Time to prepare for the pleasures of lawn-mowing

Press, 18 August 1978, Page 5

Time to prepare for the pleasures of lawn-mowing

GARDENING

By

M. Lusty

It will not be long before lawn-mowing becomes a regular, almost weekly, chore in all gardens which pride themselves on a good quality of turf.

This task is one which jokes and cartoons make out to be some form of distasteful ritual best put off for as long as possible. Why this should be so is hard to fathom; for mowing provides a little good exercise particularly if a hand mower is used. And when all is said and done a well-cut lawn is like the icing on a cake — it adds a finishing touch to any garden. Irrespective of the type of one’s mower the observance of a few simplerules will not only make the task a more pleasant one but will also go a long way towards keeping both lawn and machine in good order.

Lawns should be mown on a regular basis, more often during the spring and autumn than in the summer and winter. It should not be touched when covered with frost nor when more than moist.

Height of cut should be adjusted to < meet prevailing conditions. A very common ploy is to leave the grass uncut for as long as possible and then almost shave it to ground level; another idea is that it must be kept cut so low that you would need a micrometer to measure what is left. Neither method is conducive to maintaining a good turf. They account, at least in part, for the deterioration of many of our lawns.

It must be remembered that constant cutting re-

moves a source of energy from the grasses which in turn make bigger demands on the soil. Wear and tear also makes its demands. If misuse is not followed up with sound cultural attention such as regular feeding — a major pre-accupation at bowling clubs and of golf greens — the grasses gradually weaken and weeds begin to take over. For summer, a grass height of 10 to 12 mm is advoated while 8 to 9 mm is suggested as suitable for the rest of the year for most garden Clippings should be re-, moved as they induce earthworm activity, can suppress growth and pro-

vide egg laying sites for undesirable grass-feeding pests. But in the summer, when the grass is of considerably lower density, there is no harm in removing the grass catcher from the mower. The mower should be kept in tip-top working order and whether hand or self-propelled it will make for easier and better cutting. Correct adjustment and regular maintenance should become an automatic reaction just as cleaning after use. Blade sharpness, even height of cut, oiling, greasing, check for wear and slack nuts, etc., are part of what should be routine procedure. Even the humble hand

or push-mower is sold with a leaflet outlining maintenance features and these should be referred to before you use the machine.

Lubrication is frequently a sadly neglected aspect. Failure to oil and/or grease causes friction, undue wear and difficult propulsion. Oil levels can drop sharply with prolonged use of some motorised machines and this can also happen in a short time where the going is heavy. Failure to top up can be costly. Keep a note of the hours of use, flush out and replace with new oil at the recommended time.

Many troubles associated with poor running of motor mowers can be traced to nothing more complex than a dirty air filter. Periodically check and clean or replace according to type. Absorbent pads commonly used can quickly become clogged with dirt in dry and dusty conditions. Remove these and soak in petrol or kerosene, dry and replace after adding a little oil. Before adding fuel to the tank clean the area around the filler cap. Always use the correct fuel and when adding it to the tank do so through a filter. It is surprising what minute particles can cause fuel blockages. Spark plug fouling is another source of trouble especially with two-stroke engines. This can be caused by poorly mixed or incorrect fuel, over-chok-ing and various other factors. Periodic "emoval, cleaning — perhaps even sand blasting — point gap checking and adjustment, pays dividends.

Remember also that plugs have a limited life, especially with general mistreatment, so a new plug becomes a necessity sooner or later. Sometimes it may be advisable to fit a hotter'or colder plug but generally adhere to the maker’s specifications for the make and model in hand. Chains should be checked for wear and slackness but should never be made too tight — about Bmm play should be allowed. Wire controls should be periodically oiled by removing them from the cable and squiriting a few drops of oil down the latter before replacing. Nuts, bolts and screws have a surprising habit of working loose and even dropping off, the cansequences of which can sometimes prove most costly, such as when a drive wheel becomes too slack. Again, regular attention will prevent major problems arising. Handle the machine with care and mow with thought. Avoid slewing the mower at corners ar ends, attempt to cut in straight runs and avoid going over certain areas more often than absolutely necessary. Where possible alternate the direction of successive cuts. We could cover various aspects of mowing and mowers at greater length and delve deeper inta such problems that affect engines and blades but it is felt that if only the above comments are observed then already a giant step will have been taken to improve the lawn, prolong the life of the mower and make lawn-mowing more enjoyable.