Spring is in full bloom. Not a day goes by without someone mentioning the grand stretch in the evenings and how we won’t feel it till the clocks go back. And they are right. It is lovely to hear the birds singing in the early morning light and to appreciate the budding trees and flowers.  Nature is waking up to a late Spring, the daffodils are blooming, the lambs are bounding round the fields and the grass is growing.  The grass is growing. And that means one thing. Time to take the lawnmower out.

Proud gardeners will be gearing up for the first of the many lawn cuttings of the year.  Some people love this task while others survey the scene in deep dismay. These miserable souls know that the dreaded will be repeated in a just a few weeks and thereafter on a fortnightly basis. But, love it or hate it, that grass must be cut, unless you chose the option of grazing wild goats on the green area (In fairness, there are some downsides to this option).    Lawn mowing certainly becomes pleasurable when you have the right tools for the job.  A well serviced, working lawnmower will make life easier. Whether you have a walk behind mower, a ride-on, front deck, electric, battery or petrol, all lawnmowers deserve a little wake up attention before the season of grass cutting begins.

Drop your machine in to your local lawnmower servicing shop to ensure that it is in full working order. If you intend to do the necessary yourself, then remember to:

• Remove the spark plugs before starting work
• Ensure that those plugs are undamaged and replace them if you feel it is necessary
• Change the oil
• Tighten up all screws
• Sharpen the blades
• Change the petrol/ 2 stroke
• Clean the filter

If you have any worries, call the experts.  Our trained staff are always available to assist you with any questions you may have.

Once your lawnmower is in good working order, avoid the temptation to pop off for a cuppa or a quick lie down and just grab the that bull by the horns (so to speak) and start mowing.    The first lawn cut of the year should only top the grass and shouldn’t chop it back mercilessly.  Think of it as letting the grass get used to being cut, by taking a third or less of the growth. This minimises stress on your lawn and promotes healthy grass growth.

Irish weather is so unpredictable that cutting can often be postponed, sometimes for weeks.  Wet weather makes lawn cutting more difficult, but not impossible.  However, if the ground is too damp or waterlogged you may run into problems, depending on your type of lawnmower.  Inclement weather brings problems with compaction of soil, and clogged grass boxes.  The wet grass itself can causes its own issues.   Be careful as wet grass can be a bit slippery to walk on, so take extra care.  The cuttings may tend to clump also, and your blades may need to be super sharp, to get a good cut. On top of this, the chlorophyll in wet grass are inclined to stain everything, including, your clothes, your paths and even your house. So, if your preference of house colour does not include lime green speckles, you might want to wait for a drier day.    If you do want to mow and it looks like dry weather is a long-lost myth from the past, then try raising the mowing height of your lawn mower to reduce the load. Empty the bag/box more often as this will mean less weight and keep your speed down to reduce load on the lawnmower blade.

A good lawn mower is a definite advantage in all weathers and for all types of lawns.  At Robert Kee Power Equipment, we know that maintaining your lawn can be time consuming and hard work. Our machines are designed to make your life easier.  To this end, we stock the super deluxe robotic lawnmower, that brings futuristic gardening to the very heart of Ireland.  The  Husqvarna Automower allows  you to forget everything you know about lawn care.  It is an automower, a robotic concept that does the work for you – without supervision, and  around the clock.   Fancy!

But if you are not yet in the market for such a sophisticated robotic lawn mower, we have a fine range of mowers to suit every lawn, from stately homes to apartment balconies. Our expert staff are happy to answer your mower related queries and advise on your lawn cutting solutions.  That first lawn cutting, might be the first of many, but there is no reason why mowing the lawn shouldn’t be a happy task to take you tight through to winter.