Have you ever checked the blade on your mower to make sure it’s sharp enough to cut the grass properly? Did you know that a dull blade can cause severe turf damage, which can lead to increased costs and turf maintenance requirements? I hope you answered “Yes!” to the questions above, please keep reading!

Regardless of how sharp you keep your mower blade, every time you mow the blade goes through a period of “shocking” from the cut. When a blade of grass is cut, the remaining grass plant must go through a healing period to seal the cut. A sharp blade cleanly cuts through the grass and leaves a nice, straight slice, minimizing impact on the plant and the time required for healing. On the other hand, a dull blade will basically shred the grass. Even though the grass is “cut”, it is shredded, torn, and severely torn, causing the grass plant to endure an extended period of healing and water loss. Not to mention, an increased risk of becoming infected or infested with microbes or insects. A grass plant that puts up with a nice clean slice is much less likely to suffer long-term damage or disease.

If you’re handy with tools and familiar with operating a lawn mower, sharpening your own blade isn’t that difficult. Many retail stores sell a sharpening stone specifically designed for mower blades. You can also purchase a tool that will hold the blade in place when you remove the bolt that secures the blade to the motor shaft. Use a permanent marker or an awl to mark the bottom of the sheet before removing it. And safety comes first, which means always removing the spark plug wire from the spark plug before doing anything under or around the mower.

Once you have sharpened the blade, put some oil on the bolt threads and reattach the blade securely to the spindle. After the first cut with the freshly sharpened blade, recheck the bolt to make sure it is tight. Also, if you have sharpened the blade multiple times, be sure to check the balance of the blade. An unbalanced blade can cause damage to the mower and possible injury to the user. If a blade can no longer be sharpened and balanced, buy a new blade. Better safe than sorry!

Your owner’s manual should have instructions on proper maintenance, and even if you can’t find your manual, a quick internet search using the make and model of your mower will take you to the manufacturer’s website. If you’re not comfortable sharpening your own blade, that’s okay – the dealer you bought your mower from can provide this type of service, and there are many professional companies in our area that will do this job for you. Regardless of which works best for you, a sharp blade always works best for your lawn! By keeping a sharp blade, your blades of grass will benefit greatly! This will also reduce the amount of maintenance required for a beautiful lawn. Choose a lawn care company that uses green products for your other lawn-related needs.