3 Lawn Mower Tips for Spring

Here in Colorado it’s about as green as it gets with all the rain we’ve had. Time to break out the lawn mower!

Here are some easy ways TruGreen gives to maximize your lawn cutting experience.

Sharpen the Blade

Dull blades can shred your grass and cause the tips to become discolored. If you don’t want to take your mower to a repair shop or home improvement store, here is how to do this yourself. Always consult your owner’s manual before attempting this.

• Drain gas and disconnect the sparkplug
• Use a clamp and secure a piece of wood to the mower so the blade won’t turn.
• Turn the bolt for the blade counter clockwise (lefty-loosey). If it’s frozen, apply some penetrating oil and wait 15 minutes.
• Remove the blade and somehow mark the bottom of the blade so you know in which direction to put the blade back on.
• Clamp the blade on a vice and use a 10-inch mill file. Use the same number of strokes on each side and go in the same direction.
• Use a balancing tool – a cheap pyramid-shaped tool to help make sure the blade is even. If the blade is out of balance, remove excess from the end, not the blade you just sharpened.
• Now you’re ready to reinstall the blade.

Find the Right Grass Height

Once you get the blade back on, you want to make sure you adjust to the right height for your grass. Here are TruGreen’s tips for the proper height based on your type of grass:

• Common Bermuda grass – 1 – 1 ½ inches
• St. Augustine or Bahia grass – 3 – 3 ½ inches
• Zoysia grass – 1 inch
• Rye grass, blue grass, fine fescue – 2 ½ – 3
  inches
• Tall fescues – 2 ½ – 3 inches

Cleaning the Mower

Once you are finished mowing, cleaning the mower is your priority because it keeps the mower running well and prevents the spread of lawn diseases.

• Empty the gas from the mower and disconnect the spark plug – your mower can start on its own if the blade spins.
• Using your garden hose, rinse the mower from above. If you spray from the side, you can get the air filter wet. Wash the outside with soapy water and rinse. Some new mowers have a hose spout built in to the top to help with cleaning.
• Turn the mower on its side and use a putty knife or your hands and remove any built-up grass clumps. Wash the underside with soapy water too.
• Let the mower dry for at least an hour.

Learn more tips from www.trugreen.com.