Written by Adam Woolcott  / March 2023

Adam has 30 years of experience as a professional gardener and has many accolades, but is probably best known for his four Gold Medals at The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show and his three BBC/RHS People’s Choice Awards at the show (of which he is particularly proud) which he won as one half of Woolcott & Smith.

 

As the Season Transitions Again, a Fresh Start Awaits

 

"When I was a child, winter seemed to last for an eternity, but now it seems that one minute you’re thinking about the long winter ahead and the next daffodils and crocuses are appearing".  

Late winter can be an inspiring time of year as those spring bulbs emerge, the days get longer and brighter and once again you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. It’s not just us noticing the difference our gardens are also inspired and triggered into growth and new life as the season turns once more.

One thing you will notice in particular is that your lawn is once again starting to grow, you’ve probably already noticed some patches are growing away quicker than others depending on what types of grass make up your lawn. Courser grasses like ryegrass tend to have a head start whilst finer fescues catch up a little later. What all this means however is that your lawn is now starting to look a little scruffy and unkempt and the first grass cut of the season is beckoning.

Lawnmower Advice for Customers

The chances are that your customer lawnmower has spent the winter in a cold and damp shed or garage and will need some tender loving care before the start of the new season.

 

Dispose of Any Remaining Fuel From the Lawnmower’s Tank

Ideally, your customer lawnmower should have been drained of any fuel before being stored for the winter, but I know myself with busy lives this doesn’t always happen, and this brings me to a crucial point, don’t under any circumstances attempt to start the mower again with old fuel still in the tank. The fuel will now be stale and trying to use it again is going to cause your lawnmower engine a heap of problems (Unless they have used a fuel preservative) ! So remove the old fuel and dispose of it at an approved, official site for petrol. Now you can top the machine up with fresh fuel and mow with confidence.

Drain Any Old Oil From the Lawnmower and Refill it With New

The next step is to check the oil level and condition of the oil by removing the oil filler cap and checking the dipstick. If the oil is olive oil coloured and clear looking then just top up with fresh oil ensuring you’re using the correct SAE rating for your machine. If the oil is dark and viscous then drain it from the mower and replace it with clean fresh oil, disposing of the old oil at an approved site.

Check the Air Filter

I’ve previously removed air filters that look like they have bird nests in them! This is not good for your machine and will affect its performance. If the air filter is reasonably clean and not greasy and stained then give it a good tap to remove the dust and particles and then return it to the machine, if however it’s damaged or heavily soiled replace it with a new filter.

Replace Spark Plug

So fresh fuel has been added, the oil changed and the air filter attended!  But the machine won’t start, you’ve been pulling that cord until you’ve gone into a sweat but nothing is happening and the air has turned blue! This is the point where you need to replace the sparkplug a simple procedure takes just a few minutes but will make all the difference.

Check the Lawnmower Blade

For general maintenance above the cutting deck, this is all you really need to do but what about the below deck? Firstly check the blade, it needs to be sharp, undamaged and firmly attached but always remove the spark plug cap before carrying out any maintenance on the cutting area of your lawnmower, if the blade is blunt or damaged have it sharpened or replaced. Cutting your lawn with a blunt blade will tear and rip the grass rather than cutting it cleanly and this in turn will lead to the tips of the grass discolouring and giving the lawn a poor overall appearance.

Remove Any Built-up Grass and Dirt From the Lawnmower

Check that old grass and dirt haven’t built up on the skirt of your mower as this will reduce the suction and performance of your mower, likewise make sure that you have a mesh bag that you also clean to create the ideal airflow from the surface of the grass to the back of the bag, lifting up all those clippings and debris and throwing it to the back of the collection bag or box. If the collection bag is heavily soiled with stuck on grass then soak it for 24 hours to soften the build-up and make it easier to remove.

The Lawnmower is Ready for Action 

With clean fresh oil (the lifeblood of the machine), a new filter, sparkplug, dirt/old grass build-up removed and that super sharp blade, your customer can wheel the lawnmower out with pride and enjoy one of the best experiences in gardening, the smell of freshly cut grass.

Happy Gardening! 

Adam 

Spare Parts 

Handy stocks a full range of spares, including blades, spark plugs and air filters, along with accessories such as good-quality oil and fuel.  It’s easy to find what you are looking for by entering the model, product or part number in the search facility. 

Lawnmowers

Or you may want to stock lawnmowers – we have a wide range available to you!  Click here