Mowing tips to improve the health and look of your lawn
Safe mowing
Mowing the lawn can be a weekly
ritual of the spring and summer months for many Americans. However each year, nearly 80,000 Americans
require hospital treatment from injuries caused by lawn mowers, according to a study conducted by
researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The most common injuries were caused by strikes from debris, such as rocks and branches, propelled by the mower's spinning blades.
The study, published in the April 2006 online edition of the Annals of Emergency Medicine, is the first to examine the extent and mechanisms of lawn mower injuries nationwide.
The researchers also concluded that the number of injuries from lawn mowers is increasing, with the majority of injuries occurring in children under age 15 and adults age 60 and older.
Mowing tips
Mow grass to the proper height with a mower with a sharp blade. Never cut off more than one third of the blade when mowing. Grass needs the surface area of the blade to sustain itself. Removing too much of the blade creates an environment ripe for disease. Additional mowing tips include:
-
Don't cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher heights usually provide for a deeper root system, looks better, and is less likely to have weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.
-
Avoid mowing when the grass is wet or when it's dark
-
When mowing remove only a third with each cutting (except for the first mowing of the season when it's ok to remove more). You can safely leave clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.
-
Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.
-
Keep your mower's blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season. Keep several blades around so you'll always have a sharp one on hand.
-
Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season.
At the end of the mowing season use a fuel stabilizer
- In the spring, don't use that old gas unless you properly used a fuel stabilizer, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.
Safe mowing tips
The center for Childhood Safety offers these tips for safe lawn mowing:
-
Keep children and pets out of the yard while mowing.
-
Do a walk-through of the area before you begin mowing. Clear the area of large sticks or other debris that can become high-speed missiles if struck with the mower blade. Mower blades are revolving about 160 mph.
-
Wear clothing that offers some protection, like sturdy shoes with non-slip soles to provide good traction. Wear eye protection, like glasses, sunglasses, or goggles, while mowing.
-
Read the operating guide for your mower. Make sure you understand all of its safety features prior to use. Make sure your new power mower has a "deadman" control that stops the mower if you let go of the handle. Do not disable this or other safety features of your mower.
-
Don't cut the lawn when it's raining, lightning, or when the grass is slippery.
-
Don't mow at night, even if your riding mower has lights.
-
Adolescents should be at least 12 years of age before they operate lawn-mowing equipment. Discuss lawn mower safety with all of your children.
-
Never allow young children to ride along on a riding mower.
-
Caution adolescents who are operating lawn-mowing equipment to avoid carelessly placing hands near power blades. Do not clean the grass exit with your hands.
-
Don't use the lawnmower as a leaf blower to clean off sidewalks and drives. Mowers are designed to reduce the chance of throwing lose objects, but part of this feature assumes the mower will be on the grass. The lawn keeps objects from being hurled at a high speed. On the pavement, there is no such protection.
-
Make sure your mower is in good working condition at all times.
-
Do not operate a mower when under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that impair judgment.
Annual lawn mower tune-ups
According to Briggs & Stratton, nearly 70 percent of Americans say they are willing to do more
to help the environment, but not knowing what to do is among the top obstacles to their
taking action.
In response to this survey, Briggs & Stratton developed a lawn mower tune-up campaign. They determined that a gasoline powered lawn mower can reduce its emissions by as much as 50 percent over an un-tuned engine. Not only that, but it can also save fuel and prolong the life of the mower—all with a simple lawn mower tune-up each spring.
