It’s vital to have a sharp blade when you are mowing your lawn. If you don’t, you risk shredding the grass stems. Not only does this make your lawn look untidy, but it also increases the chances of lawn diseases. But how often will you need to sharpen your mower blades? Let’s answer this question.
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Creating A Sharpening Schedule
It can help to create a schedule, reminding yourself to sharpen the blade. This ensures that you prevent causing any damage to your lawn. How often you will need to sharpen the blade will depend on how regularly you are mowing the yard. If you aren’t sure how to sharpen your mower blades, you should check out this article.
In most cases, if you are just using the mower for your personal use, you will need to sharpen the blade twice per growing season. It’s best to sharpen at the start of spring when you notice that your lawn is starting to grow again.
You can sharpen them again in the middle of the growing season when you notice that your mower’s performance is starting to decline. We’ll discuss some of the signs that your blades have become dull in the next section.
However, if you are using your mower frequently, like using running a lawn mowing service, you might have to sharpen the blades more often. In this case, it’s a good idea to sharpen them every 25 hours of use.
Signs That You Need To Sharpen Mower Blades
A schedule can be useful. But if you forget to maintain your blades, you will soon start to feel the impact. Here are some of the signs that it might be time to sharpen your mower blades.
Damage to the Grass
A sharp mower blade will slice neatly through the grass blade. As the blade grows blunter, it will tear the stems. This can damage your lawn. There are a few signs that this is occurring.
First, you might notice that the grass is of an uneven height, as one part of the blade scalps the lawn too closely. This can also be a sign that the blades are no longer level.
The next element to look at is the grass itself. If the blade needs to be sharpened, the edges of the grass will be shredded and jagged. After the grass has been mowed, you might notice that the edges have turned brown.
Over time, this will make your grass blades weaker. As a result, they will be more susceptible to issues like fungal problems. You might be able to spot this by looking under the grass blades. This type of damage can also make it harder for your lawn to recover after extreme weather events, like droughts.
Checking The Mower Blades
If you suspect a problem, you can lift the mower and inspect the blades. Feel for any nicks or dents in the blades. You can also gently run your thumb along the edge of the blade, feeling how sharp it is.
Difficulty Mowing The Lawn
Often, you will feel a difference in the way it feels when mowing the lawn. When the blade is sharp, it will slice easily through the grass. But as it becomes blunt, the mower will become harder to push, slowing you down.
Of course, the mower blades aren’t the only things that will determine how easy it is to mow your lawn. The terrain will also have a role to play. In particular, hills can slow down a push mower.
The good news is that some models are designed to make mowing steep lawns easier. In particular, look for a mower that comes with self-propelled rear wheels. If you want to learn more, check out this guide to push mowers for hills.
When Should You Replace Mower Blades?
Over time, the mower blades will become so worn down that you need to replace them. An inspection will quickly reveal when the blades are at the end of their lifespan.
One of the most common concerns is that the blades have become too thin, causing them to bend. At other times, you might spot holes or cracks in the metal. Or the blades might not be cutting your grass effectively anymore.
Most mower blades will often last for a relatively long time. You will need to replace them after around 200 hours of use. For most people, this will be two or three years. Though if you use your mower frequently, you might have to replace the blades once a year. This guide will tell you how to replace the mower blades.
Extending The Life Of Your Mower Blade
A few simple actions can allow you to extend the life of your mower blade, helping them stay sharper for longer. First, you should make sure that you are choosing high-quality blades. These will appear more expensive initially. But they will last for a long time, sometimes you will be able to get up to 400 hours of use from a blade.
You should also be careful about where you are mowing. If you hit a rock or other sharp object, the force could break the blade.
Consider the overall health of your mower. If an oil problem is stopping the motor from functioning optimally, this can make it harder to cut grass. Because of this, you should have the mower serviced frequently. This is a chance for a mechanic to check it over. You should service your mower once a year.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to place a sheath over the blade, particularly when you are storing the mower over the winter. This prevents moisture from causing the steel to start rusting. It also ensures that there won’t be any accidents when you are preparing the mower for the new season.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your mower in good condition, it’s important to make sure that you are regularly sharpening the blade. This only takes a few minutes, but it will deliver a huge improvement to performance and keep your grass healthy.
