With spring here, and summer on its way, many Brits are likely thinking about the first big mow of the season. However, before you can get your lawn looking top notch, there is one thing you need to do.
Glenn Peskett, DIY expert at circular saw blades supplier, Saxton Blades, is urging gardeners to perform a “Spring Detox” on their equipment before the first cut.
He said: “People spend all winter dreaming of that first fresh-cut grass smell, but they forget that their mower has been sitting in a cold, damp shed for six months. When you pull the cord on a blunt, dirty machine, you aren’t cutting the grass; you’re essentially ripping it out by its roots. It’s a traumatic start to the season for any lawn.”
If you’ve left your mower in the shed forgotten over the winter, it will act like a blunt pair of scissors, tearing grass and leaving your lawn susceptible to disease and browning.
So before you start mowing, Glenn is urging everyone to take 15 minutes and just check over the blades on your mower carefully.
The first thing to check is the blade. With the spark plug disconnected, tilt the mower and check the blades for dents and nicks. If you can see any, the blade will need to be replaced.
The second thing on Glenn’s checklist is the fuel. Fuel actually goes off, so if you left it sitting in the tank over the winter it will likely have gone gummy. This can clog the carburettor, so you need to drain it and start afresh.
It’s also important to remove all the old dried grass clippings from the underside of the mower. Using a plastic putty knife carefully scrape it clean to improve airflow and give a cleaner cut.
Now is also the perfect time to switch out your air filter, as a dusty filter will suffocate your engine. You can either tap it out to clear it, or replace it entirely.
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