Summary

  • Remove old gas to prevent fuel degradation and protect the fuel system.
  • Replace old oil from the grass mower to prolong mower lifespan and maintain engine performance.
  • Replacing the air filter improves engine performance and enhances overall mower efficiency.

March is here, and it's that time when lawn care becomes one of the central landscaping tasks. You want your green grass to grow healthy and enhance outdoor areas in spring and summer. Watering, fertilizing, and seeding are not the only lawn care landscaping tasks you'll undertake this spring. You'll need to mow your grass regularly (sometimes twice a week) throughout the growing season.

Therefore, bringing your mower up to speed after a lengthy storage period is necessary. You need to ensure that your mower is ready when called upon. So, what are some of the lawn mower maintenance practices to consider this March?

1 Remove Gas from Last Year

Start your spring season with fresh gasoline

Open gas tank on lawnmower
Lawn mower gas tank
Image credits: Lost_in_the_Midwest via Shutterstock

Removing gas from the previous mowing season is often not seen as a critical lawn mower maintenance activity. However, you don't want your mower to start the new mowing season with a gas that has been sitting inside the fuel tank throughout winter. You need to begin the new mowing season with fresh gasoline that enhances the performance of your mower.

Replacing the old gas is a welcome spring task for several reasons.

  • Fuel degradation: Fuel tends to degrade with time, especially when exposed to temperature fluctuations, moisture, and air. Old gas can even become gummy, clogging your fuel system.
  • Fuel system protection: Your fuel system is a critical component in your grass mower. Leaving the old gasoline in the tank can lead to corrosion and damage to vital components such as fuel filters and lines.
  • Performance and efficiency: Old gasoline may not burn efficiently, impacting your mower's engine performance.

To drain old gasoline, turn off your lawn mower and use a siphon pump to drain the old gas from the tank before disposing of it properly, following local regulations.

2 Replace the Old Oil

Prolong the lifespan of your mower with new oil

oil change on lawnmower
Pouring gas in a lawn mower
Image credits: Lost_in_the_Midwest via Shutterstock

It's a new season, and anything that can hinder the performance of your mower needs replacing. An important lawn mower maintenance tip is to replace the old oil with new. Old oil may contain contaminants, lead to regular mower breakdowns, and lower the performance of your equipment.

  • Change your mower's oil at the onset of yard season.
  • Changing the oil will prolong your grass mower's lifespan and keep the engine running smoothly as you undertake landscaping.
  • Replacing the old oil with new oil is a seamless maintenance practice.

Steps

What To Do

1

Gather the necessary supplies, such as a container to hold the oil, a wrench to remove the drain plug, and a dry cloth to wipe out any oil spills.

2

Ensure your lawn mower is on a flat surface and is switched off. Make sure you remove the spark plugs to avoid accidental starts.

3

Place your oil container underneath your mower to catch the draining oil.

4

Locate and use a wrench to remove the drain plug on the underside of your mower's engine by turning it counterclockwise.

5

All the old oil will drain into the container underneath your mower. Ensure you tilt the mower so that all the old oil drains.

6

Use a dry cloth to clean the drain plug before threading it back into place. Secure it carefully by turning it clockwise.

7

Refill your engine with fresh oil by pouring it through the oil fill port on your mower.

Ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions on the type and amount of oil your grass mower needs.

3 Replace the Lawn Mower Filter

Prevent engine damage with a new air filter

repairing lawn mower
Working on an engine
Image credits: MR. AEKALAK CHIAMCHAROEN via Shutterstock

As you prepare for regular lawn care this spring, ensure your mower has a new air filter.

  • Typically, a mower air filter helps prevent debris, dirt, and other foreign contaminants from entering your mower's combustion chamber.
  • With a new air filter, you'll enhance the engine performance of your mower, which is critical for your landscaping tasks.
  • Also, a new air filter brings other benefits to your grass mower, such as fuel efficiency, preventing ignition challenges, and extending the engine life of your equipment.

Therefore, a new air filter is critical to your spring yard maintenance. But how do you replace an air filter?

Tips

What To Do

1

Gather the necessary materials, such as a screwdriver and a new air filter.

2

Ensure your mower is placed on a level surface, turned off, and the spark plug is disconnected to prevent accidental starts.

3

Locate the air filter on either the side or top of your engine. You can use a screwdriver to remove the screws if there is a top on the air filter.

4

Place the new air filter in the filter housing case and ensure it fits perfectly before screwing it tightly in place.

5

Close the air filter housing case with the top cover and reattach it using the screws. Your mower has a new air filter and is ready for spring lawn care duties.

Check with your lawn mower manufacturer guidelines to establish the brand of your air filter and the specific replacement intervals.

4 Sharpen Your Blades for the Season

Cut your green grass precisely with sharp and balanced mower blades

sharpening lawn mower blades
Sharpening blades
Image credits: Medvedeva Oxana via Shutterstock

According to Alabama A&M University Extension, sharpening your lawn mower blade is a critical maintenance practice.

  • If you have a dull and unbalanced mower blade, your engine will require additional power to turn and cut the grass.
  • However, with a sharp and balanced grass blade, you can undertake landscaping tasks seamlessly.

As spring quickly approaches, you need to ensure your mower blade is ready for the task because it will be required at least twice a week. You can sharpen and balance your mower blade in a few simple steps.

Steps

What To Do

1

Gather all the necessary supplies and essentials, such as a socket wrench, a grinder, work gloves, and safety goggles.

2

Turn off your mower and ensure it is disconnected from any power source before removing the blade for sharpening.

3

Use a socket wrench to loosen and remove the blade from the deck. Hold the blade securely while wearing gloves to avoid injuries from the sharp edges.

4

Use a bench grinder to sharpen your blade by moving it against the grinder. Move the blade back and forth until you achieve your desired sharpness.

5

Reattach your sharp blade back to the deck and tighten it with the nuts and bolts to secure it.

6

Test-run your sharp and balanced blade against fresh green grass to determine its effectiveness.

You should sharpen your mower blades every 20 to 25 hours of mowing time for effective and efficient yard maintenance throughout the growing season, an average of twice a season for most.

5 Clean Your Lawn Mower

Bring your mower back to life with a spring wipe

cleaning lawn mower with brush
Cleaning lawn mower with a brush 
Image credits: ronstik via Shutterstock

Your grass mower has been in storage for several months and before you can undertake any critical maintenance, you need to bring it up to date with an early spring cleaning. It has accumulated debris, dirt, and dust that can affect its performance, longevity, and functionality. Cleaning your mower helps prevent rust from forming in vital parts, promotes safety, and directly impacts your machine's longevity.

A few touches will ensure your equipment is ready for the spring grass-cutting schedule.

  • Remove debris: Use a scrapper or a brush to remove debris from the exterior of the mower. Ensure you remove grass clippings on the underside.
  • Clean the blade: Use a scrapper or a stiff brush to clean the mower blade. Ensure all the debris and grass clippings that stick on the blades have been wiped.
  • Clean the deck: Use a pressure washer to spray the underside of your mower and remove all the stubborn debris and other unwanted buildup.

Cleaning your mower will help reveal other maintenance requirements, such as oil spills and damaged blades.

Get Your Grass Mower Ready for Spring Season

A few lawn mower maintenance practices will bring your mower up to speed for spring!

As you get excited about the warm weather that spring brings, it's also essential to contemplate spring landscaping tasks. Keeping your grass green and short is fundamental. That's why your mower should be in a tip-top shape once your grass emerges from dormancy and starts growing.

Luckily, a few lawn mower maintenance practices will bring your mower up to speed for spring!