Everyone knows the basic needs of a Portola Valley lawn to keep it lush and beautiful during the hot summer months. Watering and fertilizing are essential as is mowing the grass on a regular basis. What some people don't know is how to take care of lawn equipment so that you can care for the lawn. When you are mowing the Portola Valley grass you should look at how well the mower is actually doing the job. Does it cut the grass neatly or seem to saw off the blades of grass? If so, then you need to look at having the blades sharpened on the mower.
You can bring in the blades and have them professionally sharpened, but this is a costly affair. You can save yourself money by doing the job yourself and it will only take a bout two hours of your time. You do need to have a file about 12 inches long and a crowbar to prevent the rotor from turning, if you have a rotary lawn mower. Take off the handle and place the mower on a table or workbench. File the edges of the blade so that they look sharp, working at a 45º angle to the blade. As you finish one blade then you can move on to another.
You will need a few extra tools to sharpen the tools of a power mower. If it is a gas mower, make sure you empty the gas out of the tank before you start. This is because a single spark from filing could possibly ignite the tank. Also, make sure you wear safety gloves and goggles to protect yourself. When you put the mower up on the table, invert it so that you have access to the blades. You can also clamp the engine so that it can't move while you are working. Unlock the nuts holding the blades and remove them. Using a bench grinder, sharpen only the outer 2 or 3 inches of the blade. Move on to the next blade and when you are finished make sure the blades are locked in place on the mower securely.
