Why Your Lawn Mower Isn't Cutting Right

​The weather is starting to turn for a lot of us, with a little more sunshine and, as a result, a lot more growth in the garden. It’s time to get out and take care of those lawns to ensure a great-looking garden, but that can be difficult when your lawnmower doesn’t seem to be doing its job right, at all. If your lawnmower isn’t cutting well, there are a few reasons this might be there. We’re going to look at a handful of issues that can plague your lawnmower, and what to do about it.

Your lawnmower isn’t set at the right height

A lot of people are unaware of the fact that their lawnmower even has height settings. In most cases, you can either adjust the height of the blades themselves or the wheels of the lawnmower (which lowers the body, including the blades, closer to that grass.)  You want to make sure that your lawnmower is neither too high nor too low, with 2.5 to 3 inches usually recommended. You might need to look at your lawnmower’s manufacturer’s site to find out how, exactly, to adjust yours.

The mower deck is clogged

The mower deck can quickly become full of grass clippings and other organic debris. It is unavoidable, but also very easy to unclog with the help of a stick. If you’re experiencing this issue more often than not, it might be because you’re trying to mow when the grass is too wet, which means it's going to stick up in the mower deck more often. Either way, if this part is clogged, then the lawnmower isn’t going to be able to apply the airflow that sucks the grass up to be cut.

The engine isn’t running well

​If your lawnmower is hard to start or the engine isn’t running smoothly, then the blades aren’t going to spin properly, meaning that your grass isn’t going to end up cut as well. If you’re seeing black smoke or have trouble starting the engine, then learning how to clean a lawnmower carburetor might help just fine. Just like with the mower deck, twigs, grass, and other bits of greenery can get stuck in there, reducing its effectiveness and creating some engine trouble.

Your blades have dulled

The usual answer, especially if you have had your mower for a while and this issue has only started to pop up recently, is that your blades aren’t as sharp as they need to be. Lawnmower blades need to be sharpened occasionally to make sure that they’re able to cut grass properly. Otherwise, they end up chopping at it instead, which can result in uneven cuts. Make sure your lawnmower is turned off at the power and use a lawnmower sharpening kit to get them back in the best condition. If they’re bent or dented, you might need to replace them, however.

If there are issues beyond what’s written here, it might be worth getting a professional to look at your lawnmower. The sooner the better, if you want to keep your garden tidy.

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