In the Weeds

In an unprecedented move, Tesla Inc. announced its releasing a new, solar-powered, all-electric and fully automated line of mowers, called the “E-Lawn Mowers.”

Get it? “E-Lawn Mowers?”

Just like dad jokes, mowing is not for the faint-hearted.

All joking aside, June was National Safety Month and, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, somewhere around 90,000 people, including close to 10,000 children, are injured each year thanks to lawn mowers.

A popular study from 2021 points to the seriousness of mowing injuries; citing an average of 84,944 injuries per year from 2015-2021, with the most commonly injured body parts being hands or fingers (22.3%), followed by a leg or flip-flop clad foot (16.2%).

The most common injury was lacerations (23.1%), followed by sprain/strain (18.8%) with the average age of those injured being 46.5 years, and here’s a shocker: men were more than three times as likely to be injured as women. Patients presenting to the Emergency Department after a mowing accident were far more likely to be discharged home after treatment (90.5%) than to be admitted (8.5%).

Now, this article is not about vicious, blood-thirsty mowers that are coming for your kids, but a study of pediatric patients in one St. Louis hospital from 2022 found that 75% of mower accidents involving kids were boys, while 84% presented with injuries to the lower extremity, 40% experienced at least one amputation while 13% required a prosthetic after the injury.

Any object in the yard (stones, sticks or sprinkler heads) can become instant projectiles when struck by a mower blade. There’s even a MythBusters where they confirmed that a projectile like a rock, shot out of a common lawnmower, packed more force than a bullet from Dirty Harry’s trusty 357 Magnum.

The discharge chute on every mower is equipped with a protective guard or deflector to stop objects from becoming projectiles. However, for the deflector to be effective, it must remain clean and in place.

Know Your Enemy: Mower Types

This symphony of buzzing blades and whirring engines signals more than the return of mowing season, it’s also a time to venture out to tame your sprawling, unruly lawns and fields.

Rotary and Brush Mowers

Think of rotary lawn mowers like the surgeons of the mowing world — they have thin, sharp blades designed to cut grass evenly in well-maintained areas. These mowers are best used for precise mowing in smaller areas where there’s no chance of hitting a hidden stump, rock or toy robot.

On the other hand, rotary brush mowers are the bulldozers of the mowing universe, equipped with hinged blades that can pivot when hitting obstacles. These mowers are perfect for rough terrain and dense vegetation because they’re built to keep going despite hitting rocks and stumps, kind of like your determination to finish mowing before the next episode of your favorite TV show starts.

These modern mowers come with myriad safety features including blade brakes and seat sensors. So, before mounting up, make sure these are working correctly because, let’s face it, they only exist to keep you from becoming one of those sad mowing statistics.

Stand-On Mowers

First, decide the safest and most efficient way to cut the lawn with your stand-on mower. These mowers help add maneuverability and are designed for a full day’s work. Stand-on mowers allow for a quick exit in an emergency, so you can safely jump off and get back on quickly.

Jamie Briggs, Exmark’s director of marketing, told AcreageLife that safe mowing can be broken into three categories. “Safety for yourself, the equipment you’re operating and the environment where you’re mowing should always be top of mind.”

It’s important to follow these safety tips to maximize the productivity of a stand-on mower.

• Avoid mowing along drop-offs or waterside edges.
• Do not mow on slopes of more than 20 degrees.
• Mow hills side-to-side whenever possible.
• Familiarize yourself with the mower controls before mowing.
• Mow slowly until you have a good feel for the mower’s balance and capabilities.
• Always engage the parking brake and wait for all moving parts to stop before stepping off the mower.

Mower Maintenance: The First Line of Defense

Before we delve into the dos and don’ts of mower safety, let’s talk about maintenance.

Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring that this beast behaves itself.

Checking the cutting blades regularly is the best way to ensure the job is being done the right way, dull blades tear grass, leaving your lawn looking like it just had a fight with a rabid raccoon. Sharp blades, on the other hand, cut cleanly and reduce the risk of flying debris and contribute to the overall health of the grass. Inspecting your cutting blades after every use is what most manufacturers recommend and it only takes a minute or two.

Mind the Zerks

If you don’t know what a zerk is, you’re so lucky you’re reading this article! A zerk is a tiny, metal, teet-like fitting designed to keep the spindles in your mower lubricated and working properly. Zerks are named after an eccentric engineer from Kenosha, Wisconsin named Oscar Zerk, who invented them in 1929.

Inside the spindle of your mower are two sealed bearings that are responsible for the spinning action of the blades. For maximum efficiency, your bearings themselves must be greased behind their seals, using the zerk and a grease gun. The lifespan of your spindles is directly correlated with how much you use them and whether they’ve been properly greased underneath the seal. So, don’t be a jerk, mind the zerks.

Mowing: Where Fashion Meets Function

Now that your knowledge of mowers and your machine are both in tip-top shape, it’s time to talk attire. Mowing is not the time to channel your inner fashionista — instead, it’s better to think of yourself as a knight preparing for battle.

• Footwear: Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are a must and while those flip-flops might be comfortable, they are a sure-fire way to become a statistic.
• Clothing: Operators should wear close-fitting clothing to avoid entanglement in moving parts. Personal protective equipment is essential — this includes safety glasses, hearing protection, durable gloves and leather boots to ensure the best protection.

Moisture-wicking fabrics that keep you cool, dry and protected during long hours on a mower, baking under the sun, are the best options. Gearing up with UV-protected clothing is becoming a popular choice, with myriad brands offering work shirts, hats and jackets with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) ratings from UPF 15 through 50, that add an extra layer of protection from the dangers of mowing under the sun all day.

• Eye Protection: Safety goggles may not win you any fashion awards, but they’ll keep your eyes safe from flying projectiles. You don’t want to end up looking like a pirate because you were too cool for protective eyewear.
• Hearing Protection: Mowers are obnoxiously loud, and prolonged exposure to their roar can damage your hearing. Amazon currently offers close to 3,000 different ear defenders, ranging from $3.99 to $399.

Buying some good ear defenders is an investment that your future self will thank you for when you can hear your grandkids complain about how you never let them drive the mower.

• Gloves: A good pair of work gloves will protect your hands from blisters and cuts … and amputation. Plus, let’s be honest, they really complete the outfit and add a certain rugged charm to the safe mowing ensemble.

The Heat Is On

Preventing heat-related illnesses while mowing this summer just takes a little awareness and a few simple steps. First, start drinking water as soon as possible on the day you’re mowing, once you’re thirsty, it’s already too late. Wearing lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing with a wide-brimmed (and light-colored) hat, and applying sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 every 45 minutes, are the best ways to be safe. Don’t be shy about taking constant breaks in the shade, and be vigilant of the signs of heat exhaustion, like heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea and headache — seek shade and hydration immediately if these symptoms occur​.

Mowing Techniques: The Art of the Cut

If you’re going to take the time to mow, you might as well ensure the lines are straight. When mowing large areas, choose a spot directly in front of you, far off in the distance — like a tree or telephone pole. The first line you make is the most important, so if this one looks like a banana when you’re done, they’re all going to look just like it. When you start your first pass, fix your vision on that point while mowing — don’t look down or to the side, just keep your eyes straight ahead. After a little practice, you’ll be proud of baseball-field-eque, laser-straight stripes you just created.

• Mind the Slopes: When mowing on slopes, always mow at a 45-degree angle across the slope, rather than perpendicular or up and down. This helps prevent the mower from tipping over, which is bad 100% of the time. If the slope is too steep to mow, consider using a push mower — or maybe even hire a tribe of goats.
• Avoid Mowing Wet Grass: Wet grass is slippery and can clog your mower deck by clumping after being cut, leaving your lawn looking patchy and your mower clogged. Simply wait until later in the day to mow, if possible, when the grass is dry.
• Be Aware of Fire Danger: Fires are nature’s way of cutting the grass and are as essential to the health of the land and soil as nutrients and water. Brush fires are also forces of nature and can go from a spark to a wildfire in seconds.

The cautionary tale of the careless mower starting a catastrophic brush fire is far more fact than folklore. A study conducted by the National Forest Protection Agency, said that local fire departments respond to an estimated average of more than 300,000 brush, grass and forest fires every year, that’s an average of 840 fires per day. A vast majority of these fires are caused by humans meaning they are as preventable as they are dangerous.

Prior to mowing, check with the National Weather Service to see what the fire-danger warnings for your area are. Dry, windy conditions create an environment perfect for brush fires, so being aware of the dangers and having a plan if a fire starts are the best ways to make sure your mowing task isn’t interrupted by a pesky natural disaster.

Post-Mow Rituals: The Aftermath

• Inspect for Damage: While you’re admiring your handy mowing work, take some time to also look over your mower — check the belts, tires and the chassis for any signs of wear or damage. It only takes a minute and can save you hours in the future.
• Clean the Mower: Grass clippings are chalk full of moisture, which will facilitate corrosion if debris is allowed to accumulate under the mower deck, leading to rust and reduced performance. After sitting and drying under your mower, grass becomes a tinderbox, so giving your mower a good wash down to keep it in top condition is not only good for your mower, it’s preventing a potential structure fire from happening.
• Refuel and Store Properly: A 2021 study by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, said that about 56% of the 38 million pieces of outdoor power products sold in the U.S. — from lawn mowers and string trimmers to snow throwers and chainsaws— were electric. If your mower runs on gas, let it cool for 20 minutes before you refill and store it. If it’s electric, do yourself a favor and charge the batteries while you’re cleaning the mower so it’s ready to go next time.

The Best Part of Mowing

Now that you’ve done your part to be safe, and have now ensured the grass is literally greener (and safer) on your side of the fence, slip on those flip-flops and admire your handy work.