Lawn Care and Mower Maintenance

by Roger Vizi
Small engine repairman and homeowner

When you start that mower for another season of lawn care, don’t think of the lawn mower as just another necessary evil to keep the grass from getting too tall. Think of it as a landscaping tool that, when used properly, keeps the grass healthy and the weeds under control.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THE REPORT

• What is your grass type?
• How to prepare your cool season grass lawn for the winter season
• How to fertilize your lawn in the fall so it will remain healthy during the dormant stage
• How to set the height of your lawn mower to maintain healthy grass
• How to properly water your lawn to keep it green and healthy
• How to keep your lawn mower in proper condition

WHAT IS YOUR GRASS TYPE?

Late fall is the best time to be thinking about getting your lawn ready for the long winter months ahead. Depending on what part of the country you live in, you must think about how to prepare and feed your lawn for this dormant season.

There are basically two types of grasses: warm season and cool season.

Some of the common warm season grasses are:

• Bermuda grass
• Buffalo grass
• Zoysi grass

Cool season grasses include:

• Bent grass
• Blue grass
• Fescues
• Rye grass

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR COOL SEASON GRASS FOR THE WINTER SEASON

• Apply an herbicide to broad leaf weeds.
• Have a soil test done to check the pH level of the soil. Most lawn maintenance companies in your area can help with this.
• Dethatch your lawn by raking out the old dead grass that may have been left from the summer mowing. You can also rent dethatchers at your local rental store along with an aerator to aerate your lawn.
• Rake up any leaves that have fallen before the first snow. You may also choose to buy or rent a leaf vacuum to handle this chore.

HOW TO FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN IN THE FALL

Fertilizing your lawn is the best way to ensure it will survive the long winter months. You should apply nitrogen at the rate of 1 pound per 1000 square feet of lawn. Don’t buy cheap fertilizers for your lawn. Opt instead to spend a little extra money for a more expensive brand that will work well with your type of grass. This will pay high dividends to you in the spring.

You can find high quality fertilizers along with other lawn and garden supplies at Gardener's Supply Company.

WHAT IS THE BEST HEIGHT TO SET MY MOWER?

Some homeowners think the best approach is to cut the grass short so they don't have to mow as often. While cutting the grass short will reduce mowing, it is not the best approach to take when you're promoting a healthy lawn. Cutting the grass too short will not allow the grass to "choke" out weeds, and it will not allow your grass to maintain moisture, which is key to a healthy lawn.

It is recommended that you set your mower's height adjustment so you never cut off more than 1/3 of the leaf. This is to ensure that there is enough leaf area left to supply the energy needs of the growing grass. For most lawn mowers, this will mean that you need to set your mower to the highest setting possible.

Mow your grass when it is dry and has reached a height of 3 to 3-1/2". Never cut your grass so it is shorter than 2 to 2-1/2", and don’t remove more than 1/3 of the leaf. This may require that you measure your grass before cutting and then measure after you have cut a small amount and make adjustments to your mowing height to get the proper height.

Another tip to a healthy lawn is to alter the direction each time you cut your lawn.

If you normally mow in a straight line, the next time you mow change your direction to an angle cut. Change the direction again the next time and so on.

PROPER WATERING TO MAINTAIN THAT GREEN APPEARANCE

Properly watering of your lawn in the spring and summer will help to ensure that your grass will remain green and healthy all summer long.

You cannot properly apply enough water to your lawn by simply using a spray nozzle that is attached to your hose. You must use a good sprinkler that will cover a large area and allow it to run long enough to deep water your lawn to a depth of 2 to 3 inches to get down to the roots.

During dry months, your grass may appear brown, and you might think it is dying. The first reaction is to apply fertilizer to the lawn, but don’t do that.

Your grass is just being dormant much as it does during the winter months. This is due to lack of moisture in the soil as the hot afternoon sun evaporates any moisture that is left. Avoid the temptation to water during this hot period of the day. Water drops on the leaf will act as a magnifying glass with the sun and can do more harm than good. Water only when the sun has gone down, and your grass is in the shade.

It is also better to water several times a week than to water too much at one time, so leave your sprinkler in one area for no more than 15 minutes, then move it to the next area. This will avoid over watering and help to conserve water at the same time.

PROPER LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

Proper maintenance of your lawn mower is as important as how you maintain your lawn. The leaves of a grass stalk are like mini solar collectors and must be "cut" and not "ripped" so they can work properly to help maintain that healthy green appearance.

Keeping your mower blades sharp is the key to healthy cutting of your grass. You want to make sure you're cutting the leaf and not simply ripping it. Also a dull blade will not cut the tougher stems of any weeds in the lawn. This will give the weeds a head start on taking over your lawn.

Have your blades professionally sharpened unless you feel confident that you can do the job yourself. Blades may need to be sharpened more than once during the mowing season, so consult your local home center for advice if needed.

You will also want to make sure that you've changed the oil and checked the air filter before the start of the mowing season. In the fall, you'll need to drain any gas from the tank or run your mower until the tank is empty.

If you're going to drain the tank, consult your local laws on the proper disposal of this used fuel.

To learn how to repair your lawn mower, read How to Tune Up Your Gas-Powered Lawn Mower.