NATIONAL LAWNMOWER MAINTENANCE WEEK
March 1-7 is National Lawnmower Maintenance Week on the National Day Calendar. For an entire week, we are reminding you to start preparing for your summer lawn care, beginning with performing your lawnmower maintenance. We are also encouraging you to replace or upgrade your lawn mower if your current machine has seen better days.
#LawnmowerMaintenanceWeek
Spring is in the air! After a long, cold winter, we can finally see light green peeking through buds on the trees. Flowers are beginning to bloom, and we welcome the new life of the season. Despite our excitement and relief of surviving another winter, we know it's time to start taking the proper steps to ensure we are the envy of our neighbors. During Lawnmower Maintenance Week, we encourage everyone to utilize this important time to ensure your lawnmower is ready for the summer. In fact, you might even consider using this time to upgrade your current lawnmower.
Lawnmowers sit during the winter months and go unused. Typical lawn mowing begins from early to mid-March in the Southern U.S. to as late as May in the Northern U.S. Maintenance in early spring is key to ensuring your lawnmower is ready, easy to use, and provides optimal grass cutting. Completing routine lawnmower maintenance extends the equipment's life and saves you money, too.
5 Lawnmower Facts You Should Know
The lawnmower was invented by Edwin Budding in 1830 after watching a machine at a textile mill cut excess fabric.
Thomas Edison received a patent for an electric lawn mower in 1891 but never sent the invention to production.
Early lawnmowers were pulled by horses. By the end of the 19th century, a handful of inventors were creating steam-powered machines. Unfortunately, many early lawnmower inventions caused accidental grass fires.
The first gas-powered lawnmower was made available in 1914.
The lawnmower industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with companies like The Toro Company leading the way with their revolutionary selection of lawn care products.
Maintenance for lawnmowers is essential for your mower to run at peak performance. Unsurprisingly, lawnmower maintenance is an easy process that involves similar steps to what you would take to care of your car.
The first place to start with any lawnmower maintenance is with the owner’s manual. The manual will have all the information you need for parts, type of oil and lubricants to use, plus instructions for routine maintenance. If you’re not comfortable performing the maintenance yourself, there are places that will do it for you, like your local lawnmower dealer.
Did you know Edwin Budding tested his lawn mowing invention in the dark to avoid anyone from stealing his idea?
Basic Lawnmower Maintenance Tips
Following simple tips in the spring will keep your lawnmower purring like a kitten. Whether you have a gas-powered mower or battery-powered mower, preventative maintenance goes a long way in saving you time, money, and frustration down the line!
Gas-Powered Lawnmowers
Change the engine oil and oil filter to ensure proper lubrication for the summer season.
Replace the spark plugs to avoid unnecessary problems.
Check and adjust tire pressure.
If you did not drain the fuel in the fall, do it now. Not all mowers are the same, so your owner's manual will have the correct recommended types and grades.
Make sure your blades are sharp. If you're not comfortable sharpening them yourself, take it to a professional.
Check the pull cords to ensure they are not frayed and are in good working condition.
Review the starting procedures outlined in your Operator’s Manual , including proper procedures for your mower.
Battery-Powered Lawnmowers
Inspect the mower’s battery and battery charger for any damage. Replace any damaged batteries and/or chargers.
Charge the battery pack with the charger specified by the manufacturer.
Remove the battery pack from the mower:
Carefully check the blades for sharpness. If you're not comfortable sharpening them yourself, take it to a professional.
Make sure all fasteners are tight and clear the cutting deck of any clippings.
Check that the attachments are connected and are working properly.Review the starting procedures outlined in your Operator’s Manual , including proper procedures for your mower.
Never mow in wet conditions. You can damage the engine, plus it makes lawnmowing harder.
Join the National Lawnmower Maintenance Week conversation on social media between March 1-7 using #LawnmowerMaintenanceWeek.
NATIONAL LAWNMOWER MAINTENANCE WEEK HISTORY
In 2023, The Toro Company and National Day Calendar began a collaboration to create National Lawnmower Maintenance Week. Beginning March 2024, we are teaming up to drive awareness and remind lawnmower users to keep their mowers in tip-top shape.
About the Founder
For over 85 years, The Toro Company has been providing seasonal equipment for residential consumers. The Toro Company is an innovative market leader in residential lawnmowers. Better yet, they are a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment. In fact, The Toro Company provides quality products for turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions.
During National Lawnmower Maintenance Week, The Toro Company will be driving awareness and providing an improved product experience through a focused multi-media campaign surrounding National Lawnmower Maintenance Week. The campaign will include tips, tricks, and resources to help lawnmower users keep their units in prime condition. Promotional materials will also be shared with its sales & service partners (brick & mortar and online) across the U.S. and Canada.