Getting Your Lawnmower Ready for Spring

Winter is almost over, although with the wet and windy weather we’ve had it hardly seems like winter ever

happened. Now it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning your garden and your lawnmower and getting them ready for the next round of garden parties, barbecues and mini-football tournaments, and starting on the lawn gives you a good head start and some motivation to tackle the rest.

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If you have not ventured out onto the lawn for some weeks then now is a good time to check out the state of the terrain. The exceptionally wet winter has led to waterlogged ground across the country, so your garden may not be ready to take much footfall. Trying to push a lawnmower over waterlogged ground will only result in damage to the lawn and possibly also the lawn mower if it gets stuck, so wait until the lawn is ready to be mown before attempting this job.

If you prepared your lawn mower for the winter then there may not be much you need to do in order to get it working again, apart from refilling the petrol tank and reconnecting the spark plug. However, many people find that in the pre-Christmas period there is not enough time to worry about storing the lawn mower properly so when it comes to using it again there is some maintenance to be done. If your lawn mower has been in use over the winter period then it is time for a quick service.

If you have not drained the fuel from the mower, don’t attempt to start it using the old fuel from last year. Petrol degrades over time, and can create condensation in the fuel tank which will damage the engine if allowed to run through. Drain the fuel and allow the tank to dry completely before putting new fuel in. The same applies to fuel lines in your lawn mower. The spark plug can be replaced or re-gapped using a gapping tool. It is not recommended to use the same spark plug for years on end, but at the same time, there is no need to replace it every year; instead, check the gapping and give the plug a good clean. The oil will also need changing, and the air filter should be cleaned or replaced.

Lawn mower blades should be sharpened at least once a year, more if you have a big area to mow. Dull lawn mower blades will not give a clean cut, and will leave the grass blades with a ragged edge that invites disease. For the sake of a few pounds, have your lawn mower blades sharpened before a season of mowing, or you could find yourself needing to replant your entire lawn if disease sets in. Always disconnect the spark plug before removing the blades so that the engine cannot accidentally start, and take the blades to a proper blade sharpening place unless you have the knowledge and equipment at home. Once sharpened, apply a thin coat of oil to prevent rusting.

Of course, if you have taken the time to properly prepare your mower for the winter, then you will have done all these tasks already and are nearly ready to start mowing. Once the lawn mower is back in working action take it for a test run to check it is ready for work, then all you need to do is wait for the garden to dry out enough to give it a proper mow. In the meantime, why not think about your borders and shrubs and decide what to plant out this year? Now is also the time to start saving for any new garden furniture you might need, or perhaps a new barbecue instead.