Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Today's Homeowner^® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Lawn Mower Maintenance

Lawn and Garden, Exterior, CBS The Early Show, Lawn Mowers Published 05/01/2007 by Danny Lipford

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There was a time when lawn work was looked on as strictly the guy’s job. In fact, it often took the strength of Hercules to pull the crank cord a minimum of 10-12 times just to start the darn machine! Long gone are those days, though, as the lawn mower has evolved into a tool that any gender can operate with ease. You may think, however, that maintaining your mower is still a job best left for the man of the house. This, too, is simply not the case. It’s very easy to take care of your mower; and, with some new innovations, yard work can actually be a fun chore. I’ll share with you some tips and tricks in keeping your yard picture-perfect and look at some of the great new mowers on the market to make life outside a lot easier.

1-2-3 Maintenance

At the start of the season, usually Spring, there are three main areas to focus on when it comes to lawn mower maintenance. First, you need to change the oil. Even if you don’t think it needs it, do it! The oil should be changed at the beginning of every season. Over the course of the cutting season, dirt and other impurities will collect in the oil and those things will ruin an engine. Check with your particular mower’s owner’s manual for the proper procedure.

Next, change the spark plug. That little space at the end of the plug where the metal end bends at a 90 degree angle is called the gap. Many manufacturers are now packaging new plugs with the gap pre-set, so it’s as simple as removing the old and installing the new. However, it’s still a good idea to double-check the gap in case there has been some movement from a rough shipping to the store. Just like the oil, many people like to change the plug every year so you’re starting every cutting season with a new spark plug.

Finally, clean the air filter. Again, this is as simple as removing the filter cover and blowing out all the debris with a high-pressure air hose. This works well with an air filter that looks like an accordion-style folded paper product. If the filter in your mower is made from foam, then washing it in a water and detergent solution is all you need to do. In some rare cases, you may need to replace the filter, but most of the time, a simple cleaning will work.

Blades

I have separated the blade from regular maintenance, because this is more than just a standard upkeep. It takes a little extra effort to remove the blade. Every year, though, this should be done prior to the first cutting. You need to have a sharp blade when cutting grass, otherwise it doesn’t cut the grass but, rather, tears it instead. This can lead to a diseased lawn. Sharpening a blade can easily be done by using a metal file and cutting a beveled edge by passing the file over the blade in the same direction each time. An even easier way to sharpen the blade is to use a small grinding attachment for your cordless drill. Just place the blade in a bench vice and you can hone the edge with no trouble.

Mowers

For a small yard, a simple push mower is perfect. Don’t rush out and get the $49 special, though. Remember, the whole point is to make yard work easier. A cheap mower won’t cut it, if you’ll pardon the pun. A larger cutting deck is a good feature. Many small mowers start around 19”, but a 21” would be better. Also, think about how easy it is to crank. There are many quality mowers for just under $300 with their easy starting systems, grass catchers and, to make it even more convenient, the mowers are fully assembled in the carton.

For about $400, you can purchase a mower like this walk-behind model from John Deere. It also has a 21” cutting deck, can be used as a side discharging mower, mulching mower, rear bagger, and it’s self-propelled, which means you don’t even have to exert any great effort when mowing. This mower is great for lawns that have thick grass or a rough terrain.

Remember, these types of mowers are specifically for a smaller yard. I have, however, seen people use these smaller push mowers to take care of larger yards, but it takes several hours and, again, somewhat defeats the whole purpose of making the chore easier.

For the large yards, a riding mower is the toy of preference. Professional services use the ZTR mowers. ZTR stands for Zero Turn Radius or Zero Turn Rider. For a long time, you didn’t really see models like this for homeowner use, but that is changing. The cutting decks start at 42”. Most homeowners don’t want it to be too big, but a 48”-50” is ideal. The new ZTR’s are a work of art focusing not only on performance, but also on comfort and style. They can include shock absorbers, larger wheels for a more comfortable ride, cushy seat with armrests and even cup holders! The biggest drawback for many homeowners is trying to operate the ZTR’s with the two separate directional levers. If you want the “cool factor” of a ZTR but keep the convenience of a traditional tractor, consider Cub Cadet’s i1050 series It has a traditional steering wheel, but still gives you the zero turn radius. The zero turn means it’s easy to cut your grass one row following another that gives you that really cool “striping” effect when you’re done. The 50” ZTR will cost around $3800.

Tips

Here are a few quick tips that will keep your lawn looking great.

1. Don’t cut wet grass. Aside from having a tendency to clog the machine and leave clumps of wet grass all over the yard, wet grass won’t cut easily. It tears, just as it does with a dull blade.
2. Set the cutting height to leave at least 1 ½ inches of grass blade. Taller grass will hold moisture better and will also allow the root system to “grab hold” of the soil better, which means a healthier lawn.
3. Don’t mow in the same direction every time you cut your grass. For example, one week mow north to south. The next week, mow east to west. This prevents ruts from forming in the yard and also lets the grass grow thicker.
4. Use a grass catcher for the first cut and last cut of the season. Use the mulching feature all the other times.

Finally, if you need just a little more incentive to spend a day in the yard, remember this. According to the Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, you can burn over 350 calories every hour you spend behind a push mower! Now that’s a great workout with dual results!