Simple lawnmower check before you cut grass stops it turning brown and patchy

Summer is the season when lawns often flourish, some by happenstance and others due to diligent care of the grass and soil. Many green-fingered enthusiasts are aware that lawns can become more temperamental or stressed in summer due to increased temperatures and potentially less rainfall.

One week, the grass appears verdant and lush, and the next, it's marred with unsightly brown patches. Watering, fertilising, and weeding are all crucial gardening tasks for maintaining a healthy lawn, but there's an even simpler measure that can be taken to preserve your grass. Experts in lawn mowers have revealed that neglecting to check your mower could be the culprit behind damaged grass.

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Mark Brokaw, John Deere's go-to-market manager for turf parts, informed Martha Stewart that uneven grass is one of the initial indicators that your lawn mower blade requires sharpening.

A dull blade won't cleanly slice through grass but will instead tear it, resulting in ragged-looking grass rather than a tidy trim, reports the Express.

Brown patches on garden grass can arise from various factors, including pest infestations, drought, excessive thatch, soil compaction, and fungal diseases like brown patch. The turf specialist from John Deere points out that it's also a symptom of a faulty lawn mower.

Fortunately, you likely don't need to replace your mower; simply sharpen the blade.

How to sharpen a lawn mower blade

For petrol mowers, disconnect the spark plug wire to ensure the engine can't spontaneously start.

Tilt the lawn mower on its side to gain access to the blade, ensuring that the air filter and carburettor are facing upwards. Alternatively, utilise a lifting device to reach the blade.

Jeff Taylor, product services manager at STIHL, recommends using a short piece of timber, ideally a two-by-four or a four-by-four.

Position this block between the blade and the mower deck. "When I turn the blade counterclockwise, it's going to stop the blade from turning," Jeff explained.

Clean and sharpen the blade

Family Handyman suggests securing the blade in a bench vice and removing rust and debris with a wire brush.

Before you start filing, don protective gloves and safety goggles. A flat file, approximately 10 inches long and half to one inch wide, can be used to sharpen the bevels on both ends of the blade.

Align the file with the exact angle of the bevel and stroke up and down repeatedly while moving from one end of the bevel to the other.

The DIY expert pointed out: "To maximise the life of the blade, you're aiming for 'butter-knife' sharp, not razor-sharp. It shouldn't take more than 30 to 50 strokes to achieve this."

Balance the blade

Before reattaching the blade to the mower, hang it from a nail to check its balance. If one side dips, file a bit more off that side until the blade hangs horizontally, advises Family Handyman.

"This step is crucial because an unbalanced blade causes vibrations that can make mowing more of a chore than it already is and actually damage the lawnmower", they added.

Refit the blade

Flip the lawnmower back over, position the blade onto the shaft, and secure it with the nut or bolt. Now, lodge the wood back between the blade and housing on the opposite side of the blade, then tighten the fastener using the wrench.

Ensure you tighten it adequately, as leaving it too loose can disrupt the engine timing and even make the mower difficult to start.

Lastly, stand the mower upright and reattach the spark plug and spark plug wire before giving it a test start.