Top Lawn Mower

MOBILE, Ala. — If you’re looking for Thomas Shepard, you’ll most likely find him sitting on top of a lawn mower. Landscaping is his livelihood and one that takes a lot of hard work. Shepard can’t do his job without fuel, and the high cost of gas is taking its toll.

“About every two days, I burn a tank of gas in the truck. Usually I’ll burn at least one lawn mower and a half a lawn mower in about four days,” explained Shepard.

Gas is crucial in the lawn care business. Not only do you fill up the lawn mower. Trimmers and weed-eaters also need fuel, and landscapers can easily spend $150 in one day.

“It carries over into everything you use. I mean, it carries over into your two-cycle oil, your trimmer line, your blades, and your chemicals.” said Shepard.

Because the price of gas is soaring, Shepard says he has no choice but to raise his rates.

“Everything associated with gas to do with lawn care has probably increased fifty percent at least. No one can take that hit. It’s not just going to be me, but everyone across the board’s gone up,” explained Shepard.

He says his clients on a fixed income suffer the most. So, he tries to work with them.

“I’ll help them as much as I can. But I have to make a living and pay my bills,” said Shepard.

Shepard prays for relief soon for his sake, and his client’s.

“I wish that somebody would step in and see that if the gas prices need to go this high, all of the working people need help,” said Shepard.

Help that may come slower than watching the grass grow.

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It’s time to start thinking about mowing your lawn again. And that means keeping your mower in tip-top shape. If you follow these tips this year, you’ll breeze through your lawn mowing without a single hitch:

1. Don’t be a gas hoarder. Never store more than a month’s worth of gas in your garage or shed (and at today’s prices, who can afford to?). Old gas is prone to having water condensation in it, which will gum up the carburetor.

2. Let it breathe clean air. Check out your air filter; replace it when it gets dirty. Otherwise, dirt will sneak into the engine, wearing down vital parts and making starting a real hassle.

3. Give the blades plenty of elbow room. Before you start your mower, look underneath it. Clear away any built-up grass or other debris.

4. Remember the oil. Depending on how much lawn you have and how often you cut it, change the oil at least once a season. Too little oil can put a death grip on your engine—a costly fate for you!

5. Keep the cooling fins clean.

6. Check the belt condition and tension each time before you mow.

7. Sharpen the blade every third mowing. And keep at least two back-up blades handy and sharp.

8. Wipe down all the rubber and plastic parts with Armorall® once a month to keep them from drying out, cracking, and disintegrating.

9. Wipe down all chrome and metal parts with WD-40® every few weeks to keep them from rusting and sticking.

10. Check out all safety controls (automatic shutoff, all-wheel control, etc.) before each use.

Now is a good time to check your lawn mower for maintenance. Change the oil, air filter and spark plug, drain old gas and sharpen the blade.

The owner’s manual will provide instructions for most routine maintenance. Drain gas and oil into a disposable plastic container. Disconnect the spark plug any time you work with the mower. Place the mower on a table or sawhorses for easy access to the underside, or turn the mower over with the air filter side up so no oil will spill into it. If you don’t have time to do this work yourself, take your mower to a service center before everyone else.

A sharp mower blade is essential for a good cut. A dull blade will shred grass tips, which then turn light brown. Clean the underside of the mower with water after every use to prevent rust from forming under the debris. Reduce the chance of fire by brushing clippings and leaves from the top of the mower and cleaning gas or oil spills.

Sharpen other garden equipment such as hand pruners and loopers with a diamond file, medium-fine flat file or medium grain whetstone. On anvil pruners and loopers, sharpen the blade on both sides. On bypass pruners and loopers, sharpen the outside of each blade, keeping the original angle. In addition, oil tools to control rust.

DAYTON — The Regional Air Pollution Control Agency, in cooperation with Montgomery County and the county green initiative, is sponsoring a lawn mower exchange program.

Residents can drop off their gas-powered mowers for a coupon worth $150 toward the purchase of a Neuton Battery-Powered Cordless Electric Lawnmower CE5.2, suitable for smaller yards or trimming larger ones.

Gas mowers are to be brought to the county South Transfer Station, 1001 Encrete Lane in Moraine, on Saturday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mowers must be emptied of oil and gas. Residents may drop off waste gas and oil at the same station.

With the coupon, the cost will be $139, down from a retail price of $389.

 Mow late in the day - To reduce the amount of ozone that will form, mow after 7pm. Avoid mowing altogether on Ozone Alert! days. The harmful ozone causing fumes emitted by mowers are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). These are more likely to form harmful ozone when the weather is hot and sunny. Mowing in the evening will help reduce the amount of ozone that forms.

Keep your equipment well-tuned - Well tuned equipment runs more efficiently, uses less fuel, and emits less pollution. Keep your blades sharpened, too. This simple practice will not only benefit your lawn making it more resistant to disease, but you will mow quicker and that means less air pollution and less wear and tear on your body, too!

Avoid gas spills -  Save money and protect the air we breathe by using a funnel or a spill-proof can.  Americans spill and estimated 17 million gallons of gasoline each year refueling small engines such as lawn care equipment. The vapor from gasoline spills is also a cause of air pollution.

Spill proof gas cans are available in stores.