Americans buy millions of new lawnmowers every year. With a functional lawnmower, you can keep your yard looking great. During the spring and summer months, your mower will be used on a weekly basis. However, when cold weather moves in, you will have to get your mower ready for a long period of dormancy. 

If you want to keep your mower in good working order, you will have to properly prepare it for winter. Ignoring the need for this prep work can lead to your mower ceasing to fire up when it is time to mow your lawn next spring. Here are some things you should consider when winterizing your lawnmower. 

Start By Emptying Your Gas Tank

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as the owner of a lawnmower is leaving gas in the tank over the winter months. This gas will lose its potency over the winter, which can result in damage to other fuel-related components. If you can’t get all of the gas out of the tank, then you need to invest in some fuel stabilizer to help reduce the problems caused by old gas. 

Before you store your mower for winter, you also need to check oil levels. Without the right amount of oil, internal engine parts will be damaged due to a lack of lubrication. If the oil levels are low, then you have a leak you need to address. Taking your mower to professionals is crucial when trying to diagnose and fix your oil leak. With their help, you can fix this problem before putting your mower up for the winter. 

Check and Remove Your Spark Plug

Firing your lawnmower up will be impossible without a functional spark plug. Before you store your lawnmower for winter, be sure to remove your spark plug and check it for damage. Over time, lots of carbon can start to build up on the electrode located in your spark plug. This carbon can prohibit the spark from being produced from this part. If you see that lots of black carbon are on the plug, replacing it is a good idea. 

You also need to inspect the spark plug wire and boot located on your lawnmower. The older this part gets, the higher the risk becomes of it getting damaged. By inspecting these vital ignition components, you can uncover problems early on and fix them before they cause damage. 

Inspect Your Blade

If you want to keep your lawn looking great, then you will need a lawnmower with a sharp blade. The duller this blade gets, the harder it will be to get an even cut. Inspecting your blade before you store your mower for winter is important. You may need to remove the blade and have it sharpened by professionals. If the blade is damaged, then completely replacing it is your best course of action. 

Do you need help repairing your lawnmower? If so, it is time to find out more about the services offered by 855RILAWNS. 

Have a lawn that is run-down, leaving brown patches, potholes, and sparse grass? Then, you need to renovate the lawn if you want to have lush green grass and a clean, smooth surface. You will likely need to start from scratch by removing all the debris and understanding the soil condition before investing in laying out a fresh lawn.

Testing The Soil

You start with a soil test. Analyzing the soil in its current state will help you decide the needed nutrients, soil composition, and any hidden conditions or toxins that have diminished the soil quality. The soil will be evaluated, keeping in mind the region’s natural climate and the quality of water before working up a plan to give fresh life to the soil.

Preparing The Soil

Once you know what is needed to repair any damage to the soil, aeration would be the right step in the process. Over time, soil chemistry can change as to its nutrients, acidity and pH content, and non-essential trace minerals. The soil can also become contaminated by chemicals used in pesticides and polluted water. The soil may have become compacted, with no room for the plant nutrients to reach the roots. 

Fertilizing The Soil

Results of the soil test will provide the answers required to treat the soil. If the soil is merely in need of nourishment with the appropriate level of plant nutrients, it is a simple matter of adding the right fertilizer to bring it back to a fertile state. Organic fertilizers are always the best choice.

Top-dressing The Soil

Now that the soil has been aerated, it is ready for top-dressing. Small areas of the soil can be shoveled with a mixture of healthy soil and tamped down to an even surface. While this may be done only on those areas showing signs of damage, you may want to do it across the entire lawn area. Essentially, mixing healthy soil with the existing aerated one can replenish the soil.

Planting Grass Seeds

Spreading the seeds evenly comes next as the improper application of seeds can produce uneven growth of grass. Ideally, a drop spreader will drop the seeds straight down the path. It can be used easily in small spaces and still produce a lush lawn. More extensive lawns will do better with a rotary spreader as it will fan out the seeds in all directions. 

While you may undertake all these steps, you would be better off by using expert lawn services as they can lay the lawn and maintain it for you through the years.

In urban areas, where concretization is paramount, it is still possible to have a lawn, small though it may be. This is how we get a tiny bit of natural green to enjoy. Then, there are those homes with huge yards that can get professional landscaping done.

The truth is that an untended lawn can become an eyesore. From grass seeding to annual aeration of lawns, it can seem like a lot of work with regular maintenance. These tasks can seem daunting, and you may decide that artificial turf is good enough for you. However, it is just not the same as feeling fresh grass under your feet. Some even prefer hardscaping with the addition of just a few plants and shrubs. 

Advantages of Having a Lawn

• Fresh grass lawns come with huge benefits to the environment. They, like all green plants, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen. They also trap the dust floating around your home and provide an easier breathing environment. 
• Lawns are particularly helpful in trapping stormwater runoff and preventing soil erosion. During heavy rains, the surface area with soil or gravel can get washed away, causing ruts and holes in the ground. The water ends up clogging the drains and has the potential to cause flooding. A lawn can slow down this process by letting the water seep into the groundwater system.
• Grass lawns help the soil structure by ensuring that the soil is not too compacted, reducing water seepage into the ground. The soil remains loose and airy for a longer time. 

Disadvantages of Having a Lawn

• Regardless of the size of the lawn, maintenance is essential. It involves regular cutting or mowing. Having a good lawnmower that costs money and requires maintenance does not work for everyone. What’s more, lawn owners need to set aside time that they may not have. 
• The grass needs to be fertilized regularly, or the lawn will not look vital and healthy. Grass lawns need a regular supply of soil-rich nutrients that include nitrogen and phosphorus. 
• Keeping the lawn free of bugs can also be a challenge. An overgrown lawn can hide insects like ticks and other disease carriers. So, people use pesticides. Unfortunately, pesticides may cause more harm than good, especially if applied inexpertly.

For those of us who enjoy the fresh smell of grass and wish to get the benefits of having a lawn, professionals provide landscaping services. It may just be worth hiring them to help you maintain the grounds for the long term.