Help Me Take Care Of My Lawn!

Spring has sprung!  Of course, living in Utah, we can never be 100% sure that one last snowstorm will sneak up on us, but for all intents and purposes, we are on the eve of a summer of outdoor fun and adventure.  One of the first steps to segue into spring and summer is by taking care of your lawn, which may or may not have been as battered as normal due to our mild winter.

When caring for your lawn, it's important take the appropriate steps to make sure that it is healthy, green, and beautiful.  Follow the basic steps below to ensure that your lawn is ready for summer barbecues, flag football games, and more.

1.     Follow the One-Third Rule – NEVER cut your grass more than one-third of its current height.  Taking more than that one-third is traumatizing on the grass plant and will lead to unhealthy, dying grass that is hard to treat.  If your lawn needs to be cut by more than this one-third rule of thumb, you can do it in stages over a few days.

2.     Cut Your Grass to the Highest Acceptable Height – By cutting your grass a little longer, you are ensuring that it retains water more than if it were short.  More retained water means greener grass.  While a short lawn may hold some visual appeal, your lawn will brown and the soil will quickly dry and lose crucial nutrients.

3.     Sharpen Your Mower Blades – Unsharpened mower blades take a toll on your grass, as that hack at the grass rather than cut it cleanly.  Grass that has been hacked at is damaged and more prone to not growing healthily.  Blades can be easily sharpened, and should be sharpened at least twice a season.

4.     Fertilize – Fertilizing your lawn ensures that your grass is given the appropriate nutrients to stay healthy and green.  Fertilizer is readily available at any home and garden center, and is easily applied to your lawn.  It's best practice to treat your lawn with fertilizer every 4-6 weeks to keep it looking beautiful and green.

5.     Treat Weeds and Disease – If you have some unsightly brown spots or dandelions, you may have a problem with your lawn.  Insects, disease, and weeds can undermine a dedicated lawn care effort.  There is treatment through various products such as weed and feed, but the best course of action is to consult a lawn care professional for further advice and treatment.

6.     Watering Your Lawn – Deep watering is  When watering, it's more effective to water every few days than for a little bit every day.  Having said that, you will want to give your lawn at least 1 ½ inches of water a week.  Make sure to water it in the mornings to make sure the water doesn't quickly get burned off by the scintillating summer sun.

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Crowell's Flying Wrench is a full-service mobile repair company that comes to you and services your equipment at your convenience.  Our lawn mower repair service in Draper, Utah provides years of experience and friendly service that will leave a lasting impression upon you.  In addition to Draper, we service all of the Salt Lake Valley.  Give us a call today to see how we can help you!

By: Kyson Crowell

How To Care For Your Lawn

It’s easy to look at many of the beautifully manicured yards that exist throughout our neighborhoods and communities and wonder just how they do it.  Pristine lawns and perfect flower beds perfectly complement houses, and it all can make us a little jealous.  Believe it or not, most of these horticultural masterminds were once in our shoes and had to hone their craft through years of trial and error. 

In order to really get your yard looking swell, the main tools for success you will need are a lawn mower and a string trimmer, which is more commonly known as a weed whacker.  It’s more than likely that you already have at least a lawn mower, and you can buy a weed whacker quite affordably. 

When mowing your lawn, it’s important to remember the following steps:

• -        Remember to mow your lawn when the grass is dry
• -        Be sure to adjust the blades to ensure that the grass cut no shorter than least 3 inches
• -        Mow in a distinguished pattern, and change the mowing pattern each time you mow
• -        Always mow with the mower in front of you
• -        Avoid mowing in the heat of the day to prevent heat stress on the grass (and on yourself)
• -        Keep your mower blades sharp and balanced

When trying your hand at weed whacking, remember the following steps:

• -        Hold the weed whacker as close to the ground as possible, then start it
• -        Use a steady side to side motion, walking forward
• -        Make sure to not run the weed whacker on rocks, as they will wear down the line more quickly.
• -        If weeds aren’t being cut immediately, turn the weed whacker off and pull more thread out.

As you hone your craft, mowing will become more easy and enjoyable.  Caring for your lawn mower can seem overwhelming, but as long as you are adding the right kind of fuel and are sharpening the blades regularly (experts agree that blades should be sharpened every 8-12 hours of use), you’ll be ok.  Caring for a weed whacker is fairly simple as well, as you will need to make sure that you have enough line to get the job done, as well as the right kind of fuel, if your weed whacker is gas-powered. 

If you need further repairs, Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers affordable, convenient mobile small engine repair.  Our lawn mower repair in Herriman, UT will come right to you and make sure that your mower or weed whacker is always running like new.  Give us a call at (801) 860-3605 or schedule an appointment on www.crowellsflyingwrench.com today.  We look forward to serving you!

How Long Should Your Grass Be When You Mow It?

Now that spring has sprung, it’s nearly time to dust off your lawn mower and get your yard looking immaculate.  Mowing a lawn is considered an art form by many people, as you will often see various patterns and trims as you head through your neighborhood.  One question that is often asked is regarding the length of cut grass.  The length of grass is vital to keeping a beautiful, green, weed-free yard.

When dealing with grass height, there are several considerations to be taken into account.  By keeping grass at least 3 inches tall until the autumn, you are ensuring that weed seeds from germinating and taking over your yard.  Those nasty crabgrass seeds need light to germinate, and by keeping your grass long, you ensure that doesn’t happen.  Certain species of grass, including bentgrass, Bermudagrass, and seasore paspalum can be cut down as low as one inch, but these are the exception, rather than the rule. 

Also, by keeping it at least 3 inches in length, you are ensuring that your soil doesn’t dry out, which leads to brown grass and overwatering.  Overwatering has become a problem in our Utah communities in the summer, especially with the water conservation acts that have become vital as our population continues to grow. 

It is also important to remember the rule of thirds.  What this means is that when you cut your grass, no more than one-third of the grass plant should be cut at any one time.  Then, after trimming the grass, you will need to wait at least 48 hours before trimming again.  The grass plant is sensitive, while resilient, and cutting it affects the plant, necessitating a 48-hour period to heal.  After these 48 hours have passed, the grass has had an ample opportunity to fully heal, so it can again be trimmed, by that same one-third ratio.

In order to ensure a freshly cut lawn, it’s vital to make sure that your lawn mower is in tip top condition.  If it is in need of service, Crowell’s Flying Wrench will help you get it running like new.  Crowell’s Flying Wrench is a full-service mobile repair company that specializes in small engines.  Our lawnmower repair in Sandy, UT will come to you and get your lawn mower running like new in no time.  Give Crowell’s Flying Wrench a call at (801) 860-3605, or visit our website at www.crowellsflyingwrench.com to schedule an appointment today!

What Size Of Tiller Is Best For You?

Due to the unseasonably warm weather here in Utah, many of us have started to think about getting our gardens ready for spring.  Many of us have gardens both large and small, and yards that are waiting to be cultivated.  It’s important to pick the correct tiller for the job, but it’s also important to understand what size of tiller will be best for your particular project.

When thinking of what type of tiller you will need, think about the size of your garden.  A small garden is considered to be less than 1,500 square feet, a medium garden ranges from 1,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet, and a large garden is anything over 5,000 square feet.  Another consideration is based on the type of garden soil you are dealing with, as well as the size of the gardener! 

Typically, a small garden can be managed by a mini-tiller.  Mini-tillers range in price from $200 to $350.  A medium-sized garden is manageable with a 5 to 6-horsepower front-tined tiller, which range in price from $500 to $800.  Large gardens require at least a 6-horsepower rear-tined tiller, which can run from $800 to $2,000.

If the soil in your garden is very hard or rocky, a mini-tiller will often be underpowered to perform admirably, usually requiring a larger 4 to 6-horsepower tiller.  Keep in mind that if you are looking to till your entire yard, you won’t be able to get by with a mini-tiller either.  A large rear-tined tiller will typically work best when you are covering a large area, and the abundance of room to maneuver will be important. 

There are other cons  Front-tined machines are a little more difficult to manage, but that difficulty is offset by the lighter weight of the machine.  Rear-tined machines are a bit easier to use, due to their increased power, but they are more expensive and take up a great deal of space in your shed or garage. 

iderations when you look at what type of tiller would be more effective for you.

Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers tiller repair in Salt LakeCity, UT for any type of tiller.  Our mobile service will come to you anywhere in Salt Lake County or Park City, and our professional staff will quickly get your tiller running at full speed again.  Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!

By: Kyson Crowell

What If Your Tiller Doesn't Start?

Even though we are mired in the dead of winter, you can never begin to plan too early for lawn care.  The piles of snow and ice have done a number on our lawns, and it may be time to seed new grass or prepare your vegetable or flower garden for when spring comes.  Before long, it will be time to take out the trusty tiller and get to work.  

In order to become more efficient, tillers have come a long way from their humble beginnings.  Simple push mowers have given way to the convenience and accessibility of gas-powered tillers.  Gas-powered tillers are reliable, dependable machines that will serve you faithfully for many years.  However, there does come a time where you add gasoline and oil, pull the starter cord, and… nothing.  The silence can be deafening.  Most failures to start a tiller result from a problem in the fuel or ignition system, so a few troubleshooting methods may help you identify and correct the problem.

Old gasoline is often the cause of a tiller that won’t start.  Gasoline that has been sitting in the tank since last year can often settle or condensation can seep in.  Drain the old fuel and replace it, while checking the carburetor and intake manifold bolts to ensure they are tight and ensure that all linkages are connected.  Everything pertaining to the fuel line needs to be nice and tight.  Be sure to replace the fuel according to manufacturer’s specifications.  Your tiller is likely fueled by regular high-octane fuel or is a two-cycle motor that requires the specified gas-oil mixture.  Ensure that if there is a fuel shutoff valve, that it is put in the open position. 

Also take a moment to check the ignition.  If your tiller has a shutoff switch, make sure the switch is in the “On” position when attempting to start it.  Disengage all attachments, make sure the transmission is in neutral, and all operating handles are in the correct starting positions.  Also check the spark plug by removing it and touching the bare metal of the spark plug’s base to the bare metal of the engine.  Look for the accompanying spark between the electrodes.  If there is none, it’s time to replace the spark plug.

Also, it’s important to check the fuel cap vent to ensure it’s open and that all filter screens in the tank are clear.  Take a moment to look at the air cleaner, as a dirty air cleaner can flood the engine or restrict air intake.  If none of these troubleshooting items fixes your tiller, give Crowell’sFlying Wrench a call.  Our mobile small engine repair team specializes in tiller repair, and we are eager to serve you with professional experience and competitive prices.  We serve Park City and the Salt Lake Valley.  Call us today.

By: Kyson Crowell

How Often Should You Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade?

Although we are mired in the cold of winter, spring is never far away.  As those winter snows melt away and flowers begin to blossom, many of us get back into the routine of lawn care.  Part of that lawn care means unpacking the lawn mower and making sure your grass looks trimmed and well-maintained. 

If you've owned a mower for a while, you surely have noticed that your lawn mower might not seem to trim as cleanly or effectively as it did when it was brand new.  The quality of your work has decreased, and a mowing job that used to take you 30 minutes is now taking you 45 minutes, and the results just aren't as good.  No, your mower isn't losing its efficacy, nor does it have any mechanical issues.  In reality, your lawn mower blades are dull and the time has come for the blades to be sharpened. 

It is recommended that you sharpen lawn mower blades twice a season.  Considering the typical mowing season in Utah can range anywhere from 6-9 months, it’s something you will want to look to do at the beginning of the spring and at some point in the summer.  Sharpened lawn mower blades will help you maintain a green, healthy lawn.  A sharp blade not only cuts grass cleanly, but it reduces the time it takes to mow your lawn, as well as helping grass to recover quickly, helping you maintain that pristine, green lawn that you've worked so hard to cultivate.

A dull lawn mower blade doesn't cleanly cut grass.  In fact, it rips, pulls, and hacks grass blades, which leaves your lawn looking poor and promotes the invitation of fungal growth, disease, and weeds.  Grass that is not in top health can often be a battle that last months, or even years.  Sharpening a blade is important, and it’s something that is neglected far too often. 

Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers a mobile, convenient blade sharpening service that will come to you and leave you ready to mow your lawn like a boss once again.  Our friendly, professional service team will come to you anywhere in Park City and the SaltLake Valley to fix your mower, and no job is too big or too small.  We work on both push and sit down mowers, and our full-service offerings will also repair other lawn mower issues, including engine repair and full blade replacement.  Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!

By: Kyson Crowell