Preparing Your Lawn Mower for Spring and Summer Use

Spring is here. Summer is on the horizon. You know what that means? It is time for you to get that lawn mower and other yard equipment out of storage. Then you have to get it ready for use.

If you stored everything away properly before winter, you won't have much to do. But if you were lazy and just placed that mower away, you now have some work to do.

First, my husband always starts by looking at last year's spark plug. If it looks rusted or corroded it is time to replace it. Actually, he usually just replaces it anyway. A spark plug only costs a dollar or so. But if it isn't in perfect working order, it can cause the mower not to start. Good investment at a small price.

Now check out the mower blades. To do this, you need to turn the mover over first. But be sure to check to make sure your gas cover is tight before you do this. You don't want any gas to spill all over the place. Gas makes a nasty smell, plus it can be dangerous. Now remove any dead grass that was left on them from last year. Do they still look sharp enough to cut? If it doesn't you can sharpen it yourself, or take the blades off and let a professional sharpen them for you.

Now you should drain your old oil and change it with new. The oil needs to be changed about twice a year. Remember to discard your old oil properly. Some auto places will allow you to bring in your old oil and they will discard it for you.

Hopefully, you remembered to drain your old gas from your mower before storing it. If you didn't, drain it now, before starting. The gas would have drawn moisture as it sat all winter. This moisture is not good for the motor. Now replace with new gas.

Check the height of the mower. Remember you should not cut your grass too short during the first cutting. Later in the season, you may want to cut it shorter as it begins to grow faster.

You may also want to check any nuts and bolts to make sure they are still secure.

If your mower has an attached bag, you may want to make sure it is empty or even clean it.

Now the only thing that is left is to crank that baby and see if it will start. Hopefully it will and you can get busy cutting. Have fun.