Help your mower keep its edge this season
Whether you've got a beefy lawn tractor or a small walk-behind mower, your mowing will go easier and be more effective if you follow a few simple rules. Old mowers can power on if you keep them maintained. And if you need a new mower, check the results of Consumer Reports' latest mower tests where you'll find top push, self-propelled and riding mowers. Here are some tips from our pros:
Maintain the mower. Have your mower blades sharpened monthly, or at least twice during the mowing season. And clean out clippings and debris after mowing to maintain cutting quality and prevent rusting.
Plan your cut. Mow only dry grass. And don’t mow too quickly, especially if you’re using the mulching feature on your mower or tractor, because mulchers need extra time to process the grass. Try to alternate directions when you mow; that helps disperse clippings for a cleaner, healthier lawn.
Let the lawn go brown. The color change is merely an indication that the grass is entering a natural state of dormancy to conserve nutrients. It should green up again after the next rain. Only when grass turns from tan-brown to straw-colored do you need to water it.
Take care on slopes. In addition to being dangerous, driving mowers at higher speeds and making sudden turns over hills tends to tear up turf. With a walk-behind mower, mow side to side. With a tractor or rider, mow straight up and down slopes unless your manual says otherwise. Go especially slow down hills if you own a zero-turn-radius mower.
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—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)
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