Lawn Mowing Tips
Mow with a sharp blade. Cleaner cuts will give you a healthier lawn and better mowing experience.
Always mow when the lawn is dry. Wet grass can clog your mower blades.
In the spring and fall, leaving grass longer during cutting will allow the roots to grow deeper resulting in a healthier lawn.
During the summer months, don’t cut grass too short: 2 – 4 inches of grass height depending on what kind of grass you have.Cutting too short can leave your lawn vulnerable to bugs and weeds.
Don’t cut off more than 1/3 of the height of the grass. Any more than that can traumatize your lawn. If you follow the 1/3rd cut rule, leaving the clippings on the lawn will help promote future healthy growth.
When mowing on a slope, mow across with walk mowers, and up and down with riding mowers.
Mower Maintenance
When refueling always use clean, fresh, stabilized fuel.
Do not smoke while refueling or maintaining your mower.
To help avoid the risk of fire, do not refuel indoors, or when the engine is hot.
Clean up any spilled fuel before starting.
Always make sure proper viscosity oil is used in your engine: SAE 30 for walk-behind mowers and 10W30 for most riding mowers.
It is important to check the oil level of your engine before each use to make sure you are not running low to avoid replacement engine costs.
Leave safety features intact. Removing them is dangerous and will void the manufacturer’s warranty.
Always consult your owner’s manual for further instructions on proper care and use of your lawn and garden equipment.
Don't forget to winterize your equipment- if you don't you could be looking at costly repairs come spring! Call us for more information on our winterizing special!
Mowing Safely
Wear appropriate clothing: regular shoes (NO SANDALS) and full-length trousers.
Use of eye and hearing protection is recommended.
Operate grass-cutting equipment in dry conditions only – never when it is raining, lighting or the grass is slick.
Before starting the mower clear the mowing area: pick up any rocks, sticks, toys, etc.
Objects left in the mowing path may be picked up and shot through the air by the machine causing bodily injury and also damage to the machine.
Never leave the operator’s position without stopping the engine first.
Avoid putting hands, feet, etc close to the blade path when the engine is running -REMEMBER- the blade will take a few seconds to stop rotating after the engine is switched off.
The following information is offered as a tool for our customers- please keep in mind that we do not offer lawncare service and you should always contact a local lawncare specialist if there are any questions regarding the upeep and maintenance of your lawn.
Fertilizing
Unless the soil texture is sandy, nutrient deficiencies are unlikely and you may not need to fertilize at all. If in doubt, have your soil professionally tested.
Grass clippings left on the lawn can provide most of the fertilizer.
To decompose clippings, soil must be biologically active. Soil under a lawn that has been heavily fertilized or frequently treated with pesticides may be deficient in some needed elements.
Lawn fertilizers contain a large amount of nitrogen and smaller amounts of other nutrients. Some nitrogen may be needed to maintain good lawn color and density, but applying too much nitrogen promotes excessive growth and makes a lawn more susceptible to pests and disease.
If you need to fertilize, use natural fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers, such as sulfur- or polymer-coated urea. These product´s slower release allows the grass to absorb nutrients more efficiently.
Irrigation
Before you irrigate, check the soil moisture. It should be almost dry before you add more water.
Use of eye and hearing protection is recommended.
If water runs off or pools even with slow irrigation, soil compaction may be a problem and you may need to aerate.
Aerate spots where you can’t push a screwdriver 6″ into the soil, where water pools, where grass looks thin, or where there is heavy traffic.
Test for water penetration by gently watering an area for 15 to 30 minutes. Push a shovel into the soil and tilt it forward to view saturation levels.
Irrigate slowly so that water doesn’t run off pesticides and fertilizers into the storm drains.
