The foundation of a beautiful lawn is an immaculate cut. But did you know that proper care for your mower’s blades pays huge dividends for the health of your grass? Follow along in this episode of Backyard Smart to get the lowdown on how to sharpen mower blades, so you can keep your backyard life green and pristine.
The Benefits of Sharpening Mower Blades
Properly sharpened blades deliver a crisp, clean cut. The benefits of a properly sharpened blade extend to the health of your grass, too. A dull mower blade leaves a ragged cut, which isn’t only unsightly but can be a danger to your lawn. A dull or damaged blade rips your grass, inviting a whole host of lawn pests and diseases to take root. And leaving your yard with an ugly yellow-brown hue.
How Often to Sharpen
To start cutting season off on the right foot, you should always sharpen your blades before the first mow of the year. But after that, the frequency at which you mow—and the age of your mower—both play important roles in determining when you sharpen.
If your mower is brand-new, sharpening should be performed sometime between the first 8 to 25 hours of use. If you use your mower for personal use, you only need to sharpen once or twice a season (and maybe up to three times depending on the size of your lawn). For professional use, you’ll need to sharpen much more often. Weekly to bi-weekly sharpening is often needed to ensure that your mower continues to cut like it should. However, to get the most out of your blades, a quick sharpen after each mow will help them last up to 10 times longer than blades sharpened irregularly.
How to Determine When to Sharpen Mower Blades
Ultimately, the best way of determining when to sharpen mower blades is through regular cleaning. This gives you the opportunity to examine your blades for any nicks, dents, improper balancing, and other signs of damage. And, to quickly tell if your blade is properly balanced, just look at how the grass is clumping. If it’s thicker on one half of the blade than the other, then it’s not balanced and needs a little work.
How to Balance and Sharpen Mower Blades
There are multiple ways to get your blades back into working order. But before you start, make sure to don your gloves and eye protection, grab a putty knife, and scrape off any built-up debris and residue. This helps reduce the amount of dust given off during the process and makes it easier to tell when you’ve achieved the perfect edge.
Then, take it to an angle or bench grinder and get to work. Hold a 27° to 30° angle and take your time. Make sure not to overdo it—you don’t need a razor-sharp edge. Multiple, steady passes are key to a properly sharpened blade. In fact, over-sharpening can be just as detrimental as a dull blade. It takes the temper out and will severely impact the blade’s lifespan by increasing the number of times you’ll have to sharpen it.
To test the balance of your blade, just grab a screwdriver and thread it through the center of the blade. If it leans to one side, then it’s time to make a few more passes until it’s even.
The Right Mower Blades
A beautiful cut starts with the right blades—and that’s where Exmark OEM mower blades come into play. Aftermarket parts companies build blades that are “almost right,” but don’t last nearly as long—or deliver a cut nearly as clean—as the real deal. So, when you order an Exmark blade, you can mow confidently knowing you’ve purchased the right sized blade for your machine.
And, by using Exmark OEM replacement blades—which you can purchase online or from your local dealer—you ensure that you always deliver that signature Exmark cut.
That’s it! Now give your lawn a hand, start sharpening, and boost your blades.
