When it comes to landscaping and other yard work, there are two ways to go – the homeowner does it himself or hires a lawn care contractor. Lawn care companies are more professional than they used to be, when it was just those kids from down the block out to make movie and popcorn money.
If the suburban homeowner chooses to tackle the job himself, there are more landscaping tools at his disposal than ever before. The emphasis today is on having a green lawn... green in color and in also in the environmental sense.
Most societies consider springtime to be an opportunity for new beginnings. That makes it a perfect time to take care of recurring things.
- Review the homeowners insurance policy and make adjustments.
- Build or refresh a raised bed vegetable garden.
- Tune up the lawn care tools.
Types of Lawnmowers
Gasoline powered lawnmowers remain the top sellers throughout the land. There are three flavors of these, mulching mower models, side blowers, and bagging models. Mulching mowers are acknowledged as being the “greener” type. They shred the grass fine enough to go back into the soil.
Bagging models make grass disposal a bit easier; it goes into the mower's bag, which is then emptied into plastic garbage bags which end up in landfills. Side blowers just spit it out the side and the grass is either raked up or redistributed with a leaf blower.
Non-mulching lawn mowers can be converted by simply changing the blade and blocking up the grass egress port.
The electric mower is seen frequently, however. There are two varieties of these, cordless electric lawn mowers and corded ones. These both have drawbacks. Dragging a cord around is dangerous and problematic. The cordless models lack the power needed to do serious mowing.
Push Lawnmowers for Bermuda Grass
The push lawnmower, also called a reel mower, is one that is not much seen nowadays. But it's still used and gaining in popularity. Just think - no emissions and no gas to buy. How much greener can it get?
Actually, this is the preferred kind of machine to use on bermuda grass lawns.
The Annual Lawnmower Maintenance Routine
Upkeep of the lawnmower is essential for proper, efficient operation. There are several things on the lawnmower maintenance routine checklist -
- A complete visual inspection. Look for things like loose bolts (tighten them), areas showing signs of rust (sand down to bare metal, prime, and paint), and frayed or loose cables (replace or tighten).
- Change or clean the spark plug.
- Change the oil. A synthetic oil like Mobil 1 is preferable.
- Replace or clean the air filter. This can be a messy business. Some models require washing it and then soaking it in oil. Check the user's manual or look it up on-line.
- Sharpen the blade. Shops will do this for a small fee or check at Home Depot or Lowe's for a special grinder attachment. It attaches to an electric drill and grinds at the proper angle.
Shopping for a New lawnmower
If it's determined during the maintenance check that the mower is too far gone and needs to be retired, it's time to go shopping for a new one! Like anything else, the shopper gets what he pays for. There are many excellent ones on the market now.
Specifically, consider John Deere, Honda, Snapper, and of course, Briggs and Stratton. Here are some things to consider:
- Horsepower. Generally, more is better.
- Push lawnmower or self-propelled? If a lot of turning in involved with the lawn, push is actually more convenient.
- Price. Look for sales.
- Availability of replacement parts.
- Electric or motorized?
Kelly Smith - Kelly has over 30 years experience as a journeyman carpenter and 20 as a freelance writer and photographer.
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