THE FIRST CUT
Now that the trees and flowers are starting to bud, there’s no better time to get your mower out and give your lawn its first cut! Here are a few tips from our pro staff to help you get the professional lawn maintenance look without the high price tag.
GIVE THE MOWER A GOING OVER
Now that things are warming up, the temptation is to jump on the mower and go. But before you give it a whirl, consider these small steps to help insure a great mowing season, and a longer life for your mower:
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Spray off the mower
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Clean underneath the mowing deck, removing debris/caked grass clippings…
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Sharpen or replace the blades
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Grease fittings
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Change oil, oil filter, air filter
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Check fluid levels
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Check tire pressure
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Check for anything that is loose or worn (bolts, belts…)
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Check battery connection for corrosion and cable tightness on terminals
CLEAN YOUR YARD
In addition to cleaning up your mower, it is also a good idea to give your lawn a little attention as well. Remove limbs and other objects that have fallen or blown into the yard during the winter months. It’s ok for some scattered leaves to remain, but if you have several piles of leaves, remove those as well. Consider weed eating and trimming up the edges before you mow the first time. Clearing the path for your mower, especially before the first mowing of the season, just makes good sense. It’s great for the lawn, and great for your mower!
OLD CLIPPINGS
Most people believe that they must remove old grass clippings from their lawn before every mowing, including the first mowing. Others remove these clippings to make their lawn look cleaner. Did you know that leaving your clippings on the lawn can actually be beneficial? Clippings can help your lawn retain moisture and create needed nutrients as the clippings decompose. However, if the clippings are too thick or not decomposing fast enough, it is a good idea to remove them so that they do not suffocate the growing grass below.
WHEN TO MOW
Even if your lawn may not be at a consistent level, once you see the grass has started to sprout and grow, give it a cut. It is important to always follow the simple “one-third rule.” What is the one-third rule? This means that instead of creating a mowing schedule that is based on mowing your lawn on a particular day of the week, you only mow when needed and you never remove more than one-third of the blade of grass.
Following these simple tips will help you kick the season off the right way, creating a lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood.
Original post can be found here: https://spartanmowers.com/blog/page/83/spring-mowing-tips?fbclid=IwAR06ZIGhzhc-mH2HZ8-tmv0syLGwSduZvXWg-3Bqaanug7ExsaF_ItJzYSU
