Spring has arrived! It certainly doesn’t look or feel like it in New England but we are hoping to will the warmer weather with our blog series on lawn maintenance. When spring fever hits, many homeowners turn to their yards. We want to help you get your home’s lawn ready for the long summer days that lie ahead. So, pull those yard tools out of the garage, get out your grass stained jeans and get out there!
The first article in the 3 part blog series will deal with lawn mower maintenance and tips for properly mowing your lawn. Next week, we will attack spring lawn maintenance steps and the optimal time of the day/year to do them. In our final series we will discuss accenting your green lawn with a new garden.
Lawn Mower Maintenance
Most homeowners mow their lawns at least once a week so this equipment gets a lot of use. Be sure your lawn mower is in tip top shape to kick off the spring season. By performing some preventive maintenance early in the season, you will be able to extend the life of your lawn mower and your lawn will get a better cut. Here are the most important tasks to perform:
- Change/Clean the air filter
- Change the oil
- Change the spark plug
- Sharpen the blade
As a new homeowner, I haven’t the slightest clue where to begin when it comes to any of these tasks so, for those as lawn challenged as me, I have created a pdf that contains a Step-by-Step Guide for each of these tasks.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on tuning up your lawn mower.
Lawn Mowing Tips
There are 3 types of homeowners- the ones who make mowing the lawn an art form, the ones who realize that this is the only time they get to themselves and therefore enjoy it, and the ones who see it as a weekly chore that can’t be done quick enough. Whichever categories you fall in, here are some lawn mowing tips that will please all people because they can be implemented with little effort and no extra time required. Plus, they make your lawn look great!
Alternate the direction your mow your lawn. By cutting your lawn in the same pattern and direction each time, you allow ruts to form in your lawn. By alternating directions, the lawn doesn’t get cut at the same spot/direction each time so it stays looking lush.
Cut your lawn to the perfect height. Grass in New England thrives when it is about 2 ½ inches long. As a rule of thumb, you should be taking about 1/3 off the top of your lawn each time you mow. Therefore, the best time to cut your lawn is when it is 3 2/3 inches long.
Water your lawn to proper time of day. Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong tome of the day to water your lawn. The best times are early morning and early evening. This allows the water to be absorbed into your lawn rather than staying moist and creating a breeding ground for diseases. It also ensures that it will be absorbed rather than evaporated, like it would be during the heat of the day. Never cut your lawn when it is wet outside!
Keep those grass clippings on the lawn. It may be tempting to pick them up each time you cut your lawn but keeping the grass clippings on your lawn provides nourishment without using harsh chemicals. The only exception is if you let your lawn grow too long and after cutting the lawn, your clippings are really thick. Then, it is wise to rake them up.
We hope this blog series will inspire you to get outside and start improving you home. If you have any advice to share, feel free to add it below in the comments.