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Are you mowing or mulching the grass?

Have you ever had your mower blade checked to make sure it is sharp enough to cut your grass properly? Did you know that a dull cutting blade can cause serious lawn damage, which can lead to higher costs and lawn maintenance requirements? I wish you answered “Yes!” to the previous questions, please read on!

Regardless of how sharp you keep the mower blade, each time you cut through the grass, the blade goes through a period of “shock” due to the cut. When a blade of grass is cut, the remaining grass plant must go through a period of healing to seal the cut. A sharp blade cuts through grass cleanly and leaves a nice, straight slice, minimizing plant shock and time to cure. On the other hand, a dull blade will basically shred the grass. Even though the grass is “cut,” it is shredded, ripped, and severely torn, causing the herb plant to endure a prolonged period of healing and loss of water. Not to mention, an increased risk of becoming infected or infested with germs or insects. A grass plant that withstands a nice, clean cut is much less likely to suffer long-term damage or illness.

If you are handy with tools and know how to operate a lawn mower, sharpening your own blade is not that difficult. Many retail stores sell a sharpening stone specifically designed for lawn mower blades. You can also buy a tool that will hold the blade in place when you remove the bolt that secures the blade to the motor shaft. Use a permanent marker or awl to mark the underside of the sheet before removing. And safety comes first, which means always removing the spark plug wire from the spark plug before doing anything under or around the mower.

Once you have sharpened the blade, put some oil on the bolt threads and retighten the blade securely to the shaft. After the first cut with the freshly sharpened blade, recheck the bolt to make sure it is tight. Also, if you have sharpened the blade several times, be sure to check the balance of the blade. An unbalanced blade can cause damage to the mower and possible injury to the user. If a blade can no longer be sharpened and balanced, buy a new blade, better safe than sorry!

Your owner’s manual should have instructions on proper maintenance, and even if you can’t find your manual, a quick internet check of the make and model of your lawnmower in hand will take you to the manufacturer’s website. If you’re not comfortable sharpening your own blade, that’s okay – the dealer where you bought your mower can provide this type of service, and there are many professional companies in our area that will do this job for you. Regardless of which one works best for you, a sharp blade always works best for your lawn! By keeping a sharp blade, your blades of grass will benefit greatly! This will also reduce the amount of maintenance required for a beautiful lawn. Choose a lawn care company that uses green products for your other lawn needs.

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