Preparing Your Lawn For Spring

With that brutal winter behind us, it’s about time to start mowing lawns again. Before you do, however, you’ll want to make sure your mower, and your lawn, are ready for it! To help you get started, we here at Mike Cooper Tractors have put together some tips for preparing your lawn for the spring. If you want to know more, or you’d like to see the lawn mowers we have for sale, contact our store in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, today!

Clear Debris From Lawn

Over the course of the winter season, your lawn’s probably collected debris like tree branches, piles of leaves and twigs, and the occasional plain old stick. Before you can cut your lawn, you’ll need to clear that debris away to keep it out of your mower’s undercarriage. Debris also prevents your lawn from getting the sun and nutrients it needs.

Prep The Mower

Your lawn mower’s probably sat unused for a few months now, which means it’ll need some waking up before it can perform properly. First, double-check that there’s no debris or dirt buildup in the undercarriage. Next, make sure your blade is sharp to avoid ripping grass rather than cutting it. 

You’ll probably want to fill up the fuel tank, then change the oil and air filter. Your spark plugs will also likely need replacing. Make sure all fluids still in the tank from last season are in good condition and haven’t separated.

Lawn Nutrients

With debris cleared and your mower prepped, it’s now time to make sure your lawn is ready to be cut. If you find bare patches, plant new seed and water it daily until it gets tall enough to be cut. Hold off on mowing until new grass is about two inches high, or until it’s the same height as the rest of your lawn. We also recommend fertilizing the lawn to ensure it’s healthy and will grow properly.

Cutting The Lawn

With your lawn cleared off and grown, and your mower back in working order, it’s time to get to the cutting process itself. We recommend taking the mower out and leaving it in the sun for about an hour before you use it. The heat will help it start up smoother. As you cut the lawn, aim to remove about one third of the grass blade. Mow every five days for the first six weeks or so of spring to avoid overgrowth, which can lead to stunted growth after the next cut.

We hope this guide helps you keep your lawn spic and span! If you have any questions, want to look at a new mower, or need help with maintenance on your old mower, contact us at Mike Cooper Tractors. We proudly serve the people of Tulsa and Muskogee, Oklahoma—let us serve you today!