The lawn: for some its just a weekend chore, others however think of it as a great escape Like it or hate it, it has to be maintained and that means buying the right lawn mower to get the job done Which lawn mower you choose depends on the size and grass density of your lawn as well as your budget and the features you need

Size and density: The size of your lawn determines the size of lawn mower as well as well as the type Lawn mowers generally fall under two categories reel and rotary If your lawn is 1,000 square feet (100 square m) or less you may want to choose a manual reel However, if your lawn is large, consider getting a riding mower

Grass density: You should consider the thickness of your lawn when buying a lawn mower It will help you determine the blade and rotary type If your grass is a soft bladed type, not Bermuda or Saint Augustine, then consider a reel mower A plastic blade can be used for gardens where there is no risk of your mower blade being damaged by mowing a brick or large stones

Catcher or thatcher?: If you want to catch the clippings of your lawn choose one with a rear mounting catching If not, then consider a thatcher mower It cuts the grass into small pieces and then blows them down into the lawn for a fertile covering

Low maintenance: Most people want to spend more time caring for their lawn than their lawn mowers, so here are a couple low maintenance options for you to consider when buying a lawn mower

-Rotary types are easy to operate and sharpen They also tend to be inexpensive -Self-propelled mowers are when the motor turns the wheel These are good for slopes Front-propelled types are easy to operate

Go Green: Many people prefer gas mowers for their power; however, they pollute and are noisy If you want a more environmentally friendly option, consider an electric mower When buying an electric lawn mower find out if the cord length is enough for your lawn They usually tend to be a 100 feet (30 m) in length If you opt for a cordless model, be sure to check the battery length You want to get through at least one mowing before it dies

When buying a lawn mower also keep these considerations in mind Can you maneuver it? This is important if you have to mow around trees or shrubs Is it too heavy? Light lawn mowers are easy to maneuver and handle without comprising quality How easy is it to start the mower? How easy is it to raise or lower the cutting height? Is there a switch to shut off the blade?

Buying the right lawn mower for your lawn is essential to maintaining a health, lush lawn

Your lawn and garden are things that you spend all spring and summer trying to improve It’s almost a shame when the fall and winter come around that you can’t keep all the greenery for the whole year If you want to have a bright and happy garden when the snow melts, you need to take the following steps before the temperature starts to drop

This is a perfect time of year to start a compost pile The leaves from your trees and your summer annuals make great fodder for your compost pile Make sure to check the leaves for disease and add in only those leaves that look healthy Once you start your pile, keep it going by mixing in grass clippings, flowers that have died away, biodegradable table scraps and any additional leaves that fall from your trees Turn the compost pile occasionally with a rake and keep it moist

Your grass needs to be continually mowed as long as possible into the winter If you let your grass grow tall before the first snow, you could have a bad case of snow mold on your hands come springtime Aerate your lawn by using the aerator attachment on your lawnmower or using specially designed spikes that attach to your shoes This will help air and fertilizer get down into your lawn

Keep your grass short (at no higher than 3 inches) to discourage weeds throughout the wintertime This is also a good time to fertilize your lawn You’ll get the benefits of fertilizing without encouraging excess weed growth Speaking of weeds, you’ll need to continue to pull weeds as the months grow colder Pick weeds before the seed hulls begin to sprout This way you will be virtually weed free when the snow starts to melt in the spring

Mulching is especially effective during the early fall Once your annuals have been removed from your flowerbeds, you can apply mulch from two to four inches deep Pick a mulch that has a slow rate of decomposition and impedes the growth of weeds Mulch is mixed in with your existing soil to encourage the flow of oxygen and allow water to reach the roots of your plants

If you’ve got a vegetable garden, this area of your lawn deserves special attention Make sure to wait to harvest late blooming crops, such as broccoli and cabbage You’ll also need to wait for carrots and beets that you planted late in the summer If none of this applies to you, dispose of your vegetable plants in your compost pile If they have diseases, just dump the plants in the trash Once all of your plants are gone, you should roto-till the soil to prepare it for next year

After all of these steps, your garden and grass will be ready to weather the wintertime In the spring, you’ll be glad you did the prep work You’ll be rewarded with a healthy lawn and a fertile garden

A wild-flower garden has a most attractive sound One thinks of long tramps in the woods, collecting material, and then of the fun in fixing up a real wild garden

Many people say they have no luck at all with such a garden It is not a question of luck, but a question of understanding, for wild flowers are like people and each has its personality What a plant has been accustomed to in Nature it desires always In fact, when removed from its own sort of living conditions, it sickens and dies That is enough to tell us that we should copy Nature herself Suppose you are hunting wild flowers As you choose certain flowers from the woods, notice the soil they are in, the place, conditions, the surroundings, and the neighbors

Suppose you find dog-tooth violets and wind-flowers growing near together Then place them so in your own new garden Suppose you find a certain violet enjoying an open situation; then it should always have the same You see the point, do you not? If you wish wild flowers to grow in a tame garden make them feel at home Cheat them into almost believing that they are still in their native haunts

Wild flowers ought to be transplanted after blossoming time is over Take a trowel and a basket into the woods with you As you take up a few, a columbine, or a hepatica, be sure to take with the roots some of the plant’s own soil, which must be packed about it when replanted

The bed into which these plants are to go should be prepared carefully before this trip of yours Surely you do not wish to bring those plants back to wait over a day or night before planting They should go into new quarters at once The bed needs soil from the woods, deep and rich and full of leaf mold The under drainage system should be excellent Then plants are not to go into water-logged ground Some people think that all wood plants should have a soil saturated with water But the woods themselves are not water-logged It may be that you will need to dig your garden up very deeply and put some stone in the bottom Over this the top soil should go And on top, where the top soil once was, put a new layer of the rich soil you brought from the woods

Before planting, water the soil well Then as you make places for the plants put into each hole some of the soil which belongs to the plant which is to be put there

I think it would be a rather nice plan to have a wild-flower garden giving a succession of bloom from early spring to late fall; so let us start off with March, the hepatica, spring beauty and saxifrage Then comes April bearing in its arms the beautiful columbine, the tiny bluets and wild geranium For May there are the dog-tooth violet and the wood anemone, false Solomon’s seal, Jack-in-the-pulpit, wake robin, blood root and violets June will give the bell flower, mullein, bee balm and foxglove I would choose the butterfly weed for July Let turtle head, aster, Joe Pye weed, and Queen Anne’s lace make the rest of the season brilliant until frost

With the days growing shorter and the night time temperatures cooling it is time to start thinking about fall pond maintenance chores

PLANTS
With day light hours getting shorter your waterlily pads are getting smaller leaves and not flowering as much Stop feeding them and if they are hardy lilies then move them to the bottom of the pond to overwinter

The same applies for other potted hardy plants be sure to cut them back so the vegetation does not freeze and start decomposing in the water Tropical bog plants can be potted and brought indoors for the winter

FISH SAFETY
As your floating plants start to shrink in size more and more of your pond becomes exposed to birds and other predictors looking for some fresh fish Make sure you have shelves or caves for the fish to get into or under to avoid these attacks A large clay tile works great

FISH FEEDING
When the water temperature reaches 60 degrees it is time to slow down on feeding your fish Being cold blooded as the temperature drops it slows their metabolism and they digest the food much more slowly I recommend no more than twice a week When the water temperature hits 50 degrees stop feeding all together

POND CLEANING
Now is the time to clean out the pond a complete cleaning is best If that is not possible than remove all the twigs, leaves,and dying vegetation and vacuum every thing Then place leaf netting over the pond and clean it daily Skimmers are not made to get all the leaves only some now and then it would quickly clog and stop working Some people build a frame over their pond to hang the netting on

If you take care of these chores this fall your fish should survive the winter just fine and be healthy and happy next spring

Lawn mowers- they have four wheels and an engine like most racing vehicles so why not modify a lawn mower to exceed 30 mph Lawn mower racing is becoming a regular sport With its own organization and over 700 members, The United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (which can be compared to NASCAR) has a very comprehensive rule book that anyone can download at their web site

These races draw thousands of fans since they have been scheduled from town to town Typically, there is no betting on lawn mower races as they are just a hobby sport But with local newspapers reporting the results and sponsors looking for the best racer in order to get the first position in the next local or even state race, lawn mowers have become a hobby that people dedicate a lot of time to

Racers pull out their retired working mowers and rebuild them for these lawn mower races However, its important to note that there are different level classifications; there are four classes of machine This article briefly describes each

Class one: These are self-propelled cylinder mowers that the racer runs behind The mower only goes as fast as the runner This is where lawn mower racing started It is a great choice for anyone who wants exercise The only thing you need to race it is an old petrol engine cylinder driven mower

Class two: There are two distinct types of machines in this class: roller and wheel driven mowers The wheeler ones offer better traction during slippery conditions, but they are heavier and wider

Class three: These are domestic ride on machines and have become the most popular class With the potential to go 40-50 mph this is probably the fastest group in good conditions Its also the class in which you see most people being thrown off the machines

Class four: This group in gaining popularity in the US In fact most of the racers in the states use these machines These are lawn tractors of 18mph or less

While the rules and regulations vary, for the most part all racers must have their blades off; have a safety cut out switch for the engine; have working brakes and practice common sense when racing

Lawn mower racing is growing popularity across the globe With places like the Britain and Canada starting their own lawn mower racing organization you can be sure to see a lot more retired lawn mowers racing around on a Sunday afternoon

Regardless of the type of lawn mower a person owns it will have to go through one or more lawn mower repairs at some point of its life, even top manufactures and models that worked perfectly in the beginning will require a tune up of at least one part

One can prevent serious lawn mower repairs if maintenance is done on the machine regularly In most cases lawn mowers repairs are due to a lack of attention to the machine

But by doing maintenance checks every winter before storage and every spring before use as well as cleaning the underneath of the mower by scraping it and using and air compressor to clean the engine, air filter and carburetor you can avoid a number of repairs

Prevention is often better the cure Because lawn mower repairs can be costly, maintaining your machine is far more cost effective then neglecting it and then running out to purchase new parts

That said, nearly all mowers will need a repair at some point This may be a small repair such as replacing the blade or larger like repairing the small engine that powers the lawn mower This may include replacing a clogged fuel filter, which is a common reason for why the lawn mower wont start, stalls or dies during use

Lawn mower repairs are often tricky for the average user because in most cases the actual problem does not show up in the part that needs to be repaired but rather somewhere else in the machines

For instance if your spark plug needs to be replaced it could be because there are snags in the carburetor In this case, replacing the spark plug may help but you will also have to get the carburetor looked at So lawn owners are often playing doctor to their lawn mowers as they try to diagnose the disease behind the symptoms

Looking at every symptom or problem and trying to decipher what could be the cause is the best way to get to the root of the problem Consider the problem Is the problem that the lawn mower vibrates during use? Is it that it wont start?

Often, a lawn mower that will not start may be out of fuel or the ration of the fuel mix may be incorrect By ruling out each cause related to starting the mower you can find the solution

However, the lawn mower owner may not be able to get to the bottom of the issue or they may find, during the process, that the mower needs a serious repair In each case it is best to call in a professional

Professional lawn mower repairmen, not only fix major repairs but they also help lawn mower owners figure what is wrong with their lawn mower The owner can then get some quotes on the repair cost and determine if fixing it is the best option or if the lawn mower has seen better days and a new mower is in order

Lawn mowers are essential for keeping a healthy lawn And repairing your lawn mower can help prolong its life

If you own a lawn then you probably already know the importance that lawn mower parts have No matter the type or model of lawn mower you own, at some point you will to replace it

Nothing lasts forever Even the best manufacture models which operated perfectly in the beginning get worn out and break down

Before you run and buy a new model consider whats more suitable a new mower or a change of lawn mower parts In most cases, you can save a fortune by simply replacing and tuning the parts on your existing lawn mower then shelling out dollars for a brand new one

Damage and wear are the most common reasons for replacing lawn mower parts Unsharpened blades for example is a classic example of a worn out lawn mower part In this instance it is cheaper to get your blade sharpened then to buy another mower

Damaged or broken parts or also usually easy to detect because in most cases your lawn mower wont start or mow properly A new spark plug for instance is a cost effective way to keep future problems at bay

If the gap is too thick, or if the porcelain section of the plug is cracked or broken, you should replace the plug A trip to your local service shop or gas station can save you a bundle later on

There are plenty of lawn mower parts out there This is both a negative and positive thing On the one hand so many options make for a confusing shopping trip Whats the right part for your lawn mower? Can you use your chosen add-on on your model? What oil is right for your machine?

On the upside because there are so many options you can be certain that there will be a replacement lawn mower part for your model And checking with your owners manual and local shop can ease the pain of looking for the right part

The easiest way to look for the right part is at gardening warehouses You can find lawn mower parts for common manufactures These warehouses have the knowledge and compatibility lists for your specific model as well as most parts to get your machine mowing again

The internet has also become a great resource to find parts that are compatible with your model A simple search should give you the answers you need You can then choose to order the part online or head your nearest service shop to purchase it

Replacing your lawn mowers parts can be an easy, cost effective way to keep your lawn mower running for seasons more Next time your lawn mower acts up, ask yourself if you really need a brand new one or if you simply need a new part

If youre the type of person who wants a beautiful lawn but also want to keep the planet beautiful then an electric lawn mower may be something for you to consider Now granted, if you have a large lawn then this style may not be for you, but they are perfect for smaller lawns with soft-bladed grass

An obvious benefit of an electric mower is they are not nasty pollutants like their gas counterparts Now when I say pollution Im not just talking smog, anyone whos ever owned a gas mower or had a neighbor who owned one knows about the noise pollution that fills the air when theyre running Electric mowers however are 75% quieter This is something that your neighbors will definitely appreciate when theyre sipping ice tea on their lawn come Sunday

They are also cheaper Home owners on a budget usually opt for an electric mower because it costs about 56% less at retail than gas mowers Electric mowers are also cheaper to operate and maintain They literally cost only pennies to use In a given year, the typical electric lawn mower only costs about $3 in electricity Another added benefit is how easy they are to use

Other than the occasional sharpening, electric mowers are easier to maintain than gas mowers You simply plug in and go You dont have to deal with messy oil changes, you dont have to tune them and you if dont want to deal with all the yanking it takes to get your lawn mower started simply choose the push-button mower They are also a much safer choice, because as a parent or pet owner the last thing you want is for your kids or pet to get near the gas

Just because electric mowers use less energy and are more environmentally friendly, doesnt mean you have to sacrifice the convenience of added features Some electric mowers are mulching mowers As well you can purchase optional accessories like rear or side grass cutters, extended handles or bagging units

When choosing an electric lawn mower you have the option of opting for a corded or cordless mower A cordless mower can provide hassle free mowing in that you dont have to worry about anyone tripping over the cord or mowing over it

However, be sure to keep the size of your lawn in mind when making the decision You want to make sure you can get through at least one mow before the battery dies Most manufactures have charts that provide battery length and how much grass you can mow in that time

A corded mower is not as much of a hassle as you may think Its really no different than using a vacuum cleaner and they are less expensive Consider your lawn and decide whats best

An electric mower is a great way to keep your lawn looking amazing without damaging the environment

Before we start mowing this spring we have to do a few maintenance checks This lawn mower guide will help you get your mower in the right condition

1 Replace the oil and use fresh gasoline If you neglected to change the oil last season the gasoline has lost some of its energy and will cause starter problems Consult your owners manual for oil recommendations If you dont have the owners manual then check with a local shop that sells and repairs lawn mowers

2 Replace the spark plug A new spark will save you a lot of future problems and is inexpensive to change You can find the type and gap information in the owners manual or you can take the spark plug to a service shop or gas station

3 Replace air filter If your air filter is dirty it should be replaced immediately Dirty air filters overwork the engine, which wastes fuel A clean filter is also better for the environment As a general rule, air filters need to be replaced after 25 hours of use Only foam filters should be cleaned with water

4 Check the blade Is it dull, broken or bent? A dull blade can be sharpened with a file or power tool but never try to do it on the mower You can find a grinding tool for sharpening blades that can be attached to your drill or a utility tool, such as a Dremel

If you are unsure about doing it yourself then take the blade to a local mower maintenance store and, for a few bucks, you can have it done for you If your blade is broken or bent it needs to be replaced

5 Check the drive belt If your lawn mower has a drive belt check it for lack of resistance and wear A drive belt with correct tension should be able to move side ways about half an inch when pulled with one finger

6 Check the tires and wheels Check tires/wheels and loose parts Check the air pressure in the tires and lubricate the wheels

7 Clean the mower deck To prevent the engine from starting, disconnect the spark wire from the spark plug Then use a soft brush and water to carefully clean the outside of the mower deck around the engine Next, turn the mower 90 degrees on its side so the carburetor is facing up and clean the inside of the deck, using a wooden stick to remove heavy grass build-up

I can remember a time when all lawn mowers were of the push along type, they were hard work to use and believe me when I say that mowing your lawn was a real chore that could take up half your day As technology has improved and the cost of equipment has come down, a powered lawn mower is now within the reach of virtually everyone; which is just as well because if your lawn is any size at all, a powered lawn mower is an essential piece of equipment to keep your yard looking great

If your lawn is small or has many difficult obstacles to get round, then your choices are limited to a decent push along mower, or an electric hover mower Both of these will do the job more than adequately, but on a very warm day you will build up a real sweat pushing your mower The best option if you are in this situation is a small hover mower such as the Flymo in the UK or the Eastmans Hovermower in the US They are relatively cheap to buy, very easy to use, and will work virtually anywhere on any type of terrain

If you don’t like the sound of a hover mower, then your only option is a manual lawn mower Get some help choosing a model you are comfortable with, from an expert at your local yard equipment store

If your lawn is much larger and you have enough spare money to spend, you can buy yourself a really cool ride on lawn mower or garden tractor This type of mower requires little or no physical exertions, is very easy to operate and will mow your lawn much quicker than any other type of machine This type of mower is the Rolls Royce of the mowing world, and there is no cooler way to make your lawn look great

Whatever the size of your lawn, you will need a grass trimmer to keep the edges of the lawn neat, and for cutting round fence posts, awkward obstacles, and trees However expensive your ride on mower is, your lawn will look half finished unless you pay some attention to the edges as well Grass trimmers are inexpensive pieces of equipment, easy to use, and are a good investment to give you that manicured professional look

When you are buying a lawn mower of any description, I would always recommend finding yourself a reputable local dealer Your dealer should be an expert on the equipment they sell which should give you the piece of mind to know that you’ve chosen as well as you could