A Cut Above: How to Maintain Your Lawn and Lawnmower

A Cut ABOVE HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR LAWN AND YOUR MOWER PREVENT GUNK BUILDUP Once the mower stops running completely, remove caked-on grass with a gloved hand. Brush the mower with a broom after each use. Once or twice a year, thoroughly clean the mower. SOAP Either unplug the mower or empty the gas tank. Turn the mower on its side and remove dirt and dried-on grass. Scrub with a soft brush and soapy water, then rinse with a garden hose. CLEAN OR REPLACE THE AIR FILTER MOWER OIL Once or twice a year replace or clean the mower's filter. Wash plastic foam filters with warm soapy water. Air dry then lightly coat with 2 tablespoons of mower oil. REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG Once a year, when changing the mower's oil, replace the spark plug. Disconnect the spark plug wire, then remove the existing plug with a wrench or pliers. Write down the code on the existing plug before purchasing a new one. KEEP THE BLADE SHARP Keep a second blade handy in case one Dull blades Have the blades tear, rather than cut, grass. sharpened after every 8-12 hours of use. goes dull. EMPTY THE FUEL TANK FUEL TANK FUEL TANK MOWER OIL At the end of the Use the oil drain Refill the oil season, empty the fuel tank by letting the engine run until it's out of gas. plug to drain the engine oil into a recycling container. reservoir according to manufacturer's guidelines. TRICKS OF THE TRADE: MOW LIKE A PRO Cut lawns no shorter than 3 inches until fall. Taller grass can help keep weeds at bay and the soil from drying 3 INCHES out. Use a sharp blade for a clean grass cut that heals quickly and is less likely to become infected. DAMAGED UNDAMAGED GRASS GRASS FOLLOW THE RULE OF THIRDS • No more than 1/3 of the grass should be cut at once. 1/3 • If the grass reaches around 6 inches, only cut 2 inches until the next mowing. • After 48 hours has passed, mow the lawn to 3 inches tall. AVOID MOWING WHEN THE GRASS IS WET Grass tears easily when wet and the mower tires may cause damage to the lawn. STRIPE AND OVERLAP • Mow around the perimeter before striping. • Mow in a straight-line patter, called striping, and overlap each pass by the same width as the tire. • Avoid ruts in the lawn by mowing in different directions each time. For many homeowners, mowing the lawn can be a costly, tedious task. With proper maintenance and a little know-how your mower will run in tip-top shape for years to come. In Partnership with: Brought to you by PartSelect GHERGICH&Co. homedepot.com • safelawns.org • betterlawns.com • gardensupplyco.com ()