Through my years of experience with lawn mowing and mowing for golf courses, I have learned a thing or two. Some things I’ve learned by doing them the wrong way and this blog are to help people from making stupid mistakes that I may or may not have made myself. Here are some lawn mowing tips for dummies and everyone else.
Don’t Use Old Gasoline
– It is always good to drain your gas tank at the end of lawn mowing season. This is because the gas left in the tank goes bad. That’s right gasoline actually starts going bad after 30 days or so. You should also buy premium gas without ethanol and only a 30 day supply. If left all winter in your gas tank it can also gunk up your fuel line from the deposits in the gasoline and damage your lawn mower. If you left your gas in your mower all winter then you should drain it by using a gas pump to pump it back into a container that should be taken to a gas/oil recycling like Walmart. Then you should add new gas with an engine/fuel line cleaner to get the gunk out of there so your machine can run efficiently.
Don’t Mow Too Short
– If you start mowing and see that the grass is yellow where are have mowed then stop! Adjust your blade to allow more clearance on your mower blade so you don’t cut the grass too short. A good rule of thumb is the 1/3 rule. You should not remove more than a third of the grass blade when mowing or you could scalp the grass turning it yellow or weaken the grass blade so it does not get enough sun or water to stay healthy, and could die.
Change Your Oil/Don’t Put Too Much Oil in Mower/Don’t Put Oil While Engine is Hot After Use
– First of all you should change your oil at least every season. I change mine every month because my mower gets a lot of use. One way you can tell that you need to change your oil is if it is black or if you can tell your mower sounds sick or is not behaving like normal. Make sure you drain all of your old oil into an oil catcher and dispose of it by taking to oil recycling center like Walmart. Oil can be drained by tipping it up on it’s side and letting the oil pour out into an oil pan. You should let it drain for about 10 minutes to make sure all the old oil drains out. If you overfill your mower with oil it is going to cause problems. Use the recommended amount from your owners manual. My Honda mower says to use 12 Oz of oil. If you try and add oil while your mower is hot right after use it is going to be a disaster. By adding oil to really hot oil that has been being used by the engine will cause the mower to spit out lots of black smoke and oil all over the grass, which will most likely kill it. It is also going to most likely damage your mower as well. If you do this then you will need to drain all the oil and add in new oil when the mower is not hot.
Always Mow With Sharp Blades
– Having dull blades can damage the grass because it does make a clean cut like it would with a really sharp blade. It is recommended to sharpen your blades three times during the mowing season and depending on use possibly even more than that. It is recommended to sharpen your blades with every 10 hours of use.
You Don’t Need to Bag Your Grass Clippings
– If you follow the one-third rule from above my not removing too much of the grass blade, the clippings can be left on the grass and will serve as a fertilizer and make the grass healthier by absorbing beneficial nutrients into the soil and is a great source of organic matter for your lawn to be healthier.
Mow In a New Direction Each Time
– It is important to mow in a different direction each time because it looks good and it promotes a healthier lawn so the grass does not get int he habit of laying in the same direction all the time.
Don’t Mow or Weed Whack Over Obstacles
– This may seem like a no-brainer but it is amazing how many accidents are caused each year from people weed whacking or mowing over rocks, sticks, and other debris that gets launched into the air at cars, people, and houses. Before you mow go and pick up all the big objects that your mower or weed whacker could potentially launch and become a dangerous projectile. You should also keep your eyes on what you are about to cut or mow and if you see wires, rocks, etc. that are not supposed to be mowed and could cause damage then stop and remove the item, or mow around it. Each year there are over 75 deaths and 20,000 injuries related to lawn mowing accidents.
Lawn Maintenance can be fun and easy work if you don’t make stupid mistakes. These are just a handful of lawn mowing tips that should be followed every time you mow your yard or a yard for someone else. If you don’t want to deal with all of the fun things that can go wrong with lawn care then hire a professional like Saratoga Lawn Mowing in Orem.
