One of the most important spring lawn care tasks is mowing. Fertilization, aeration, and other lawn care can help get the lawn off to a good start in the spring, but to keep it looking nice you’ll need a reliable mower. Any mower from the wide range of quality brands offered by Richardson Saw & Lawnmower would be an excellent choice if you need to purchase a new lawnmower for spring. For existing lawnmowers, our service department is able to help with locating parts and performing a spring tune-up to keep your mower running smoothly.
Spring Mower Maintenance
If not done the previous fall, there are a few maintenance tasks that can help get the lawn mower off to a good start in the spring. First, drain and replace the oil. Next, check the air filter. If it is dirty, clean or replace it to allow air-flow to the engine and prevent overheating. As a general rule, this filter should be replaced or cleaned at least once a year. If the mower is having trouble starting, check the spark plug. It may need cleaned or replaced.
A general cleaning of the mower might have been done in the fall, before storage. If not, the mowing deck should be cleaned in the spring. Before cleaning the mower, remove the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. For a push mower, gently tip the mower on its side and clean the underside of the mowing deck with a paint scraper or wire brush. For a riding mower, raise or remove the mowing deck so you can clean underneath.
In addition, it is important to make sure the mower blades are sharp so that the grass will be cut cleanly instead of torn. Blades can be sharpened at home using a file or bench grinder, or professionally sharpened by a qualified service department.
Cutting Guides
Though it can be tempting to mow the lawn short and reduce the number of times you mow, drastic cutting is not healthy for the grass. Cutting the grass too short makes it hard for the grass leaves to produce food for the roots. It is better to maintain the grass at a healthy height, which will vary by species. For example, Kentucky bluegrass does well when maintained between 1 and 3 1/2 inches tall. Zoysaia and Bermuda grass can be mowed between 1/2 and 2 inches tall.
As a general rule, mow frequently enough that you are only cutting 1/3 of the overall grass height off at once. This means that if you are planning to keep the grass at 2 inches tall, you should cut 1 inch off every time the grass reaches 3 inches tall.
Mowing Tips
How often to mow will depend on the type of grass in the lawn and how quickly the grass is growing. Peak growing season for warm-season grasses typically grown in Texas is late spring through early fall. During these warm months, the grass will likely need mowed once a week. If the lawn is irrigated and regularly fertilized, it will need more frequent mowing.
When mowing, it is a good idea to leave the clippings on the lawn. When cutting only 1/3 of the grass blades at one time, the clippings should be short enough that they will not clump on the lawn. They will also decay quickly, returning nutrients to the soil and increasing the overall lawn health.
