Spring is finally here which means it’s time to dust off the lawnmower after its winter hibernation in the shed and give your grass its first cut of the year.
It can be a daunting task when you look at the ever-lengthening blades of grass but over the years I – with a little help from my much more experienced dad – have developed a mental checklist for when it’s time to get out in the garden and mow the lawn which makes the process less of a chore.
1. Check if the grass is wet
The first cut of the year is largely dependent on the weather and finding a break in the spring showers.
If you try mowing the lawn when your grass is long and wet, it’ll end up clumping together and will either clog up your mower, get strewn across the lawn or both.
2. Check equipment
After several months in the shed, it’s always a good idea to check on your equipment to make sure that everything is in fine working order and isn’t damaged and potentially dangerous.
I used a wired electric mower and will therefore check the power cables and connection as well as the condition of the blade.
If using a gas-powered mower, you’ll want to look over the air filter, oil level and gasoline tank.
- GARDENING GURU: 5 slug-proof plants you need to add to your garden this spring
3. Inspect the area you will be mowing
It’s important to give your lawn a once over before starting, that way you can remove and stones or other debris that might cause damage to your mower or surrounding objects should the blade fling out a stone at high speeds.
Unfortunately, my lawn is used by my neighbors’ cats as an outdoor litter tray, meaning I’ll have to clear away and cat poop before starting as I don’t want that clogging up my equipment.
4. Leave cutting length long
For the first cut of the year, it’s best to leave the length of the grass a little longer.
Going too short too soon can cause the grass to suffer from shock, resulting in it turning brown and potentially dying altogether.
Gardener’s World Magazine recommends reducing the height of the grass by one-third for the first mow of the year.
5. Get disposal options sorted before you start
Whether you have a compost bin, garden waste recycling or you simply throw your grass clippings in the trash, it’s a handy time-saver to have whichever option you use to hand.
6. Wear protective equipement
Technically, this tip should be number one as safety should always come first.
It’s always wise to wear long pants and sturdy shoes when cutting the grass to protect your legs and feet from any debris that might hit them.
Safety glasses are essential when mowing the lawn, especially when using a trimmer (aka weed wacker) as you’ll likely be using one of these at the edge of the lawn where there may be errant stones or twigs that could get flicked up.
If your equipment is particularly loud or if you mow regularly, ear protection is certainly recommended as are gloves, particularly if – like me – you may have to deal with cat-related biohazards.
7. Clean equipment after use
Once the arduous task of mowing your lawn is complete, you’ll want to clean your equipment before storing it back in the shed so it’s in tip-top condition when you next come to use it – and to extend its life in the long run.
Using a brush, clear away any clumps of grass or dirt that may have accumulated. Providing it is safe to do so, you could try using a hosepipe to clean the more stubborn bits of grass that may have gathered in the mower deck.
