Lawnmower Safety and Mowing Tips

Power lawn mowing equipment is so common that it is taken for granted. But power mowers are responsible for thousands of accidents yearly. Follow the guidelines below about lawnmower safety and mowing tips, along with those provided by the mower manufacture, and you can avoid becoming another injury statistic. An injury from a power lawn mower can be very painful and disabling for the rest of your life. Always follow safety rules when working on or operating a lawn mower. It could be your fingers, toes or even a hand that you lose if not careful.

Lawnmower Safety and Mowing Tips

Do not disconnect the manufacturers safety features and always keep in mind the possible dangers.

Many fingers have been lost by unclogging discharge shoes of rotary lawn mowers. Make a habit of turning off the power and disconnecting the spark plug before reaching into the clogged grass. Use common sense when mowing steep or uneven terrain. Check the stability of the mowere first, and be aware that a slipping lawn mower can injure both you and your lawn. Mow slight slope‘s either across or up and down. If there is a chance of slippage, tie a rope to the mower and more down the slope from the top. Perhaps the safest way to handle a slope is to plant  ground cover that does not need to be mowed.

Walk over the lawn area before mowing, looking for rocks, toys, sprinkler heads, and other possible obstruction’s.

Do not allow children to use a power lawn mower until they are strong enough and mature enough to handle the job.

Lawn mowing hints

Don’t cut wet grass. It causes uneven mowing, the clippings are messy, and they can matt and block light from getting to the grass. There’s also the danger of slipping on wet slopes.

Pick up stones and sticks before mowing.

Alternate mowing patterns. Mowing the same direction every time tends to compact the soil and causes wear patterns. If you are using a reel mower, give the lawn an attractive checkered finish my mowing it twice, traveling in opposite directions.

Check the blade height by measuring the grass after cutting.

Sharp turns with a mower can cause uneven cutting. Make wide turns or take advantage of sidewalks and driveways, but be aware of rocks or debree on pavement areas.

If the ground is uneven in some areas because the soil is settled, be careful not to scalpe the high spots.

For more lawn mower safety suggestions, click here.