If you haven't already stored your lawnmower for the season, you're likely preparing to say farewell to this weekly chore until warmer temperatures return. Before you stash your mower, there are several things you can do to help keep the machine in prime condition during its off months -- and ready to return to work with a vengeance once spring arrives.
Bob Markovich, Consumer Reports' Home and Yard editor, has a few tips (and for a how-to video, head to the Consumer Reports site.)
*Empty the gas.
*Clean the machine. Once the fuel has been emptied, hose down your mower's deck and give it a thorough cleaning to remove any grass clippings, dirt and other debris that may clog the machine or harm the exterior.
Husqvarna has been on my radar since grade school. Not the outdoor power equipment, but the motorcross bikes. Growing up in the Southwest, we all rode bikes or three-wheelers in the desert and the bike of choice was typically a Honda or Suzuki, but I always gravitated to the brand with the strange name. I never owned a Husqvarna but I coveted the 250WR.
It wasn't until this week that I was finally able to straddle a "Husky" and grip the handlebars, but instead of a motocross bike I had to settle with a riding mower which might not have the excitement of a motorcycle but it definitely performs what it's built to do. The Z-Turns on the other hand are quite thrilling!
Husqvarna has tremendous heritage as they were founded in Sweden in 1689 as a gun foundry and to this day the logo represents the sights on a barrel. I don't think they are in the gun business anymore but among outdoor power equipment manufacturers they are number one worldwide.
We spent two days at their new research and development facility in Charlotte, NC, learning and testing almost every product they offer including many of the newest models that aren't yet available.
They have made some technological advances in many of their products such as the X-Torq which results in up to 75 % reduction in emissions and up to 20 % reduction in fuel consumption and Auto-Tune which assures the engine is operating at it's peak at all times.
We'll follow up with more product details including the 555/562 XP chainsaws, 122HD60 trimmer and the P-ZT6126 commercial zero-turn mower.
This week we're covering two great events that we didn't want to miss this week. I'm spending two days at the Husqvarna Research and Development facility in Charlotte, NC, learning about their latest products and testing chainsaws, trimmers, blowers and mowers.
Katy is just down the road in Asheville, NC at a design event with Shaw Floors. She'll tour the HGTV Dream Home then start work on designing a room from the floor up at the Tribuzio-Hilliard studios that will be showroom ready. And at the end of the event all of the Shaw Facebook fans will vote for the winner. If Katy wins we can give one of our lucky readers a floor makeover! More on that later.
If you're a fan of power lawn care tools follow us on Twitter at @Charles_Hudson and if design is more your thing then follow @CH_Katy.
The seated mowers you see at your home center with two handles facing each other are zero-turn lawn mowers. The popularity of zero-turn mowers continues to rise as homeowners become more educated to how they function and how to use them.
Typical riding mowers are driven just like a car. You'll see the standard steering wheel, seat and peddles. Extra features on a riding mower can include an adjustable seat, arm rests, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, driving lights, cup holders, DC power and cup holders and onboard storage.
Zero-turn mowers have less accoutrements but they make up for it in overall performance. Features such as zero degree turn radius and top speeds up to 9mph make zero-turn mowers the leader when it comes to fast and efficient mowing.
Katy is just down the road in Asheville, NC at a design event with Shaw Floors. She'll tour the HGTV Dream Home then start work on designing a room from the floor up at the Tribuzio-Hilliard studios that will be showroom ready. And at the end of the event all of the Shaw Facebook fans will vote for the winner. If Katy wins we can give one of our lucky readers a floor makeover! More on that later.
