Most common Lawn Mower Problems

Lots of people have issues with their lawn mowers and it happens to the best of us and even regularly maintenanced lawn mowers are not immune to the effects of wear and tear. In light of these facts here are some tips to get your lawn mower working again fast.

Stuck Starter Rope

A pretty common cause for this particular issue the engine flywheel brake is engaged. This is the bar you hold on the handle that stops the engine when released so just make sure you are pulling it down the whole way before attempting to start the mower. Another probable cause is the blade is clogged or is dragging in the grass. To sort this out disengage the spark plug and move the mower to a hard surface so you can clean the blades to try again.

Mower Will Not Start

Lots of people experience this particular issue and the extremely common and most obvious reason is that you have no fuel. As well as making sure its all filled up also remember that old gas can also cause problems so if its been a while since using the mower it may be better to empty then refill the tank. Other possible causes are dirty, broke or disconnected spark plug, dirty fuel filter or fuel isnt reaching the engine.

Losing power while Mowing

There is a few reason this can happen and they are normally pretty easy to fix. Try cleaning or replacing the air filter or raising the cutting height on your lawnmower. You could also try cleaning or replacing the spark plug or clean the underside of the mower.

The Mower is Cutting Unevenly

If you are seeing this happen there is a chance you also feel some motor vibration. This can be caused by build up of debris or clippings and just needs to be cleaned. Otherwise you should try sharpening or replacing the blade.

How to use Loppers

Not many people are sure how to properly use loppers in their garden so I am going to go through a few guidelines and tips for them here.

Two Types

There are two types of loppers with a very subtle difference. Bypass loppers have a single edged blade that slices past the base. Anvil loppers have a blade that slices to the center of the base so they are less clean and less precise but sometimes you will just need the extra force they are capable of.

General technique

You will probably need some sturdy work gloves for this and maybe safety googles dependiing on how dense the vegetation is. Now you will want to choose an exact spot that you can get a good cutting angle on. It works best to place the blade right next to your cutting site but be aware for bypass loppers they may shift about a uarter of an inch. It also helps to properly get in there. Cutting branches like paper with snips will tire you out faster and dull the blade faster so its always best to try and get the whole branch in there. When making the cut try and do it in a single fluid motion.

Caution

Work comfortably to avoid tiring yourself out too fast. Dont fully extend your arms unless absolutely necessary. If you feel the lopper twisting its probably a good idea to switch to a pruning saw as this is an indicator the branch may be too big for loppers.

How to Plan your Flower Garden

Lots of people are unsure of how to properly plan their flowers to make a beautiful garden so here are some tips on that.

Good Placement

You want to plant your flowers in the right soil for them to grow strong and healthy. Regardless of in a pot or in a garden good soil is a requirement so avoid soil heavy with clay, sand or rocks. You also want the soil to have a ph of 7. You should test the soils ph level beforehand and rectify any issues using sulfur or ground limestone both of which are available at garden centers. Flowers also need at least 6 inches of loose soil to start growing in so make sure your top layer is this deep.

Select a location

Although flowers are typically easy to grow they need an area with a good mix of sun and shade throughout the day. If your growing a specific plant it is also a good idea to check how much sun and shade that plant needs to grow well and if you intend to plant more than one flower make sure they all have similar light requirements.

Decide on your flowers

Visit a local gardening center to find the best flowers for your garden. Growing from bulbs seeds or cuttings require the same technique so just focus on plants you like that will look nice in your yard. Make sure you check the tags to make sure it can be planted at the same time with same light as the others.

Planting Times

If you don't plant at the right time your garden will be ruined. Flowers don't do to well in weather too cold or too hot so make sure you plant in spring time. You should plant about two weeks after the most recent frost and when night time temperatures don't go below freezing.