Are you spring ready?

Give your lawn care tools some love

Sharpen or replace mower blades

A sharp blade makes all the difference. Blunt mower blades tear grass rather than cut it, leaving ragged edges that turn brown and make your lawn more susceptible to disease. Check your mower blades: if they’re worn or chipped, replace them. If they’re just blunt, sharpen them for a crisp, clean and healthy cut. 

Clean out the lawnmower

Let’s be honest – at the end of summer after the last mow of the season, most of us just park our lawnmower and forget about it, even if it’s wet or dirty. Spring arrives more suddenly than we anticipate it, so we haul out that dirty, possibly rusty machine, still covered in weed seeds and grass trimmings, and expect it to purr like a Jag. Shame – give it a chance! Take time to clean the underside of the deck, removing build-up that could affect performance. Check the air filter too: a clogged filter reduces efficiency and makes the engine work harder.

Change the oil and spark plug

Much like a car, your mower needs fresh oil to run smoothly. An annual oil change keeps the engine lubricated and extends its life. While you’re at it, replace the spark plug (which is much easier if you have the correct tool!). This is a small detail that prevents a big headache when the grass really starts growing.

The same is true if you have a petrol trimmer – these have two-stroke engines, so change the spark plug, clean the air filer and also make sure you have the 2-stroke oil, petrol and mixing can you will need to run it.

Fine-tune your trimmers

Lubricate moving parts

Trimmers or weed-eaters spin at really high speeds, so they rely on well-lubricated parts to stay in good working order. Apply oil or a lubricating spray like WD-40 to the trimmer head and pivot points so everything runs smoothly. This also helps to keep water out of there if you cut wet grass, which prolongs the tool’s lifespan.

Check the cutting line

Using the wrong thickness of line for your trimmer can either wear it down too quickly or overload and stress the machine. Make sure you fit the right size and keep an extra spool handy for those long edging sessions – you don’t want to be half way through and run out.

Tighten nuts and bolts

It’s easy to forget, but vibration loosens screws, nuts and bolts over time. A quick tighten-up keeps your trimmer and lawn mower solid and safe to use.

Gear up for watering and tidying

Grass collection bags

If you prefer a neat, clippings-free lawn, check that your mower’s grass box hasn’t disappeared over winter! Also make sure you’ve got a bag to collect clippings in and that it hasn’t been torn or worn out. Holes or tears mean stray clippings everywhere, defeating the purpose of all your hard work. If the bag’s looking tired, replace it before the first big mow of the season.

Inspect hosepipes

You don’t want to start watering your garden after planting dozens of seedlings and find yourself being sprayed too through a leak. Roll out your hose before you need it, checking carefully for holes or splits. Replace worn washers on hose connectors and if the hose itself has seen better days, consider investing in a new one – it’ll save water and your patience. 

Preparing your gardening equipment might feel like a chore, but it’s really an investment in the enjoyment of your season ahead. Well-maintained tools last longer, perform better and make gardening easier and more fun. By tackling mower maintenance, trimmer tune-ups and basic gear checks now, you’ll step into spring ready to make the most of every sunny day.

So, before the daffodils bloom and the weeds wake up, ask yourself: are you spring ready?