KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – HOT WEATHER LAWN AND MOWER MAINTENANCE

We have had some scorcher days but also some beautiful weather this summer. Fourth of July weekend around Chicagoland was glorious. Unfortunately, we still have a lot of summer to go and need to be reminded to change our mowing habits a little and keep the mower in tip top shape to keep the grass green and thriving.

Let the lawn grow to 4-41/2 inches then mow down to 3-31/2 inches. When the weather cools you can go down to 21/2 inches. Use a ruler to measure when you raise the level by adjusting the wheels. Depending on the mower there could be adjustment notches on all four wheels, front and back, or just one. Always use the ruler after adjusting as the levels on the notches are not always accurate.

Keep the underside of the lawn mower clean and free from grass buildup. This often occurs especially when grass is damp. This assures good airflow to optimize performance. A sharp blade will assure clean cuts and prevent brown tops that stick out even worse in hot, dry weather.

Sharpen the blade twice a season or more if you have rocky soil or tough turf grass. Run the mower dry and lay on its side with the oil filter facing up to prevent oil seepage. Remove spark plug wires to be completely safe. Lodge a 2X4 block between the blade and the deck to hold it steady. Don heavy work gloves to handle the blade and be careful, even a dull blade can do damage. Loosen the bolt or fastener and lay parts down (washers etc.) in the order they come off. Take a picture with your phone. It’s best to leave the sharpening to the pros. Hardware and lawn services typically charge $10 or so. Keep two blades so no down time while servicing.

To reassemble make sure the cutting edge follows the rotation and the wings face the deck. If there are washers the concave side will be facing the blade. Be careful tightening the bolt or fastener. Overtightening can cause the blade to crack and under tightening it could cause it to fly off during mowing. Assure proper tightening by using a torque wrench.

Only take on this project if you are pretty handy around machines. If you are nervous at all it’s best to just take it in to a lawn mower service center and have them take care of it for you. A little more money but you know it’s done right.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO