While it has long been believed that keeping a higher lawn leads to healthy and happy grass, researchers recently noted that keeping your lawn higher may have additional benefits as well for your used tractor.

A report from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s CBS 21 News observed that taller grass helps to keep used tractors in good working orders. The logic behind this is fairly simple: A shorter lawn means that the mower is much more likely to suck up dirt, rocks, and other debris. This can lead to damage in the air filter, causing the tractor to break down more quickly. Other parts can be damaged by this process as well and ends up shortening the lifespan other moving parts in the tractor including the wheels and engine.

Of course Keeping grass longer can also help the soil to retain moisture by allowing root systems to grow. Additional shade from the taller grass also prevents water from evaporating more quickly. This is particularly important for states that are currently experiencing drought conditions or at the height of the summer when the sun is the strongest.