Lawn care:

  • If you want a weed free green lawn then cut the lawn often but not too low.
  • Don't cut your lawn too short; for a very flat lawn then about half an inch is fine.
  • If you walk on your lawn often, leave the grass about 1 inch tall.
  • Frequent mowing encourages dense growth, so mow once a week when the grass is growing strongly.
  • A blunt blade will tear the grass leaving it looking browner and will let the weeds and moss grow stronger. Keep those blades sharp!
  • In Spring, progressively reduce the height of the grass by cutting over a few weeks to avoid damaging the plants.
  • If the grass is growing slowly due to unseasonal drought or cooler temperatures then avoid mowing.

Mowing:

  • Try emptying the grass collection bag before it is full. This will ensure no grass clippings are left in clumps and the lawn and will reduce strain on the mower (and your back!)
  • Collecting wet grass is more difficult for the mower and also makes the collection bag heavier so try whenever possible, to mow when the grass is dry.
  • When using a rotary mower it is easier to pull the mower backwards over those raised lawn edges. It is also easier to prevent the mower falling off the edge.

Environment & Safety:

  • Read all of the instruction manual. This will tell you how to safely operate your mower and also its maintenance requirements.
  • When you pause whilst mowing (to fetch or move something for example) always switch the mower off instead of leaving it running. This saves energy and avoids accidents.
  • Always switch the mower off and wait for the blades to stop before removing the grass collection bag, clearing a blockage, or making any adjustments to the mower.
  • Wear protective clothing and equipment such as gardening gloves, safety footwear and eye protection. This is particularly recommended when mowing beside a gravel path.

Mower Care:

  • If you want a long life out of your new petrol mower, it should be given a engine flush and oil change after the first 10 hours use. 'Running-in' usually creates metal debris within the engine, the oil change and flush should remove all this.
  • At the end of the mowing season have your mower serviced ready for the next season.
  • After the last cut of the season run a petrol mower until the fuel tank is empty. Unleaded fuel does not keep well over the winter and loses its combustibility.
  • Before using your petrol mower place it on a level surface and check the level of the oil is above the minimum mark on the dip stick. If not top up with SAE 30 engine oil.
  • If the colour of the oil on the dip stick is a very dark brown but with some transparency then it will need a service soon or at the very least an oil change.
  • If the oil colour is black then it needs a service immediately or at very least an oil change. (Note: further use of the mower causes severe wear engine beyond economic repair).
  • If blue smoke comes from the engine especially when working hard then it needs servicing.
  • If the engine is difficult to start or runs unevenly or noisily then it probably needs a service.
  • If the blades of a rotary mower are vibrating noticeably the blade probably needs attention and you should avoid using the mower until you have had it checked out.

Storing:

  • Store you mower in a clean dry place.
  • Make sure that the blade or cylinder is dry when storing.