The heat of summer and dry weather can be tough on your lawn. Here are some tips to keep your lawn green and healthy this summer, despite the heat and periods of drought.

1. Don’t neglect maintenance.

By keeping your lawn mower blade sharpened and your deck’s underside clean, you’ll avoid damaging the grass and make your lawn mower last longer. The blade should be sharpened every month, ideally, or at least twice a year. If the blade is damaged, replace it with a new lawn mower blade.

You’ll also want to clean out grass clippings and debris from underneath the deck after you’re done mowing. With a built-in deck cleaning port—such as on the Toro Recycler lawn mower series—you can easily clean the deck after every time you cut the grass.

2. Mow smart.

If you’re using a mulching mower, take your time when mowing. The mower needs extra time to process the grass finely enough to nourish the lawn and make the grass clippings small enough to be invisible. Only mow the grass when it’s dry, and overlap each pass slightly for an even cut. Alternate cutting directions each time you mow to disperse the mulch evenly for a healthier lawn.

3. Raise the deck.

Cutting the grass too short in hot, dry weather can lead to brown patches on your lawn. When the summer gets hot, raise the mower deck so that the grass is taller than 3 inches after mowing. While you’ll have to mow more often, the longer grass will protect the roots from the scorching midday sun and help prevent the dreaded patches of brown grass.

4. Go easy on the slopes.

Fast speeds and sharp turns on hills can tear up the grass—not to mention, put you in danger of tipping the mower. If you use a walk-behind lawn mower, mow the hill from side to side. With a lawn tractor or riding mower, mow straight up and down (or consult the manual to see their recommendations). With a zero turn mower, you’ll need to be especially cautious going downhill.

Mulching Mowers

Keep your lawn green and healthy this summer with a mulching mower from MowerSource.com. We offer walk-behind mulching mowers and mulching kits for riding mowers and zero turn mowers. Best prices around! Get free shipping to the lower 48 U.S. and free lift gate delivery on select zero turn mowers.

Want a lawn with more curb appeal? How you handle grass clippings affects the appearance and health of your lawn. Here are some tips on figuring out when you should bag grass clippings and when you should mulch.

When to mulch

If the grass is always greener on the other side, it might be because your neighbor is mulching instead of bagging. In most cases, mulching is a better idea than bagging, because the grass clippings act as fertilizer for your lawn and help it retain the moisture it needs to stay lush and healthy.

Worried about the appearance of your lawn by letting the grass clippings sit? Buy a mulching mower that cuts and re-cuts the grass clippings until they are barely noticeable, then forces the clippings deep into the lawn, where no one will notice them. You’ll get the best of both worlds: a clean-looking lawn and the nourishment your grass needs to keep it green.

Handled properly, mulching can:

• Make your lawn healthier by serving as fertilizer and helping your lawn retain moisture.
• Save time on mowing, since you don’t have to stop and empty the mower bag.
• Save money on lawn care—both on grass clipping disposal and because you won’t need to use as much fertilizer.

The key to avoid thatch buildup when leaving the grass clippings is to only cut the lawn no more than 1/3 of the blade at a time. Smaller mulching pieces will decompose rapidly, nourishing your lawn rather than causing problems.

When to bag

If by chance the grass has grown too long and you need to cut more than a 1/3 of the blade, that’s when bagging comes in handy.

Large clumps of grass clippings look bad—not to mention the fact that they can smother your lawn if they’re not raked evenly over the surface. So if you’ve been gone on vacation for a couple of weeks and come home to an overgrown lawn, bagging is a good option at that stage.

A bagging kit is also the best option if you want a pristine, manicured lawn without any mulch or grass clippings. By fertilizing your lawn, you can keep it just as green and lush as you can with a mulching mower or mulching kit.

Mulching Mower Sale

Need a mulching mower or a mulching kit? Mower Source offers mulching mowers and mulching kits for Toro, Husqvarna, and Ariens mowers. Get free shipping when you purchase your mulching mower or mulching kit from MowerSource.com!

While zero turn mowers used to be affordable only for professional landscaping companies, now almost any homeowner can use a zero turn mower to cut the grass in as little time as possible. Zero turn mowers are becoming more popular not just for homeowners with large lots but for any homeowner or landowner who wants to cut down on their mowing time.

Why a zero turn mower?

The biggest draw for zero turn mowers is that they can cut your mowing time almost in half. The precise handling lets you mow around landscaping features, trees and shrubs, gardens, and other obstacles much faster than other types of mowers.

How easy is it to drive a zero turn mower?

Easier than you think. With very little practice or instruction, you can learn to handle a zero turn mower with precision and ease. Since almost anyone can learn to drive a zero turn mower, you might find yourself fighting over who gets to mow the lawn this week!

What about mowing on hills?

As long as the hills or slopes in your yard are 10 degrees or less, you will have no problem using a zero turn mower on rolling terrain. To get a better idea of how steep 10 degrees would be, think of a steep hill that you drive in your car. Most road inclines are less than 10 degrees.

If the hill is too steep to stand on, your zero turn mower could lose traction or skid. Keep in mind that there is no power to the front wheels of a zero turn mower. Only the rear wheels have power.

What is the best zero turn mower?

When it comes to choosing a zero turn mower, go with a quality brand that you can trust. Ariens, Toro, and Husqvarna are three mower brands that have proven their quality over time. A quality zero turn mower is money well spent.

MowerSource.com carries only the best. Our Ariens, Husqvarna, and Toro zero turn mowers offer exceptional performance at a price you can afford. Mower Source offers fast, free shipping—including free lift gate delivery for a limited time only. Your zero turn mower will be at your door before you know it, and in no time you’ll be cutting the lawn with your new mower.

Zero Turn Mowers

Get your Husqvarna, Toro, or Ariens zero turn mower from MowerSource.com! We offer the best prices around, with no tax (except in MN) and free shipping. Free Lift Gate Delivery included for a limited time only!

Need a dependable lawn mower that lets you mow a large acreage in less time? The Toro Time Cutter zero turn mower cuts your mowing time by an average of 45%. Even better, it’s easy to use. The precision steering system lets you smoothly maneuver, start, and stop with ease.

Ground speed is adjustable with Toro’s exclusive Smart Speed™ control system that lets you choose different ground speed ranges just by flipping a lever—no need to change the blade or engine speed. For large open areas, you can mow at high speeds. Then switch to the low speed range for mowing around trees, gardens, retaining walls, and landscaping features.

With a large mowing deck and a 4-inch deep top discharge deck, you can maximize your cutting performance and get your grass cut to just the right height.

As you can see in the video below, learning how to operate a Toro Zero Turn mower takes very little practice. The “newbie” zero turn mower user in the video was able to operate the mower with no problems on only her second time using the mower.

For a limited time only, MowerSource.com is offering Free Lift Gate Delivery on all Toro zero turn mowers. Get your mower shipped for free (no tax except in MN) and delivered to your door with fast shipping from FedEx. We offer the best prices available—made even better by the fact that you won’t have to pay extra for taxes!

Residential homeowners, landlords, and commercial property owners will love the Toro Time Cutter’s ease of use and reduced cutting time. With a 3-year warranty, your Toro zero turn mower is guaranteed to last.

Toro Zero Turn Mowers

Get your lawn cut in no time with a Toro Time Cutter Zero Turn Mower. This lawn mower comes with a 3 year warranty and free shipping, including free lift gate delivery for a limited time. Get your Toro zero turn mower today!

When too much thatch builds up on your lawn, it blocks water and nutrients from fully absorbing into the grass, which makes your lawn start to suffocate and turn brown. By removing the thatch when needed (after it reaches about a half inch in depth), you can keep your lawn healthy and green.

How to Dethatch Your Lawn

You have several options when it comes to dethatching your lawn. First, you can do it yourself by using a dethatching rake or by renting a commercial dethatcher. If you have a small lawn, you can dethatch it manually with a special rake designed to remove the layer of thatch buildup from your lawn. This is the gentlest way to dethatch your lawn, but it also requires the most work on your part and takes a long time to completely cover your entire lawn. That’s why we only recommend it for very small yards.

Another do-it-yourself option is to rent a dethatcher from a hardware store or lawn supply store. Since it’s a heavy piece of equipment, you’ll need a way to load it on a truck and unload it when you get it to your house. A commercial dethatcher is much more efficient and faster than a rake, if you can find a place to rent one. The blade depth is adjustable; typically you don’t want it to reach any deeper than a half inch into the soil.

Finally, you can opt for commercial dethatching from a local lawn service. This is the best option if you are not familiar with the process of dethatching or don’t want to take the time to do it yourself.

Practical Advice

• Before dethatching your lawn, we recommend cutting your grass to half its normal height. This makes it easier to see the thatch layer and how effectively you’re raking the lawn.
• Mark any hidden objects on your lawn that you need to avoid, such as irrigation heads.
• To get the best results, dethatch each section of your lawn twice, going over it the second time at a 90 degree angle compared to your first pass with the dethatcher.

Lawn Care after Dethatching

• If your lawn looks a bit ragged after you dethatch it, that’s normal. It will take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks for your lawn to return to normal—and when it does, it should be greener and healthier than before.
• Use a rake to remove the thatch loosened up by the rake or machine. Then spread grass seed over areas that are bare. Rake the seeds lightly into the soil.
• Fertilize your lawn after dethatching. Keep the grass well watered to help your lawn recover from the dethatching process. Regular watering, fertilizing, aerating, and mowing will help keep your lawn healthy and prevent rapid buildup of the thatch layer.

Lawn Tools

Get your lawn ready for spring with lawn mowers, equipment, and yard tools from MowerSource.com! We have all the equipment you need to keep your lawn healthy and green this season. Get free shipping on all orders to the lower 48 U.S.

Spring is the perfect time to get your lawn mower ready for the season. Regular tune-ups and maintenance can make your lawn mower last longer, perform better, and keep your lawn healthy and curb appeal friendly. Here are some tips on getting your lawn mower ready for spring.

1. Read the manual.

First, read the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions in your manual. Make sure the maintenance you are performing is recommended by the manufacturer for your specific lawn mower.

Also, if you’re not comfortable working on your lawn mower, get professional help, or ask a friend who’s more mechanically minded to help you out.

2. Get ready.

Work in a ventilated area. If you’re in the garage, open the overhead door for maximum ventilation. Get together the supplies that you’ll need, including a drop cloth, cleaning brush, work gloves, engine oil, and lubricant. You’ll also need a new spark plug and air filter, if your lawn mower uses a paper filter.

Cover the garage floor, driveway, or other work area with a drop cloth to protect the ground from any spills and to make cleanup easier.

3. Disconnect the spark plug.

Before you do any work on your lawn mower, disconnect the spark plug. This step is extremely important, since it prevents the lawn mower from accidentally starting while you are performing maintenance.

4. Clean it up.

Remove the grass catcher (if equipped) and brush away any dried grass clippings on the mower deck as well as underneath. You may need to use a putty knife to remove dried clods of grass and debris. If your lawn mower has a wash port built into the deck, we recommend cleaning your lawn mower after each use to make this step easier.

5. Replace the oil.

Change the oil by removing the drain plug at the bottom of the engine and allowing the dirty oil to run out into a container. Then put the plug back in place and add new engine oil. Choose the type of oil recommended in the owner’s manual for your lawn mower.

6. Sharpen the blade.

Did you know that a dull lawn mower blade can shred the tips of your grass and make your lawn turn brown? Sharpen the blade at least once a year. More often is better, but for most homeowners, once a year is better than never. Remove the blade from the mower before sharpening it. This is also a good time to thoroughly clean the underside of the mower, with the blade removed. If the blade has large nicks in it from hitting rocks or other debris, you should replace it with a new lawn mower blade.

7. Lubricate.

Lubricate the wheel bearings and any moving parts to keep them working smoothly. This also helps prevent rusting during storage.

8. Clean or replace the air filter.

Next, it’s time to clean or change the filter. If your lawn mower has a paper filter, replace the filter with a new one each mowing season. If your lawn mower has a foam filter, remove the filter and clean it with dish detergent and water. Then lightly saturate it with engine oil, wipe off the excess oil with a shop rag or plastic bag, and put the filter back in place.

If you see any wear or damage inside your air cleaner element, replace it immediately. If your air cleaner is faulty, you risk damaging the lawn mower engine—which is much more costly to fix.

9. Change the spark plug.

Finally, you’ll need to replace the spark plug. This ensures easy starting. Use a socket wrench to replace the spark plug. Then reconnect the wire. Your mower is now ready for the season!

Lawn Mowers for Sale

Need a new lawn mower for the season? MowerSource.com sells high quality Toro, Ariens, and Husqvarna lawn mowers, including riding mowers, self-propelled mowers, and zero turn mowers. Free shipping on all orders to the lower 48 U.S.

For a limited time only, get a free extra blade when you purchase one of our Toro Super Recycler mowers. Toro’s Personal Pace® line of self propelled lawn mowers is one of our most popular mowers. The Toro Super Recycler automatically senses and adjusts to your pace, which makes mowing the lawn easy and effortless.

We’re making the Toro Super Recycler even easier to maintain with a free extra lawn mower blade. Regular blade maintenance keeps your blade sharp and your lawn mower cutting easily.

The Toro Super Recycler lawn mower features a Toro Premium OHV engine that burns cleaner and runs more efficiently than side-valve engines. The superior airflow design keeps your engine running cooler, and the muffler keeps the noise down—something your neighbors will appreciate.

Not much room in your garage for storage? Not a problem with the Toro Super Recycler. This lawn mower offers compact storage with a Quick Stow storage handle that lifts up to store vertically.

The cutting system is one of the best Toro offers, with a veneered cutting blade, clipping accelerator, and kickers. The cutting deck is made with cast aluminum guaranteed never to rust. Switch easily between mulching, side discharging, and rear bagging without using any tools.

Cleanup is easy with the deck wash port. Just connect your garden hose and rinse away grass clippings from underneath the mower for better mower performance.

Toro Super Recycler Lawn Mower Reviews

“Hands down…best residential mower I have ever owned. I have been mowing grass for 30 years and this is the easiest mower I have ever operated. Lightweight, dependable and quiet.” – Smudge

“I would highly recommend this Toro lawnmower to anyone wanting a self-powered mower. In the past, I had a hard time with the weight of self propelled mower, and the speeds were either too fast or too slow. The ‘Personal Pace’ Toro mower allows you to choose your own speed.” – Mary Ellen

“My Toro mower is wonderful. Its self propelled features saves enables this 65 year old man to complete a chore much faster. It starts quickly, is quiet while running, and mulches the clipping adding nutrients to the lawn. The opening on the top for placing the hose nozzle for cleaning makes clean up a faster process. Rhank you Toro for an outstanding product!” – Linton

Toro Lawn Mowers

Get the best deal on Toro lawn mowers from MowerSource.com! We offer free shipping, no tax on purchases (except in MN), and the best warranty available.

What if a lawn mower could easily adjust to your walking speed and propel itself forward as you mow? With the Toro Recycler 20332 Personal Pace Mower, that’s exactly what you get. The Toro Personal Pace® system automatically senses your walking speed and matches your pace. Speed up or slow down, and the mower will follow.

Toro Lawn Mower Review

As one YouTube reviewer said after a year of using the Toro Recycler 20332 lawn mower, “Yep, I still love it. Seems like there’s a lot of cheap quality junk out there today in anything you buy. For once, this is a product that just feels like and works like a quality high-end piece of equipment. I can’t recommend it more highly! The Personal Pace compared to all other mowers I’ve ever tried and used nearly sells the mower alone!”

See the Toro Recycler video review below:

Toro Personal Pace 20332 Mower

The Toro Recycler 20332 Personal Pace lawn mower is built for durability with a 190cc Briggs and Stratton engine that starts without any choking or priming. The Bag on Demand feature allows you to switch between mulching and bagging with a quick flip of a switch. The bag stays mounted in either mode.

With a 22″ wide cutting deck you can cut the grass in less time. The built-in mulching system minces grass clippings so fine that you won’t even be able to tell they’re there. It’s also a great way to get a healthy, lush lawn without any extra steps. Just mow and mulch as you go!

Toro Lawn Mowers

Get ready for mowing season with a Toro Personal Pace lawn mower from MowerSource.com! We’ve got the best prices in the industry, with top-notch customer service and free shipping. Pay no taxes on your new lawn mower! (except in MN)

We offer insured shipping through FedEx and pre-scheduled delivery times to make sure you don’t miss the delivery. Compare our prices with our competitors—we guarantee you’ll come back to MowerSource.com! Best prices around.

When it comes to maintaining a large yard, a riding lawn mower such as the Husqvarna GT52XLS will save you lots of time and headaches. With a 52″ wide cutting deck and a riding design built for comfort, you’ll have the grass cut before you know it.

Husqvarna Riding Mower Reviews

The Husqvarna LS series lawn tractors are built with the highest quality parts available within the mid-level riding mower price range. As Dale Subby, a MowerSource.com customer who bought the Husqvarna GT52XLS claims, “This mower does everything its supposed to and the 52″ deck cuts our time way down. We researched garden tractors for quite some time…in the end the Husky GT52XLS ended up being the best but for the money.”

In fact, according to another customer, this Husqvarna riding mower outperforms other mowers in higher price ranges:

“My last John Deere cost $5000.00 and lasted 15 years and this machine is hands down a much better unit. The price performance is unmatched in the mark today. There are two things that stand out. The Kawasaki motor which starts instantly with the turn of the key and welded deck that has been flawless. We live in an area that has alot of sand that really beats up the steel so the strength of the deck is very important. Plus that fact that the deck is welded and will allow for repair unlike the stamped decks on lesser units. It also very fast. Very satisfied!”

Why Choose Husqvarna?

Powered by a durable and quiet Kawasaki V-twin engine, the Husqvarna LS series riding mower is designed to cut grass efficiently for years of use. The lawn tractor design keeps the controls at your fingertips, including electric blade engagement, easy-to-reach levers and controls, and a comfort-grip steering wheel. The cruise control keeps you at an even speed while you mow, and the step-through seating area makes it easy to mount and dismount.

Husqvarna Riding Mower Sale

For a limited time only, the Husqvarna GT52XLS riding mower is available with Free Lift Gate Delivery from MowerSource.com. There’s no better time to buy than right now! Spring is here, and the grass is starting to grow. Get ready for summer lawn maintenance with a new riding mower from Husqvarna! MowerSource.com offers free shipping and free lift gate delivery, plus the best prices around!

With spring officially here, it’s time to think about taking care of your lawn. With free shipping and free lift gate delivery from MowerSource.com on all Ariens, Husqvarna, and Toro riding mowers and zero turn mowers, you can cut costs and cut grass both at the same time!

Riding Mowers

With a riding mower from Ariens, Husqvarna, or Toro, you can get the lawn cut faster and easier than using a push mower. No muscle is required for a riding mower, so just about anyone can do the job. Riding mowers make it easy to cut grass on hills—much easier than trying to push a lawn mower up hills and keep it from rolling away from you on the downside.

Zero Turn Mowers

You can’t get better lawn mowing capability than with an Ariens, Husqvarna, or Toro zero turn mower. Get the job done in half the time it used to take—a huge timesaver for large plots of land!

Zero turn mowers offer precise handling so that you can mow tightly around shrubs, gardens, and landscaping features. You can also lift and lower the deck to get the right height or avoid damaging sprinkler heads.

Free Lift Gate Delivery

Lift gate service is recommended for all residential deliveries without access to a loading dock or fork lift. The delivery company will safely lower your new Ariens, Husqvarna, or Toro mower to the ground for you.

For a limited time only, MowerSource.com is offering Free Lift Gate Delivery (valued at $50) on all riding mowers and zero turn mowers. Order your new lawn mower today, and it ships the next business day (if ordered before 1pm Central) or the following business day. Free shipping on all orders to the lower 48 U.S.!

About Mower Source

MowerSource.com offers professional quality Ariens, Husqvarna, and Toro riding mowers and zero turn mowers. Our prices are the best around—plus we offer free shipping on all deliveries within the lower 48 United States. Order your lawn mower online today!