Get Your Mower Ready for Spring
Is your mower ready for spring? Mowing the lawn may be a necessary evil for most people, but it can also be a source of pride for many homeowners. If you’ve got a yard to maintain, chances are that you’ve got at least one mower in your garage or shed. There is always that first mow of the spring season, after the winter weather, that makes your home feel alive again. However, there are some basic maintenance tasks that need to be taken care of first. This article will give you the big items that you need to make sure you check on before that first springtime mow.
Dust It Off
This will be the first step you need to take. You want to make sure all of the dust and debris from the last year is cleared off. This will make the rest of the process much easier and safer. This is also a great time to check on and clean the filters.
Blade Check
Sharpening the blades on your mower isn’t a difficult task, but it’s important to know how to do it correctly and safely. With protective wear in place, you’ll need to flip the mower and check the blade, remove them if they need sharpening, and do so carefully either by hand or with a tool.
When mowing, you don’t want to use a dull blade. Dull blades are more likely to tear up your grass and leave unsightly marks in its wake, which is not only bad for your lawn but can also damage its health over time. You also don’t want a blade that’s too sharp or too narrow. Sharpened blades tend to cut better than dull ones, but if they’re too sharp or narrow on one side (which happens when you sharpen with an angle grinder), then they’ll just tear up your grass instead of giving it clean cuts like they should.
Nuts and Bolts Check
Something you’ll also need to do is to check all of the nuts and bolts on your mower. Make sure they’re tight, but not over-tightened. Check them every time you use your mower and before storing it for winter. You’ll want to make sure that all of these parts are in good working order so that everything runs smoothly when you start using it again:
- The wheel nuts should be tightened firmly but not too much; if they’re too loose, they can come off as soon as you start mowing grass!
- Check the blade spindle nut every time before starting up; this keeps everything secure inside, so nothing falls out while you’re moving around.
Oil Check
Up next, check the oil level. If it’s dirty or low, replace it before you use the mower. You should also check your oil filter and drain plug; if either of these needs to be replaced, do so now. Finally, make sure that all of your dipsticks are fully seated in their respective positions so that you can accurately gauge when it’s time to refuel again.
Finally – Test Run & Mower Ready
Once the mower ready and you’ve checked it over, it’s time to test it out. It’s best to do this in a patch of grass that isn’t visible from your neighbors’ houses or passing cars. That way, if anything goes wrong during testing and you need to stop for repairs, no one will notice! Test out all of the functions: Does your mower move forward? Does it turn left? Can you lift up on its handlebar? If so, great! You’re ready for springtime yard work.
We hope this has helped you prepare for the upcoming spring season. Happy mowing!
We can keep the bugs and pests out of your yard and it looking great. Our decades of experience help us to keep your bahia lawn looking great and pest free. Give our office a call or complete our online free estimate request and we will care for bahia lawn.
