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.

best.

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 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

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

Which Snow Blower to Buy?

Winter has unofficially arrived.  As many parts of the country find themselves buried under feet of fresh powder, many of us find ourselves thinking how we are going to dig ourselves out when the storm hits.  Snow blowers have made life significantly easier for our snow-filled lives, but the important decision of choosing the best snow blower must be answered.  There are several brands of snow blower that offer great features and reliable performance, and each of them is angling for your hard-earned money.  

For those of you looking for the best snow blower of 2014, look no further than Troy-Bilt.  Troy-Bilt offers a wide array of reliable, durable snow blowers that can handle even the toughest of jobs.  Troy-Bilt offers a 2-year limited warranty and affordable financing options.  The Troy-Bilt 31AH64Q has been recognized by Consumer Reports as the best snow blower buy for your money this year, as it includes heated handgrips, joystick control, and offers the benefits of a double-stage gas blower for the price of a single-stage blower. 

Ariens also offers a variety of award-winning snow blowers that meet your needs and feature a selection of premium features.  The Arians 921022 is a critically-acclaimed double-stage snow blower that Consumer Reports recognizes as one of the year’s best.  What sets this snow blower apart is its heavy duty construction and immense power.  Ariens is renowned for durability and 3-year limited warranty.  Financing is also an option, allowing you to find a model that suits your needs and fits your budget. 

If you are looking for a more affordable option, the $700 Craftsman 88970 is an impressive double-stage machine.  This 26-inch gas blower is backed by the dependability of Craftsman, one of America’s most reputable brands.  This particular model offers great clearance and tremendous power output, helping make the task at hand a breeze.  Enjoy a two-year limited warranty and joystick control, with a limited lifetime warranty on upper and lower chute.

If looking for a single-stage snow blower, look no further than the Simplicity SS7522E.  Simplicity offers an affordable alternative to many of the more well-known brands, while featuring superior performance.  This particular model features a 163cc Briggs & Stratton 4-cycle motor, electric start, and highly-rated throwing power.  This $499 snow blower offers a two-year limited warranty and financing. 

Any of these award-winning snow blowers will make snow removal a breeze, while not putting a dent in your wallet.  However, as time goes on, many of these models will need to be serviced or repaired.  Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers local, mobile snow blower repair acrossthe Salt Lake County and Summit County to help your machine remain in tip-top condition.  We are here to serve you. 

By: Kyson Crowell

What Snow Blower Best Fits You?

       Utah winters can be brutal.  Experiencing lake-effect snow can quickly turn 2 inches of freshly coated snow into 2 feet of packed powder that leaves our driveways buried in.  Digging our way out of that snow without a snow blower can be daunting, to say the least.  Most of us can recall stories from our childhood of being woken up by Dad hours before dawn to head outside with the shovel and get to work.  It’s a wonder many of us don’t walk around with debilitating back injuries from all that heavy lifting. 

       

       Even to this day, many people haven’t made the move to buy a snow blower.  If you’re a newbie, it’s hard to know which snow blower is best.  There are two primary types of snow blowers: single-stage and double-stage.  Single-stage models also offer gas and electric options, further confusing the uninitiated.  Knowing which type to buy may seem daunting, but in reality, the decision is easy once you understand what you are looking for. 

       A single-stage gas snow blower is ideal for a flat, midsized paved driveway.  They are most effective in areas that receive an average snowfall of 8 inches or less of snow or less.  Single-stage blowers are light, easy to handle, and require the same amount of garage storage as a typical lawnmower.   A single-stage gas model will give you a 20- to 22-inch swath when clearing your driveway. Gas-powered models are two-cycle engines and require regular maintenance and most offer electric starters.  Single-stage snow blowers are not a good choice for gravel driveways as the auger contacts the ground, and the limited drive action makes steep hills undoable, as the machine will pull from side to side.  

       

       Single-stage electric models are ideal if you have a short, flat paved driveway and walk while electric snow blowers are most effective in areas that receive an average snowfall of 4 inches while an electric model will give you an 11- to 18-inch swath.  Single-stage electric snow blowers offer many of the same advantages and disadvantages, while being quieter and not requiring regular maintenance.  Just be aware that you’ll require a long extension cord you will have to tote with you.

Double-stage snow blowers are the best option for you if you have a long, wide, or hilly driveway and receive a typical snowfall of 8 inches or more.  Two-stage blowers clear a 24-32 inch swath, ensuring your job is done much more quickly and efficiently.  Double-stage blowers are required for gravel driveways, as the awning won’t contact the ground.  They offer electric starting and have driven wheels and an impeller to throw snow.  Two-stages are quite heavy and take up as much space as some sit-down mowers, while requiring regular maintenance. 

When choosing any model, be sure to try the controls to ensure that you are comfortable with the way it handles, the height of the controls, and the ease of chute adjustment.  One-handed drive and auger are important on a double-stage model.  Keep your eyes open for models with headlights and dead-man control.

       

       When the time comes to repair your new investment, Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers local, mobile snow blower repair throughout the Salt Lake Valley and we are a top pick for snow blower tune up's and repair in Park City.  We offer outstanding customer service and competitive pricing that will fit any budget.  Our trustworthy team brings years of repair experience to meet any need.

By: Kyson Crowell