Lawn and lawnmower care

All powered machinery can be dangerous if used incorrectly - and the same applies to lawnmowers. • Only mow the lawn in daylight or good artificial light • Never mow wet grass - this will not only damage the lawn, but your lawnmower as well. • Wear proper shoes and long trousers when mowing the lawn. • Never mow while children or pets are in the vicinity. • Before you start, make sure there are no stones, sticks, wire, bones or other foreign objects on the lawn. • Avoid mowing very steep slopes. If you must, mow across the face of the slope - never up and down - and be careful of your footing. • No matter in how much of a hurry you are, walk - never run. • Stop the blades and motor if you need to tilt the mower or move it somewhere else. • Never operate the mower if its shields are defective or its safety devices (deflectors or grass catchers) are missing. Be very careful when reversing or pulling the appliance towards you. Before switching on the lawnmower, you press down on the handle so that the front wheels lift slightly off the ground, otherwise, the blade may get jammed in the grass, failing to rotate, which may lead to motor damage. Tilt the mower slightly for a few seconds until full power is established. • If mowing very long or tough grass, or if the blade is set too low on heavily undulating ground, the lawnmower might ‘struggle’. Use gently pecking motions instead of forcing the mower through very long grass. Set the blade to its highest position and don’t cut it down to its normal length in one go. Allow a few days between and restore the lawn to its original length in two or three cuts. This will help prevent the grass from becoming coarse. The general rule is to never cut more than 30% of the length of your grass.