Keeping your lawn healthy and well groomed

Lawn mowing, although often overlooked, greatly effects your lawns appearance and general health.

Annual lawn mower tune-ups

According to Briggs & Stratton, nearly 70% of Americans say they are willing to do more to help the environment, but not knowing what to do is among the top obstacles to their taking action, according to a recent survey conducted by Briggs & Stratton Corporation, the world's largest maker of gasoline-powered engines for outdoor power equipment.

In response to this survey, Briggs & Stratton developed a lawn mower tune-up campaign. They determined that a gasoline powered lawn mower can reduce its emissions by as much as 50 percent over an untuned engine. Not only that, but it can also save fuel and prolong the life of the mower—all with a simple lawn mower tune-up each spring.

Mowing tips:

• Don't cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher heights usually provide for a deeper root system, looks better, and is less likely to have weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.

• Don't remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowings to get caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings.

• Avoid mowing when the grass is wet or when it's dark

• Avoid throwing grass clippings into the street and driveway where they can be washed into the sewer system. After mowing, clean up driveway and walkways.

• When mowing remove only a third with each cutting (except for the first mowing of the season when it's ok to remove more). You can safely leave clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.

• Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.

• Keep your mower's blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season. Keep several blades around so you'll always have a sharp one on hand.

• Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season.

• At the end of the mowing season use a fuel stabilizer
  
  
• In the spring, don't use that old gas unless you properly used a fuel stabilizer, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.

Read more about buying a new mower.

Safe mowing tips

The center for Childhood Safety offers these tips for safe lawn mowing:

• Keep children and pets out of the yard while mowing.

• Do a walk-through of the area before you begin mowing. Clear the area of large sticks or other debris.

• Wear clothing that offers some protection, like sturdy shoes with non-slip soles to provide good traction. Wear eye protection, like glasses, sunglasses, or goggles, while mowing.

• Read the operating guide for your mower. Make sure you understand all of its safety features prior to use. Make sure your new power mower has a "deadman" control that stops the mower if you let go of the handle. Do not disable this or other safety features of your mower.

• Do not cut the lawn when it's raining, lightning, or when the grass is slippery.

• Don't mow at night, even if your riding mower has lights.

• Adolescents should be at least 12 years of age before they operate lawn-mowing equipment. Discuss lawn mower safety with all of your children.

• Never allow young children to ride along on a riding mower.

• Caution adolescents who are operating lawn-mowing equipment to avoid carelessly placing hands near power blades. Do not clean the grass exit with your hands.

• Do not push a lawn mower onto the pavement. The lawn keeps objects from being hurled at a high speed. On the pavement, there is no such protection.

• Make sure your mower is in good working condition at all times.

• Do not operate a mower when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that impair judgment.