Get the Most Out of Your Mower!

A well working lawn mower makes the task of maintaining your lawn easier and keeps grass healthier.

Now that spring is here, you might be pulling out your mower for the first time from its winter hibernation. Mowers are one of the most expensive tools you purchase for your home garden so it’s important to care for them properly to extend their life. It’s easy to just put your mower up when you’re done mowing, but just like any other garden too, there’s some cleaning to do first.

Following these 5 tips will help you get the most out of your mower:

1. Clean your mower: When you have been mowing your lawn for a long time on a hot day, you might be tempted to put off the cleaning. Cleaning your mower is the easiest way to ensure that it continues working properly. Making sure it’s free of grass clippings keeps down excess moisture that could rust the blades or other parts of the engine.
2. Sharpen your blades: Sharp blades will make mowing your lawn more rewarding and keep the lawn healthier. Dull blades leave grass with uneven and serrated edges which looks unsightly. When your grass is damaged by dull blades it can become susceptible to pathogens and cause your lawn even more damage.
3. Engine Maintenance: Depending on your mower, you will have different annual maintenance requirements. Just like your car, engine maintenance will determine how long you will be able to use your mower. Checking oil filters and oil levels will keep your mower’s engine happy. Also be sure to check your structural components such as bolts and nuts. Since the mower vibrates, parts can become loose. Sometimes if we aren’t careful, parts can become so loose, they fall off! Also be sure that the wheels are tight before using your mower.
4. Survey the lawn: Before you mow remove any fallen branches or rocks that can damage or cause your blades to become bent out of shape. Filling low spots in your garden with soil will also make mowing easier over time. When you mow and you hit a low spot, and you get stuck you can cause the engine to overwork and potentially overheat. Plus, low spots or holes in your lawn look unsightly.
5. Storage: After your mower is clean the last important task is to make sure that it is stored properly, away from the weather. Protecting your mower from rain and other extreme weather will prolong the life of your mower.

Now that your mower is in tip-top shape, be sure you are properly mowing your lawn at the right time and height. For simple lawn mowing tips, visit our past post on the Merits of Proper Mowing.

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