To maintain a healthy, green lawn all summer, it’s important to check your mower blade every few weeks to make sure it’s sharp and free of damage. This is will help keep your grass healthy by cutting cleanly, making it easier for the plants to recover. In most cases, a lawn mower blade can be sharpened several times before it has to be replaced, and it’s relatively inexpensive to buy a new one.

When to Sharpen or Replace Mower Blades

For a typical homeowner, the mower’s blade will need to be sharpened at the beginning and middle of the mowing season. If you have an exceptionally large yard or you mow over any debris like branches, toys, glass or metal, your blade may need extra sharpening, or you may need to replace it during the season. If you notice your mower blade has become very thin and weak, replace it immediately. Over time, the metal can weaken as it’s eroded by dirt, sand and other debris from your yard. This can cause the blade to break while you’re mowing, possibly injuring people nearby if pieces of metal fly out of the mower.

How to Tell if Your Mower Blades Need Sharpening

After you mow, take a look at your lawn. If you see missed patches or uneven spots, a dull mower blade could be to blame. A sharp lawn mower blade will cut the grass at the same height in one pass. Another sign is if the grass blades are torn at the ends. A sharpened mower blade will cut the grass cleanly, while a dull blade tears it. This can damage your lawn’s health and even cause it to turn from green to brown.

Of course, you should also inspect the mower blade itself. Look for inconsistencies, dents and chips in the cutting edge. Many of these imperfections can be smoothed out with regular sharpening, but if there are larger nicks or it’s bent, the blade will need to be replaced.

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade

Whether you have a riding or push mower, check your owner’s manual before starting any repairs or maintenance. This is especially important if it’s under warranty, because it may require you to have the work done by a professional.

Before starting any work on your mower, be sure to remove the spark plug. This will prevent it from accidentally starting on its own.

1. Remove the mower blade.
   If you have a lawn tractor or riding mower, using a mower lift will help you safely access the blade. For a push mower, you can either set it on its side or use a mower jack to get to the blade. Be sure to keep the air filter up so gas and oil doesn’t leak out.

   Before removing the blade take a picture with your phone, or note which direction it’s facing, so you can put it back on the same way. To stop the blade from turning so you can loosen the bolts, clamp it in place or put a piece of scrap wood between the end of the blade and the mower deck. Use a socket wrench or adjustable wrench to remove the bolt in the middle of the mower blade.

2. Clean underneath the mower deck.
   Use a putty knife to scrape out any accumulated grass, dirt and other yard debris.
3. Sharpen the mower blade.
   Clamp the blade in place with a c-clamp and block of wood, or in a bench vise. Use a flat medium file to remove nicks in both sides of the edges. You can remove burrs and nicks from the flat side of the cutting edge by very lightly filing it. The flat side of the blade should not have a bevel, so keep the file flat.

   On the beveled side of the cutting edge, use the medium-toothed file in even strokes, following the blade’s original bevel. To keep the blade in balance, make sure each edge gets the same number of strokes.

4. Check for balance.
   If you remove more metal from one edge than another, the blade will be out of balance, which can cause the mower to vibrate and cut unevenly. To test for balance, place the blade on a blade balancer, screwdriver handle or dowel. If it’s in balance, the blade will lie flat, but if one side is lower, it needs a little more sharpening to remove excess metal.
5. Replace the mower blade and spark plug.
   Make sure the blade goes back on the same way, and that you secure it tightly so it won’t come off while you’re mowing.

If you’d rather just replace your mower blade, or you’d rather have a professional take care of the sharpening for you, contact Rental Ranch in Wichita at 316-838-4211.

Regular maintenance will keep your lawn mower working at its best and your lawn looking great for years to come. At Rental Ranch, we recommend a full service each spring and basic maintenance in the fall for both riding and push mowers.

Annual Spring Mower Maintenance Tips:

Change the Oil

Regular oil, oil filter, and fuel filter changes will help your mower run smoothly and prevent costly repairs. Check your user manual for recommendations. Most mowers recommend oil changes every 25 hours, which roughly translates to once a year.

Clean Out the Mower Deck

Keep debris from building up and causing problems by using a putty knife and a wire brush to scrape off caked-on mud and grass. If you do this again at the end of the mowing season, your mower will be clean and ready to go in the spring.

Clean or Replace the Air Filter

Cleaning or replacing the air filter on your lawn mower allows the engine to operate more efficiently. A paper accordian-style air filter can be removed and blown out with an air compressor. If the filter is still clogged after blowing it out, you’ll need to replace it. If your mower has a foam filter, wash it with water and a little dish soap. Let it dry before reinstalling.

Change the Spark Plug

Replacing a spark plug is one of the easiest tasks of lawnmower maintenance. Remove the spark plug with a ratcheting socket driver and spark plug socket. Then, clean around the area and install the new spark plug.

Sharpen the Blades

Sharpen your mower blade before the first cutting of the season. If you don’t cut with a sharp blade, you’ll tear the grass, leaving brown tips on the ends of the blades. Read our blog post on mower blade sharpening for details on how to do it yourself, or you can replace the blade or have it professionally sharpened. Be sure to check the blade about once a month during mowing season to see if it’s getting dull.

Inspect Discharge Chute for Damage or Holes

The discharge chute prevents your mower from throwing rocks or other debris, which is dangerous for whoever’s operating the mower and anyone nearby. A damaged discharge chute should be professionally repaired or replaced.

Fall Mower Maintenance

Before storing your lawn mower for the winter, it’s a good idea to clean out from underneath the mower deck and drain the fuel. This is also a good time to make sure your mower blade is sharp and ready for spring.

If you need help with lawn mower maintenance or repair in the Wichita area, Rental Ranch has skilled technicians who can service all makes and models of riding and push mowers.

The right equipment can make mowing your lawn a breeze. If you’re shopping for a new lawn mower, the size of your lawn, the terrain and the layout should determine what kind of mower you choose. 

Push Mowers

Push mowers are affordable and ideal for smaller lawns that are about 4,000 square feet or less. Also called a walk-behind mower, they’re easier than riding lawn mowers to maneuver around obstacles like trees. When selecting a push mower, you should consider the size of both the cutting deck and the engine. A typical push mower cuts a 22-inch swath. Engine sizes range from 140cc to 190cc. Unless you need to cut wet or high grass, a quality 140cc engine will work for most home owners. The majority of push mowers are gas powered, however, electric options are available as well. Many walk-behind mowers also come with bagging or mulching capabilities to make it easier to deal with grass clippings.

Self-propelled Mowers

Self-propelled are simply walk-behind mowers with the added advantage of a drive system to help power them across your yard. Since they’re less physically demanding to use, self-propelled mowers are a better fit for larger lawns that are around 4,000 to 6,000 square feet. They’re available in front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive. A front-wheel drive mower is great if you have a lot of trees or other obstacles to mow around, because you can just tilt the mower back to swing it around corners. A rear-wheel drive mower is best used for hills or uneven ground, where it gets better traction than a front-drive model.

Lawn Tractors and Riding Lawn Mowers

For bigger lawns that are over half an acre, traditional riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors are ideal. Newer models come with a front engine, but some older models have a rear engine. Both are gas-powered and are priced comparably. Front engine mowers are typically larger, but if storage space is a factor, rear engine mowers take up less space. However, rear engine mowers usually lack some added features like a fuel gauge or high seats. You can find models with a cutting deck from 42 to 48 inches, although some can cut a wider swath. Clippings can be bagged, side-discharged or mulched. Other tools can be attached to allow you more options for using your lawn tractor besides just mowing. If you need to better maneuverability for tighter turns, four-wheel drive is also an option.

Zero-Turn Radius Mowers

Zero-turn radius (ZTR) mowers offer the same benefits of traditional riding mowers, plus better maneuverability. Most ZTR mowers have levers, which control the rear wheels separately, instead of a steering wheel. They’re called zero-turn radius because you can actually turn such a tight circle with them that you stay in one place. They’re more expensive than lawn tractors but offer the same capabilities for bagging, mulching and side-discharging clippings. Typical cutting swath is 42 to 50 inches. ZTR mowers do require some practice to learn how to drive, and they can be difficult to handle on hills. During turns, the rear wheels can tear up your grass.

Rental Ranch is Wichita’s Best Source for Lawn Mowers

We’re authorized dealers for several major brands of mowers, such as TORO mowers. We also carry commercial mowers and offer service and parts to keep your equipment running smoothly for years to come. Come in and see us today!

When it comes to mowing, many homeowners just pick a time frame. Mowing your lawn too much or too little can ruin your lawn and waste all the time, money, and effort you put into it.

Follow the One-Third Rule

The short answer is to mow when your lawn needs it, and to never cut more than one-third of the length off of the grass blades. So, if you want to cut your lawn down to a 3-inch height, you should let the grass grow to 4 – 4.5 inches before you mow. If your grass grows quickly, you’ll have to mow more often; less mowing is required when the grass is dormant or slow-growing.

These factors can affect how quickly your grass grows, and often to mow your lawn:

Weather and Seasons

Here in Kansas, warm-season grasses are common. They grow faster in the summer compared to the rest of the seasons. Cool-season grass grows faster in the spring or fall seasons. When your lawn grows fast, you may have to mow every 3 – 5 days, but you could stretch that out to about once every 7 – 10 days during periods of slower growth. You should be able to stop mowing for a few weeks or months during the winter.

Watering and Rainfall

Grass grows faster when it’s watered more, and many homeowners unknowingly over-water their lawns. Using the correct watering frequency and amount will encourage deep root growth, conserve water, help your grass withstand drought, and allow you to mow less frequently. When it rains you will likely need to mow more often. Just be sure to wait for the grass to dry out before you mow, to prevent damage to your mower and your lawn.

 Fertilization

Fertilizing your lawn will lead to faster growing grass, so plan to mow more often after using fertilizer.

Desired Length of Grass

When you need to mow and how often is also dependent on how long your grass should be. Cutting your grass too short can “scalp” your lawn and cause brown spots. Different types of grass have different ideal lengths, usually ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Research the ideal length for your grass type, then use the one-third rule to decide when to mow.

For lawn care information specific to Wichita and the surrounding area, the Sedgwick County Extension Office offers classes and online articles that are full of valuable tips and resources.

Here at Rental Ranch, we have both roto-tillers and cultivators available to rent and we also sell STIHL cultivators.Tillers and cultivators are often mistaken for one another, but each serves a different purpose. Before buying or renting either piece of equipment, it’s important to understand when you should use a tiller and when to use a cultivator.

What is a Tiller?

Tillers have strong motors and come in both front and rear tine models. Rear tine tillers have tines that are behind the motor. Rear tine tillers are relatively easy to maneuver, can dig deep and are great for tilling a large area. Front tine tillers have tines in front of the motor. They’re generally used for smaller gardens that don’t have as many roots or weeds to contend with.

When Should a Tiller be Used?

Garden tillers are used to break up hard ground and prepare the garden bed for planting. Tilling is essential for new garden beds and should really be considered a requirement. Your soil health is greatly improved by tiling and it makes planting seeds easier. By turning over the earth, you bring fresh soil to the surface and increase the amount of moisture your plants will receive.

What is a Cultivator?

A cultivator has smaller tines and a less powerful motor than a tiller, so it’s not meant to break ground. Trying to till your soil with a cultivator would make for a long, tough day. Cultivators can be either gas powered or corded and cordless electric.

When Should a Cultivator be Used?

Cultivators should be used for mixing soil that’s already been broken up, such as when compost or fertilizer is added after tilling and before planting. Cultivators can also be used after planting to control weeds. Cultivating after your plants have broken through will also help the new shoots gain access to water and other nutrients as they grow.

Whether you need to buy or rent a tiller or cultivator, the Rental Ranch staff is happy to help you find the right tool and show you how to use it.