Lawn Mower Safety Tips

Mowing our lawns is an American tradition. It’s a privilege to own a home and an obligation to keep it beautiful. Some people think of mowing their lawn as a chore and others think of it as a reward. Whatever the situation might be, you owe it to yourself and your family to do it safely. Here a few safety tips that you can put to use right away. If you have any other questions about lawn mower safety visit us at New South Tractor in Newton, North Carolina. We’re proud to help homeowners in the Asheville, North Carolina, area be the envy of all their neighborhoods.

Dress for Safety

You already know that mowing in flip-flops isn’t a good idea. They offer no protection from flying debris and they slip off your feet constantly. You can easily get 2nd and 3rd degree burns from hot parts and you’re much more likely to slip or stub your toe when you mount your riding mower or your zero-turn mower. Hearing and eye protection are also strongly recommended. You can experience instant hearing damage when you’re exposed to over 85 decibels and even a small lawn mower can easily produce more than 100.

Avoid Creating Projectiles

Be sure to walk around your yard and pick up branches, sprinklers, rocks and toys before you start mowing. A flying rock can damage your windows or your car’s new paint job, and it can cause serious injury to you or anyone nearby. Don’t assume that a gravel driveway or unpaved surface is safe to cross with your lawn mower. If you do have to ride over a gravel or rock surface, make sure that no one is nearby and that your cutting deck is raised to its highest setting.

Always Move Forward

You might be tempted to pull a push mower backwards to clean up a spot, but if you slip it could easily end in disaster. If you do have to move your mower backwards to get it out of a confined space, turn off the engine first. Push mowers are easiest to control on hills if you mow them from side to side, but you should mow up and down the hill on a riding or zero-turn lawn mower. A riding mower is more likely to tip over sideways than front-to-back, and riding sideways on a hill will increase your chances of an accident. Wet grass offers less traction and is more difficult to cut. If you're forced to mow right after heavy seasonal rainfall, be sure to take your time.

To see our current inventory of lawn mowers for sale visit New South Tractor in Newton, North Carolina, serving Asheville, North Carolina.