8 biggest mistakes you can make when mowing your lawn this spring

The arrival of spring and warmer weather means that it’s time to venture back out into the garden and get that untidy lawn back into shape but there are several mistakes people make when mowing the lawn that you need to avoid.

“Think safety first,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)) who have a selection of vital tips to help you operate and store outdoor power equipment safely. “I can’t stress enough to review the manufacturer’s safety guidance before starting up any equipment—especially your lawnmower. And be sure to keep kids and pets away from outdoor power equipment while it’s in use,” he added.

1. Thinking all mowers are the same

While pieces of outdoor equipment like lawnmowers may be relatively simple machines to operate, they can still be incredibly dangerous if you’re not fully in control. The OPEI recommends reviewing the owner’s manual before using a new piece of equipment to ensure you’re well aware of basic operations such as turning it on and off and controlling the speed, that way you’re better equipped to act if something should go wrong.

2. Not inspecting equipment before use

Checking equipment before use in the garden, especially if it’s been left in storage over the winter, is vital as you don’t want to start using a piece of damaged and potentially dangerous equipment.

Check the air filter, oil level and gasoline tank if you have a gas-powered mower or the power connection, condition of the wires or battery if your mower is electric. Check for loose belts and missing or damaged parts, that way you can get the equipment repaired and back in tip-top condition before using it.

3. Not walking through your yard or work area before starting to mow or using other outdoor power equipment

Always ensure walk through the area you intend to work in and look out for anything that could be a hazard. Keep an eye out for and remove any objects such as stones, sticks and other debris that could cause damage to your mower or hurt anyone in the vicinity of the equipment when it’s in use.

4. Removing or not using safety guards on the equipment

Any safety guards that are fitted to a device are there for a reason.

The OPEI urges users to never alter or disable safety protection measures and if needed, to take equipment to a qualified service representative for repairs and inspection.

5. Using fuels not designed for equipment

You wouldn’t fill up your car with the wrong kind of fuel and the same logic applies to gas-powered outdoor equipment.

This may vary depending on the specific piece of equipment (again, be sure to check the manual) but the OPEI suggests using gasoline that is E10 or less, as anything with more than 10% ethanol can cause running problems and damage the fuel line.

6. Using batteries or chargers that are not specified by the manufacturer

While you may be able to find a whole range of batteries and chargers for sale online, it’s important to use power methods specified by the manufacturer as these will have been properly safety tested.

7. Not storing fuel and batteries safely

While using power equipment like a lawn mower has its own dangers, you must always ensure that equipment and its fuel or power source are also stored correctly.

When it comes to storing fuel, only use containers designed for doing and ensure that you use fuel before it is 30 days old. If you need a reminder, label fuel cans with the date of purchase and ethanol content.

For batteries, make sure to keep them away from other metal objects (such as coins, keys, nails, screws) that could make a connection from one terminal to another as shorting battery terminals together could cause burns or start a fire.

8. Not cleaning or storing equipment well

And finally, once you’ve finished mowing your lawn, it’s essential that you properly clean and store your equipment as this will help it to run more efficiently and last longer.

Always be sure to remove any dirt, grass or oil before storing your equipment and keep it somewhere dry, avoiding damp or wet environments.