How caring you are for your lawn will eventually tell. But many times it’s not the lack of effort but unawareness about some basics that causes your lawn to suffer. Here we give you some knowledge about how to maintain your lawn and how to maintain your lawn mower.
How to maintain your lawn
The first thing we are going to tell you is about fertilizers. Most people prefer chemical fertilizers for their gardens but it’s actually not good. You should opt for chemical treatment only if your garden needs immediate care. Would you like to swallow pills every day? Obviously not. Then how can you let your garden suffocate with chemicals. There’s always a holistic solution. Organic fertilizers and nutrients can boost your garden’s health without any side effect.
Water Quantity
Water your lawn in appropriate quantity. How much you need to water your lawn will depend on the climate of your area and soil composition and the current season. But it’s said that an inch of water once a week is enough, except if you belong to a hot and arid land. Whenever your lawn feels dry to touch it’s time to water it. Prolonging the watering cycle can do damage to the lawn and you’ll have to put in more efforts in recuperating?To check how long you need to water, what you can do is arrange lots of containers around your lawn before watering. When the containers have one inch of water you no longer need to water the lawn. This way you’ll also get to know how much water every part of your lawn gets and if any particular area needs some sprinkling.
Types of Grass
Different types of grass grow at different pace so the cutting height requirements are also different. So observe your grass and decide how much trimming it needs. The growth of grass will also change with the season so how often you have to mow will vary accordingly. Many times, lawns are either mowed too short or they are left to grow in abandon. Also keep your mower blades sharp enough; a blunt blade does more harm than good to your lawn. Here you can read how often should you mow your lawn.
Aeration
Aeration i.e. providing air to the soil by digging and tilling it is very essential. This process allows water, air and nutrients to be properly absorbed by the soil and the soil remains porous and doesn’t get packed. A lawn should be aerated at least once a year. There are specific tools available for this which poke out the soil in form of little lumps which break down later on. If aeration is not feasible on a regular basis at least you can drive a fork through the lawn. The soil will get tilled and the lawn will get more breathing.
Organic fertilizer
A lawn itself produces lot of organic fertilizer which you unknowingly take away as trash. It’s best to leave grass trimmings in the lawn as they will be absorbed after getting decomposed. You’ll rarely need to add extra fertilizers. For this reason a mulching or reel lawn mower is better as it will leave very fine trimmings of grass than a rotary or other lawn mower. And don’t worry, grass clippings don’t cause thatch. But if it already exists then it’s better not to leave grass clippings in the lawn.
When there’s a need to add fertilizers opt for an organic one; with N-P-K (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium) 3%, 1%, 2% respectively. Also, read carefully all the instructions of using the fertilizer especially the dosage. Organic fish emulsion or compost tea is a great treat for any lawn. You can find them either at a gardening center or order through internet.
The way you tend to your lawn reflects the quality of your life. When you care and love the nature around you it gives you back in bounty. So don’t get laid back, get up, work it out and cheer with your lovely lawn.
How to maintain your lawn mower
What harm can a thing like a lawn mower do? Don’t be surprised if we tell you the fact that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year lawn mowers injure over 110,000 people seriously enough to require treatment in hospital emergency rooms. I am sure now you’ll find this article more interesting. Hey we are not making you afraid but a lawn mower can be very hazardous if not handled properly.
So here are a few tips from our side to make you and your lawn happy.
1. Do read the instruction manual no matter how boring it is. It is going to pay back whenever you have some trouble. Once you go through all the instructions and safety measures you will get to know how to handle your mower thoroughly.
2. Make sure your lawn is entirely clean before you start mowing. No twigs or toys or pebbles or plastics. Objects picked up and hurled by the blade cause many injuries, even deaths.
3. Mow your lawn when the children are at school and the pets are asleep. We mean keep them away while you mow. But if kids are around don’t give in when they ask to mow. Even if they are grown up and can mow still don’t leave them alone and give them all necessary instructions.
4. Handle your mower the way it is instructed in the manual if it says push then don’t pull. Every mower has its own specific motions.
5. Fill your mowers tank in an open area doing so in an enclosed area can cause building up of combustible fumes.
6. While filling gas don’t smoke and keep away any open flame from the tank.7. And please don’t store petrol or any such fuel in unmarked containers in your home.
8. Don’t fill the tank when engine is running or it is still hot after you have mowed.
9. It is better to fill the tank every time before you mow and fill only as much is required.
10. Remove the spark plug before doing any maintenance work on your lawn mower.
11. Don’t start your mower engine in an enclosed area.
12. Don’t leave your mower engine running. Turn it off whenever you leave it even for a few minutes.
13. Maintenance should be done only when engine and all the power controls are off.
14. Always wear closed sturdy shoes and long pants while mowing.
15. Also keep clear from discharge chute as any object can come hurtling at great speed while you are mowing.
16. Whoever is going to operate the mower should be trained and given all the requisite instructions. Also he or she should be observed until it’s safe to let the person mow alone.
17. Every protective device should be in place before starting the mower. Shields and guards can protect you from serious injury in case of any mishap.
18. Don’t let small kids ride with you on the mower. A rider can be thrown off from mower and can get run over. You’ll also get distracted if there is someone by your side which is not good from safety point of view.
19. Use your mower only for mowing. Playing with such a machine can have lasting repercussions.
20. Drive up and down slopes when operating a riding mower and mow across the slope when you have a walk behind mower. A mower if overturns can cause serious injuries.
21. Getting the service done by experts is always a better option but you still should keep your mower clean and checked especially in mowing season. If you have any doubt about repair or while changing blades ask a service person. Also get your mower inspected annually.
22. Manufacturers have made operator-presence safety stops that stops the blades within 3 seconds after controls are released. Brakes may have to be adjusted, but this safety feature should never be overlooked. The trailing toe shield and the discharge chute protection should be operational.
23. Don’t mow your lawn if it is wet and adjust cutting height before beginning.
24. Except if your electric mower is labeled “double insulated,” always plug it into a grounded (3-prong) outlet.
25. Last but not the least use earplugs to prevent hearing loss.
Monthly Tips
Is there something broken on your lawnmower or small engine? Sometimes when parts have to be ordered it takes time to get the parts in. Save time and order the parts now and have your lawnmower or small engine ready by the time lawn season starts. When you thinking about buying new or a used lawn mower you always some deep research about that particular lawn on mowers guide website.
Gas going bad is a big problem really the main problem. Bad gas gums up the carburetor and can make repairs expensive. The gas we have today has no preservatives in it.
Note: The ounce or two of gas in the carburetor will not last but for a few months but if you put stabilizer in your fresh gas can it can last for up to 2 years.
I suggest putting any type gas stabilizer in your gas can to help your small engines carburetor stay gum free.
Note: This will save you money and stabilizer doesn’t cost very much and will save you a lot of money in the long run. Stabilizer should be used year round to keep your engine running good.
Make sure you are pouring gas in the gas tank and not kerosene or heater fuel. So many people grab the wrong container after winter and fill there lawnmower or small engine with fluid that is not gas. Check your container and make sure the fluid is gasoline.
Spark plug: The spark plug will and can go bad. Your spark plug may be sparking but it may have a short in side of the porcelain, which is located in the center of the plug. Your lawnmower may skip or not run at all. The best way to check if this is your problem is to change the plug. When you change your plug don’t forget to gap the electrode where it is curved with a feeler gauge at the recommended spec in your owner’s manual. Or call your nearest lawnmower shop.
Oil: Did you change your oil this month? (Take 15min out of your time and make your engines last longer) Oil is a necessity for all engines especially your small engines. Small engines work very hard and the oil they take breaks down quick and needs to be changed every 25hrs. Keeping your oil changed ads to the life of your small engine.
Is your blade sharp? A sharp blade makes your engine not have to work as hard in turn you don’t use as much gas and it don’t take as long to cut the grass. Keeping your blade sharp will make your grass look nicer.
Is your lawnmower or small engine smoking after you sharpened the blade? When you’re lifting a lawnmower or small engine on its side sometimes oil leaks in to the carburetor and makes it smoke. If you run the lawnmower or small engine for a few minutes the smoking should stop. Always lift with the carburetor up.
Self-propelled drive: Why have a self-propelled drive on your push mower and it not work? To make your self-propelled drive system last longer you have to keep it clean. Keeping your belts clean will keep your self-propelled system working correctly. Grass build up will cause you major problems so I feel you need to clean your self-propelled drive every time you change your oil every 25 hours. This is very simple to do.
Cables: Example: throttle cables, choke cables, and self-propel cables save the life of your cables by lubricating them frequently. They will last longer if they are moving properly.
All cables are important and need to work properly for the life of your lawnmower. Use a good spray lubricant to oil the cables.
Is the fluid in your battery full? If you keep your battery fluid full it will last longer. If your battery needs fluid use distilled water to refill.
Note: Keep battery charged over the winter to save you from having to buy one every year.
So here is a comprehensive guide about how to maintain your lawn and how to maintain your lawn mower. We hope this small efforts help you a lot and enhanced your gardening experience.