How To Get Your Lawn Mower Ready For Mowing Season As your lawn starts growing again, it’s time to grab your mower out of the shed and get it ready for mowing season. After sitting idle all winter, your mower can develop problems like stale petrol, dull blades, clogged air filters and worn out components. Performing a thorough pre-season service not only helps your mower run more efficiently, but keeps it running smoothly for longer and help your grass stay healthier. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to get your lawn mower ready for mowing season so you can enjoy a cleaner cut, easier starts, and a healthier-looking garden all spring and summer long. Benefits of Spring Lawn Mower Servicing A poorly maintained mower can be difficult to start, cut unevenly, and even damage your lawn. Dull blades tear the grass instead of slicing cleanly through, making it easier for disease to spread and brown patches to appear. Regular mower maintenance also helps you avoid more costly repairs further down the line. Whether you own a petrol mower, cordless mower, or ride-on mower, spending a little time on maintenance before the first cut of the year can make a huge difference. 1. Clean Your Lawn Mower Before checking any components, let’s start by giving the mower a good clean. Grass, dirt and trapped moisture under the deck can cause corrosion and affect cutting performance. Grab a brush and scrape away any old grass from underneath the deck and around the blades themselves. Give the exterior a wipe over and look for any signs of rust or damage. Remember to disconnect the spark plug if you’re planning to tinker with anything underneath the mower deck. Look Out For: Grass build-up Rust Loose bolts or fittings Cracked plastic items Damaged Wheels Cleaning your mower will not only help it run more efficiently, but will make it easier to spot any potential problems. 2. Inspect & Sharpen Blades Checking your mower blades is one of the most important things before mowing season starts. Sharp blades give a clean cut, helping your grass recover quicker and stay healthy. Dull blades tear and rip the grass instead of cutting it cleanly, which can lead to brown tips and unnecessary stress on the grass. Try to sharpen your blades every 20–25 hours of use, or at least once a season. Remove the blade and look for: Nicks and dents Rust Uneven wear Cracks If the blade seems too damaged it’s best to just replace it. 3. Change the Oil (Petrol Lawn Mowers) If you have a petrol lawn mower, changing the oil is an important part of spring servicing. Old oil loses its lubricating properties over time and will cause increased wear and tear, affecting engine performance. Fresh oil helps properly lubricate the engine meaning everything runs smoothly. Check your owner’s manual for the correct oil type and capacity. Tip: Warm up the engine for a few minutes before draining out the old oil, as this allows it to flow easier. 4. Replace or Clean Air Filter Your mower’s air filter prevents dust and debris from entering the engine. Over time, it can become clogged, restricting airflow and affecting performance. Dirty air filters can cause: Poor fuel efficiency Difficult starting Reduced power Increased engine wear You can often clean foam filters and reuse them, however paper filters will need replacing. 5. Check the Spark Plug Spark plugs play a huge role in starting your petrol mower, so if yours was difficult to start last year, the spark plug could be worn out. Inspect the spark plug for: Carbon build up Corrosion Cracks Extreme wear Replacing a spark plug is cheap and can instantly improve starting performance and fuel efficiency. 6. Replace Old Fuel Petrol left sitting in a mower over winter can go stale and lead to starting problems. Old fuel may also clog the carburettor and fuel lines. Drain any old petrol from the tank and refill with fresh fuel before the first mow of the season. For a cordless lawn mower, check the battery terminals are clean and fully charge the battery before use. If the battery has been poorly stored over winter, check for signs of reduced performance or damage. 7. Check the Wheels and Tyres Uneven tyre pressures or worn wheels can affect how evenly your mower cuts the lawn. Inspect the wheels for any signs of wear and ensure they spin freely. If you have a ride on mower or lawn tractor check the tyre pressures are correct and inflate evenly. Doing this will help improve how your mower manoeuvres, and give a more consistent cut. 8. Lubricate Moving Parts Lubricating moving parts helps prevent friction and wear and tear. Apply lubricant to: Wheel axles Height adjustment levers Cables All pivot points This will ensure everything moves freely throughout the mowing season. 9. Test the Mower Before First Use Once everything has been cleaned, checked, and serviced, start the mower and let it run for a few minutes. Look out for: Strange noises Vibrations Smoke Starting difficulties If your mower is self-propelled, check that functions correctly and ensure all controls work as they should. Don’t Forget About Your Lawn Of course, you’ll need to prepare your lawn too. Don’t cut your lawn too early as any hidden frost or water can damage your grass and lead to soil compaction. For the first cut of the year: Use a higher cut setting Avoid removing too much grass at once Wait until the lawn is dry This helps encourage healthy spring growth. In Conclusion Annual maintenance on your mower is a great way to extend its lifespan and avoid having to pay for costly repairs. Not only will these tasks help your mower run smoother, but will also keep your lawn looking lush and green. At MowShop, we stock a wide range of lawn mowers, replacement blades, accessories, and garden machinery to help you keep your garden looking its best all season long.
