Sharpen lawnmower blades now for a perfect spring lawn
According to Virginia Cooperative Extension experts, sharpening the blades on your lawnmower is an easy way to improve the quality of your lawn.
The quickest way to improve lawn quality is to mow with a sharp blade, according to Mike Goatley, turf specialist for Virginia Cooperative Extension and associate professor of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Dull mower blades will tear grass rather than slicing through it, resulting in a ragged-looking lawn.
“A lawn cut with dull blades will have a brownish-white cast where the torn grass tips have died,” said Goatley. “Your lawn won’t have the shine you get with sharp blades.”
Goatley recommends blades be sharpened at least three times per growing season: before the growing season, in late spring, and then once more in mid-to late summer.
Though it might sound intimidating, Goatley said sharpening the blades on your lawnmower is easy to do. You will need a socket to remove the bolt holding your blade, a vise, metal file, personal protective equipment, and an angle grinder. If this task sounds too dull, you can also simply replace the old blade with a new one.
Follow these steps for a sharp blade and an even sharper lawn:
- Before you do anything, remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
- Turn the mower on its side, being sure not to spill oil.
- Take the blade off and set aside the bolt and washer for later.
- Secure the blade in a vise.
- Clean the blade of any debris using a metal file.
- Wearing goggles and hearing protection, use an angle grinder to grind both ends of the cutting blade at a 60-degree angle.
- Balance the blade on the end of a long nail or cone and give it a light spin. It should do a uniform spin and not wobble up and down.
- Reattach the blade to the mower. This is a great time to clean the underside of your mower.
If you have a reel lawn mower, have your blades sharpened by a professional.
A sharp mower blade will also improve the fuel efficiency of your mower and extend engine life.
More information about lawn care from Virginia Cooperative Extension can be found online.
About Goatley
Goatley is responsible for statewide development and implementation of educational outreach programs for all areas of turfgrass management and conducts applied research focusing on various aspects of environmental stewardship in turfgrass management. Goatley also leads the turfgrass cultivar evaluation program at Virginia Tech.
