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2012 HOME & GARDEN MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com May 25, 2012
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a standard steering wheel and generally allows
for mowing with 90-degree turns. The result
is straight lines and square corners, with little
precision for mowing around yard objects like
trees and furniture. Zero-turn riders can do
360 degrees on a dime, and although they take
some getting used to, they allow for precision
turning and imaginative lines that flow with
your lawn rather than making it boxy. On a
price scale, zero-turn is usuallymore expensive
than a traditional riding mower.
Both walk-behind and riding mowers require
something you may have too little of these
days -- you and your time. The
last class of modern mowers
don’t require a person to
operate themat all. They are
electric and computerized
and cut the grass all by
themselves. They even
determine when the grass
needs cutting, based on some
pre-selections you made when the system was
set up, or they follow a schedule you have
set. When they start cutting, they leave their
base station, cut the grass unattended, avoid
obstacles and return to their base station when
they are done.
Mowing is one of the best ways you canmake
your lawn seem fresh and clean. The future of
mowing allows you the choice of whether to
take the time to mow or put it in the hands of
a robot.
A wide variety of riding mowers are available at
several mower dealers in Logan County, including
Bee’s in Lincoln, where they feature Cub Cadet;
Richardson’s in Elkhart, where they feature
Simplicity; and Four Corners Lube in Lincoln,
where they feature Dixon mowers.
Larger fuel tanks, cruise control, automatic
transmissions, more comfortable seats and even
quick-release blades are some of the newer features
on riding mowers which help extend the range and
make them easier to use.
Kathy Cosby of Richardson
Repair offers this advice
for mower maintenance,
regardless of whether a lawn
mower is used or new:
• Be sure to regularly clean the
underside of the mower. Otherwise,
dirt and grass will build up.
• A dull blade results in a poor lawn
appearance. Regularly sharpened blades will
appear cleaner and be less vulnerable to disease.
Plan on sharpening after every fourth or fifth cut.
•
Check the oil regularly. A good rule of
thumb is to change the oil every 50 mowed hours,
or whatever time increment the manual suggests.
•
Regularly check the mower and its parts for
any wear and tear. Replace worn parts in a timely
manner.