Help me out. What kind of things should I do?

Everybody has seen it.  It doesn’t take an expert to drive through a neighborhood and spot the house that obsesses on their yard (in fact, it might be they do!) and the house that only mows when the city is knocking on their door.  In Minnesota, most people get excited when the snow starts to melt and the grass starts getting green.  So, what should you do to give your lawn a head start?  You do want a beautiful lawn without devoting your entire summer to it, right?

A lot of people suggest getting your lawn ready for spring before the first snowfall…but of course time gets away from a lot of people.  So, here are some tips for those who weren’t able to find time to baby their yard before the snow came.

1. When most of the snow has melted, get your wheelbarrow out and start picking up the debris left behind from the fall and anything the snowplows may have thrown into your lawn.  You will want to get your rake out so that you get all of the twigs, branches, leaves, etc. that are in the yard.  (This will also make it easier to mow when it comes time for that!)

2. Then get out your shovel (hopefully for the last time) and flatten out any piles that are taking longer to melt.  They might be lining your sidewalk from shoveling previously or in areas that don’t get as much sun. Why?  While the extra snow shouldn’t kill the grass, it might stunt the growth and that won’t make for a superb lawn.

3. Fertilizing in the spring.  I am a firm believer that it is easier to start a nice lawn early than it is to bring a dull lawn back to life in midsummer.  So, go to the local hardware store and search for a fertilizer for the spring (it should say when to use the specific mixtures on the back).  Remember not to over fertilize because this can actually cause more harm to the grass than good, so read the directions thoroughly.

4.  Attend to any lawn problems you had last year.  Did you have crabgrass (or any other nuisance) invade your yard last summer?  It is vital to stop these annoyances before they can get started.  Some, including crabgrass, have a very limited timeframe to be taken care of each year.  (See my other articles regarding this)

5. Areas of patchy grass?  I like to use a method called “overseeding.”  This is when you put down a lot of grass seed in the patchy areas.  It will make your grass grow faster and stronger, and of course you will have a much fuller looking lawn!  Don’t do this too early…the grass seed you choose should have directions for when to plant it!

So, there you have it!  Some early spring lawn care tips for my Minnesota people!  This might not make your lawn the nicest on the block in one summer, but if you follow these steps every spring, your yard will eventually be one of the best! MN Lawn Care made easy!

This is a review of the Black and Decker (B&D) CMM1000 5 HP cordless electric lawn mower with a 19-inch cutting path. The mower has a mulching feature and came with a rear-mounted grass catcher. The author has used this model for years and offers the following observations and advice to those considering the purchase of a cordless electric lawn mower.

Convenience

This cordless lawn mower is extremely convenient. There is no need to purchase any gasoline or oil for the life of the mower. Because gasoline prices are currently so high, this is an extremely cost-effective mower. The B&D CMM1000 mower initially costs more than its gasoline-powered counterpart. However, the elimination of gas and oil purchases, oil changes, air filter changes, and all the maintenance normally associated with small gasoline engines offsets the initial price.

Almost no maintenance is required, except for an occasional blade sharpening and removal of accumulated grass from beneath the cutting deck and discharge chute.

Electric lawn mowers are much quieter than their gasoline-powered counterparts. The noise level drops even more during the cutting session as the battery gradually uses its charge.

Say good-bye to back-breaking pull starting. Electric lawn mowers start via a simple switch or lever.

Finally, the one-hand external cutting height adjustment lever requires no tools and only minimal hand strength. The height adjustment has a simple gauge showing the best height for mulching.

Safety

The mower comes with a safety key that must be inserted before the cordless electric lawn mower will start. This key cannot be inserted until the recharging cord is detached from the back of the electric lawn mower. The mower is started by pulling the safety release lever up to the padded handle, and operating the convenient start lever. The safety release must be held to the handle during mower operation. If the operator releases his or her grip for any reason, the cordless electric lawn mower promptly stops.

The cordless electric lawn mower must never be operated in wet grass because it is an electrical appliance. If there are several days of rain in a row, the owner must wait until the yard has dried sufficiently before using the electric mower. This drying often takes at least another full day after the end of the rain.

Battery Life and Charging

The B&D CMM1000 cordless electric lawn mower houses a sealed 24-volt battery inside the entirely plastic casing. No extension cord is required to operate this mower.

Anyone who has carried a car or boat battery might assume that this unit would be difficult to push because of the large battery. On the contrary, the battery is well-balanced between the two back wheels and the mower is easy to maneuver.

The battery trickle-charges via the external power supply and uses standard 110 Volt household outlets. The recharging plug can be difficult to plug into the mower in dim light or for those with limited manual dexterity. A red/green LED on the mower indicates that the mower is charging (red) or fully charged (green).

The instructions for this cordless electric lawn mower indicate that the battery reaches about 70% of its full charge in 4 hours of charging. Experience has shown that it is better to allow the mower to fully charge overnight before using it again.

Engine Horsepower

The B&D CMM1000 cordless electric lawn mower has a 5 HP battery. This is 5 HP gas equivalent at peak torque. A gasoline lawn mower will operate at full horsepower until the last drop of gasoline is used. The electric lawn mower will operate at or near full horsepower for most of the cutting time, and then gradually loses horsepower until a recharge is required.

This mower is rated for a yard of approximately 1/3 acre. Experience has shown that the mower is much better suited for 0.25 acre or less, if the owner desires to cut the entire yard in a single session. Otherwise, the mower must recharge overnight, and the remainder of the lawn must be cut another day.

Battery Operating Time

This cordless electric lawn mower can operate for 40-45 minutes on a full charge at ideal grass conditions. Ideal grass conditions include dry grass only requiring 1-2 inches to be cut. High grass, damp grass, dried grass clumps from previous mowings, and thick grass will all decrease the cutting time, because these conditions require more power and drain the battery faster. Cutting the grass very low, a dull blade, and using the mulching feature will also decrease the cutting time.

Those wishing to purchase this cordless electric lawn mower should invest in the inexpensive external grass discharge chute. This chute is not included with the mower. The mulching feature cuts the grass clippings repeatedly, and drains the battery faster. With the external discharge chute, cut grass exits the mower quickly.

Disadvantages

As stated previously, this cordless electric lawn mower operates at the rated horsepower for most, but not all, of the cutting session. Factors such as thicker or higher grass can decrease the amount of cutting time available. The unit cannot be used while the grass is wet. The rating that the cordless lawn mower can cut 1/3 acre on a single charge is optimistic. This mower does best cutting 0.20-0.25 acres on a single charge.

Recommendations

The B&D CMM1000 5 HP 19-inch cordless electric lawn mower (or comparable model) is ideal for homeowners with yards of about 0.25 acres or less, who dislike dealing with gas and oil, and prefer a quieter lawn cutting experience. The mower is easy to operate and recharge, although a few owners might have difficulty plugging the recharging cord into the mower. Note that the model reviewed was purchased several years ago, and this issue may have been resolved.

If you have a small lot, are tired of keeping flammable gasoline in the garage, and hate pull-starting a lawn mower (or are unable to), a cordless electric lawn mower is the perfect lawn mower for you.