine the distance between the hooks based on the distance between the parts on your mower where you will tie the striper.
• Tie the filled PVC pipe to the back of your mower. Keep it about an inch or two above the ground, as this is closer to the desired height of striped grass. Also, keep it as close as possible to the mower to make for easier turns when making corners.

You can make your simple DIY lawn striper more sophisticated using bolts, brackets, nuts, and washers instead of plastic ties and long wires.

• Cut your PVC pipe the same size as the width between the back wheels of your mower.
• Drill holes at the center of your end caps. The holes should be the size of the bolts you will use.
• Insert the bolt through the end cap. Add a bolt nut on the inside and tighten. You may add a washer for extra grip. Alternatively, you can use a threaded rod 3” longer than the PVC pipe.
• Fill sand in the pipe and lock the other side of the pipe.
• Attach the DIY striper kit to your lawn mower. To attach the striper to the lawn mower, you may use simple ties, as we mentioned before, or you can use an L-bracket for a longer-lasting solution.
• Find an L-bracket the same size as the bolt or threaded rod you are using. You may drill the holes yourself too. Start by placing a spacer on the bolt or threaded rod to protect it from wear; add a flat washer followed by the L-bracket, another flat washer, a lock washer, and a nut. Tighten the nut and repeat for the other side.
• Mount the lawn striping kit to your mower

Tip: Use a drill to drill holes on your mower if it does not have existing holes where you can hang your homemade lawn striper.

DIY Lawn Striper From a Broom

The PVC pipe striper is the most popular DIY lawn striping kit, but there are other options you could explore, one being a broom. Attaching a broom head to your lawn mower makes for an easy homemade lawn striper with the additional benefit of sweeping off any clippings your lawn mower leaves behind.

When choosing a broom for your lawn striping needs, find one with the softest bristles to avoid the risk of damaging grass blades as you mow. The broom head should also be the same length as the back wheels of your lawn mower.

To mount the broom head to your, you can use a hitch mount with bolts. Use some washers to reduce the amount of wear. Alternatively, you may use door hinges to attach the broom to your mower.

If you don’t want to attach your broom to the mower, you can pull a push broom (soft-bristled) with light pressure to strip your lawn in the desired pattern. This is a great idea if you have a smaller lawn.

DIY Lawn Striper From a Rubber Mat

Another great homemade lawn striper solution is using a rubber mat, similar to those found on your doorstep. A rubber mat carries the traction to lay the grass in your mowing direction.

To make the rubber DIY lawn striping kit, you will need:

• A rubber mat (the mat should be thick enough to lay the grass without damaging it and flexible enough to allow you to turn the mower without breaking the mat or stopping your lawn mower)
• A flat piece of metal or stainless steel
• Screws or bolts and nuts

Start by attaching the rubber mat to the stainless steel piece to hold it together. Then, attach the metal piece to the mower using bolts.

Final Thoughts

You can choose one of these easy and affordable DIY lawn stripers to get that baseball or football field look on your lawn without spending so much on commercial lawn stripers. Experiment with other tools or materials available around your home, as long as they mimic lawn stripers.

Hello! My name is Chris, and I am the founder of Yard Floor. When I was a toddler, my family had a lush green lawn. I was at the center of caring for and maintaining this lawn and even proceeded to take an associate’s Degree in landscaping. I am here to share my years of experience with you – be it repairing your mower/tractor or caring for your lawn.

Lawn Striper

This will show you how to stripe your yard like the professionals, and you’ll save 100!

Step 1: Gather

pvc pipe 3 thick and the width of the back wheels or slightly smaller.(see picture)

2 eye hooks big enough for 2 plastic ties to go through.

Several long plastic ties

Step 2: Cut the Pipe to Length

After cutting the pipe to length, cut the 2 end caps out of 3/4 plywood with a hole saw,jigsaw or Band saw, unless you want to buy 2 pvc endcaps.

Step 3: Mount the Hooks

measure the distance between the 2 places you will be tying the striper to on the mower and drill 2 holes that distance apart on the pipe. Make sure the holes are slightly thinner than the screw part on the hooks.

Step 4: Fill It

screw one plywood cap or pvc cap to the one end of the pipe and fill it with gravel, sand, or anything that will give the pipe plenty of weight. Next, screw on the other plywood or pvc cap.

Step 5: Tie It On

Now you should be ready to tie it on. You will need 2 very long plastic ties or some wire. Keep it about 1 or 2 inches above the ground, and be careful not to tie it to close to the wheels so that you run over it when you back up. You may need to tie it back with something to prevent this (see picture).

Step 6: Mow!

Now you are ready to begin. If you start from the road and drive toward the house it will make a light stripe and when you come back you will make a dark stripe. Be Creative. If you go over your yard going front to back and then go over it again going left and right, it will make squares, or diamonds. (see faintly in the picture).

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Комментарии и мнения владельцев

thx for the inst. does anyone know how to make a zero turn cut better? engine runs fine, blades are sharp. just not getting a good cut. if so, could u plz make an inst on that? Thx

thanks for your inst. i was at a farm supply getting a piece of belting (available in widths starting at 4, i was getting 6 X 3′) and the guy asked if I was making a stripper. seems here they just add that behind the deck to stripe. This belting is bullet proof.

Thanks for that tip to both of you!

Very cool! I’ve always wondered how they did that! Thanks

And what is the point of striping a lawn again??

Can this be adapted for a walk behind mower

only if you mow tall and use a heavy stick/pipe/whatever with it.

Yeah but the effect isn’t as dramatic because a push mower is much closer to the ground. You will have to hike it up a wee bit and do everything the same for your push mower. You could also always mount this on a broom stick and do it by hand.

If you would own a simplicity mower instead of a deere, you wouldnt have to make this. simplicity’s have full width deck rollers built right on them.

Yeah buy a Simplicity instead of a real mower.

Go Green. Get rid of all that grass. (grin) We here in Florida are trying to use less water and go green and natural. Plant only local plants, tolerant of your growing conditions. You don’t need all that grass to mow.

I always wondered how they did that. Thanks for the great tip.

I’ve done this in the past, with good results. Someone else mentioned it, but I’ll hit it again, make sure to alternate the cut for each mowing, Mow front to back one session, then the next side to side, the next sideways, the next front to back, and so on and so forth. Heck, get creative, I’ve done spiral cuts before, and those look pretty sweet from time to time, keeps the neighbors guessing, thats for sure. but I always just used a push mower, and the effect was visible. Not sure you really need the bar. I also agree that incorporating a mechanism for the weighted bar to raise and lower it is a good idea as well. Perhaps and old throttle cable would work well? I guess it really depends on the weight of your bar, and the way it would be adjusted. Thoughts anyone?

What is a Striping Kit for a Lawn Mower?

I used to always see the gridlines on golf courses and sports fields and wonder how they got those sharp stripes and checkerboards so precise. I had witnessed both push mowers and riding mowers create these lines, and I was still no closer to understanding how it was done. My initial thought was that lawnmowers must alternate the blade height each time and what I was seeing was clearly alternating tall and short grass.

Obviously, once you get nearer, you can see that the grass is in fact the same length and that cutting height isn’t the only way to make streaks in the grass. I learned that a lawn mower could be equipt with a lawn striper that bends those beautiful blades of grass into the stripped pattern we know and love. Here is how it is done.

What is a Lawn Striping Kit?

In its simplest form, a lawn striping kit is anything pulled behind a riding or walk-behind mower that creates lawn stripes. Actual lawn striping requires using the natural lay of the land and notable yard features to mow epic lawn patterns. Advanced lawn striping patterns rely on the right types of grass, taller blades of grass, and the right striping kit for your mower.

A good lawn striping kit can bend a tall blade of grass in a single direction without damaging the lawn or adding unnecessary stress to lawn mower equipment. After your first strip, switch your mowing direction and knock down the taller grass blades in the opposite direction. For a grid pattern, mow in a perpendicular direction to the first stripes and repeat the alternating pattern.

Types of Striping Kits

The most important thing to remember about a lawn roller or heavy-duty rubber mat for a well-striped lawn is to keep it 2 to 4 inches shorter than your mower deck. If the roller is longer than the mowing deck, you will blur the edges of your strips and not have a pronounced lawn striping effect to show for all your labor.

Kits come in varying shapes and sizes as well as cost and material components. Choosing the right lawn striping kit might be as simple as checking what’s in your garage and shed and attaching it to your mower or as complex as buying a professional kit for lawn mowers from your mower supply company. For stunning lawn stripes, you will want to get the best kit for your mower or practice lawn striping techniques.

Heavy Rubber Mats

Heavy mats used for commercial activities and rubber flaps from trucks and warehouses can be attached to the back of a mower. As you pull the flaps, they bend the grass right after it’s cut and lie it in a single direction. Mats can be found for low cost or free if you already have some laying around.

Heavy rubber mats can become damaged and dislodged during mowing. Lawn striping already takes a fair amount of time and labor, especially with a push mower, so constantly reattaching mats can be a headache. Mats can also cause strain on your mower and lead to other mechanical issues.

Professional Stripe Roller

The most expensive option but also the most professional, these kits can attach to your mower and create lawn stripes with the least amount of effort. Most mower brands have their own rollers or striping kits, so it is best to find the ones designed to fit your model. There are also generic options that are cheaper and attach to many different makes and models. Make sure to measure your mower deck before purchasing one to double-check the size and fit and save yourself the time and hassle of a return.

There are lawn rollers designed to level out the uneven ground and help push grass seed deep into the soil. These are not the same rollers as lawn striping rollers. Make sure that you are buying an attachment for the right job or you may end up doing damage to your turf instead of achieving a beautifully-striped lawn.

Safety Strip with Lawn Striping Kit

Often walk-behind and push mowers will come with a rubber flap in the back. This safety strip helps keep your feet safe from the blades and debris as you struggle up banks and berms. If the blade height and wheel height is set correctly, you can use your safety strip to put lines in your entire lawn.

These lines will not be as pronounced as with other methods, but it’s available to practice and can help you practice. Once you are comfortable with the right lawn mowing pattern, you can look into buying or making a more effective mower striping kit.

PVC Pipe

This is a cheap and flexible option that can pay off in improved lawn health and professional lawn striping. If you drag a PVC pipe behind your mower, it will bend the grass and give you strips. You can cut the PVC to the correct length for your mower and easily replace it when it gets worn out.

For less pliable grass, you can increase the effectiveness of your PVC pipe striper. If you fill the pipe with sand or water before capping it and attaching it to the back of your mower, you can make it heavier and more effective. Make sure to seal the pipe tightly, or you may lose your filler all over your yard.

Sand Bags

Running sandbags behind your mower or tractor is probably the cheapest way to lawn strip, but it comes with many issues and is not very effective. Sandbags can be a little tricky to attach to a mower and tend to make the whole mowing experience a bit harder. Once sandbags are attached, you will want to monitor them to make sure they don’t get punctured.

If a sandbag is punctured, it will drop all its sand throughout your lawn and lead to more work and lawn issues. Sandbags may snag and lead to soil disruption, especially where the ground is a little uneven. In most cases, using sandbags for lawn striping should be a last resort measure if considered at all.