The first mow of the season is here and as you set out to make your lawn the best-looking yet, there are a few small disciplines to benefit your lawn and your outdoor power equipment.
Walk the lawn
Whether you’ve already fired up the lawn mower or have yet to cut the grass the first time this season, start a ritual of walking the lawn before you mow to look for loose impediments, rocks, broken sprinkler heads or other debris that you may have missed. Rake up any hidden clumps of dead grass and leaves. Check air conditioning units, fire hydrants, and other structures to make sure they are in good condition and that no parts became dislodged.
Clean your machine
The most important – and easiest – thing you can do to properly care for your lawn mower is to keep it clean.
Remove packed and hardened grass under your deck and around belts and spindles. Left alone over the winter or for long periods during the mowing season, grass can corrode metal and parts, as well as wear on the lift of the blade.
Use your leaf blower to remove debris under the deck and around the engine and plugs before putting the lawn mower away.
Store the lawn mower in a dry place. Cover it with a tarp or keep it in an enclosed area for added protection from the weather.
Fresh fuel
Keep the gasoline in your lawn mower clean and fresh. Fuel can begin to deteriorate in as little as 30 days.
Maintenance best practices
Be disciplined about keeping your blades sharp, checking your air filter and replacing it when needed, and monitoring tire pressure so that the mowing deck is level to ensure a good, even cut.
When sharpening walk-behind mowers, remember to tip it carburetor-side up.
Ask for help
Your local independent dealer or professional landscapers are ready to help answer any questions you have.
Frank James, Jr., manager at Carswell Distributing Company in Winston Salem, North Carolina, reminds us that the people who work at independent dealerships are neighbors first, experts second.
“Owners of these dealerships take a lot of pride in their own yard and neighbors will walk by and admire their lawn and ask, ‘Who does your landscaping?’ and “Who mows your grass to get it to look this good?’ The dealer then tells them about the mower they use, which starts a conversation. That neighbor tells their friends, who tell their friends, and before you know it, you have this network of good relationships built on your own yard.”