Eric Piehl comments on mowing my grass lawn

This file tells me how to mow my grass lawn, using my Honda lawnmower, model=HRR2169VKA EJ, serial=MZCG-9229225, manual (.pdf) . It is a reminder for me, particularly at the beginning or end of the season, or whenever tired, hungry or grumpy!

Eric: When you change this document, also print and post on mower!

Start end other considerations

Start

Check oil level :
◦ clean dipstick with rag,
◦ pull out,
◦ oil should be in hatched area. As needed, add oil SAE 10W-30 API service SJ.
Knock all grass fragments out of the air filter . When it comes time to replace, do so with Honda lawnmower air filter 17211-ZL8-023 (now 17211-Z8B-901?).
Do all the other pre-mow checks.
If you are cutting:
◦ Grass tall and wet: set wheel height to 10 cm 4": 0 open slots in front, 5 open slots behind.
◦ Grass in normal condition: set wheel height to 9 cm 3½": 1 open slots in front, 4 open slots behind.
◦ Leaves after nights are cool: set wheel height to 8 cm 3": 2 open slots in front, 3 open slots behind.
Verify internal door is securely latched in MULCH position.
Check gasoline level, adding if needed.
If you are going to edge or weed using mechanical methods, do it now — mowing will do part of the cleanup.
Open gasoline valve, on left side of engine.
Don PPE (personal protective equipment) :
◦ closed-toe shoes with socks (crew-length, not shorties),
◦ safety glasses,
◦ optional gloves,
◦ optional respirator/filter that removes 99.97% (not 95%) of particulates down to 0.3 µm (not larger), e.g.,
half-face reusable respirator 3M 7502 with 2 × N100 particulate filters 3M 2297 (great fit, great seal, long life, need to wash, clunky), or
N100 particulate respirator 3M 8233 (disposable, compact, have not tried).^[1]
Hold dead-man switch to handle.
Pull to start.
Mow, controlling self-drive using thumb-levers. In pattern :
◦ If grass is tall or lots of leaves or short on time: spiral clockwise (deposits of cut grass on track's right side get recut on the next pass). -OR-
◦ All other times: diagonal strips, rotating between directions NE, NW, NS then EW.

End

Close gasoline valve, on left side of engine.
Blow clean with leaf-blower, top and inside.
Put away, if necessary stow handle out of way.
If the weeds just got away from your mechanical efforts above, and you have a spray bottle of 2,4-D or whatever appropriate to the job, now is a good time to spay herbicide just on just the weeds you see:
◦ Follow all label instructions — it's the law.
◦ Keep kids, pets and self away until dry.
◦ In a couple days, monitor your effects.

Other considerations

Established lawns do not need fertilizer, and fertilizer is bad for critters in the soil.^[2]
So don't fertilize, unless you are trying to establish a new lawn on bare soil after a major grading project.
To get your grass to sink deep roots, water your lawn only once or twice a week, for 2 hours if necessary.^[3]
I set my sprinkler timer box for twice a week, 24 minutes at a time. Seems pretty good — I turn the timer box to OFF during wet periods far more often than I bump it up to three days a week during prolonged droughts.
Whenever possible, try to landscape with native plants.

References

^[1] If your allergies are sufficient to get the above, go see your doc, and consider getting a room aircleaner Honeywell HPA100.
Put near your bed; at bedtime, set to run on Low for 2 hours.
If 🔥︎ wildfires cover your town with smoke, put in your main room or hallway, and run on Low 24/7.
Every 3 months, vacuum filter and consider ordering replacement filter Honeywell HEPA size "R".

^[2] My notes indicate I heard Rick Darke say this at a conference 2015-03-07. —EP 2016-10-01.

^[3] My notes indicate I heard a speaker say this at the same conference as above 2015-03-07. —EP 2016-10-01.

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