CANNING VALE – Local outdoor power equipment dealer, The Mower Shop WA, has opened its doors seven days a week in response to the extended trading hour’s debate which is currently heating up in WA once again.

Jeff Weston, proprietor of The Mower Shop, located on the corner of Panama and Nicholson Road in Canning Vale, has put the debate about extended shopping hours in WA to rest by committing to trade seven days a week.  Jeff said today that he has simply responded to the requests of his customers by extending his retail store hours.

“Customers are currently not able to have access to the specialised service that we at The Mower Shop can provide for them when they are looking to buy new equipment for home use, such as lawnmowers etc.” Jeff said.

He also added that “The large retail chain stores that supply similar products are not always warranted dealers for the brands that customers like to buy, and the customer deserves to buy a product from a warranted dealer, who can follow up with the service of the machinery that the customer requires. For example, when a customer purchases a lawnmower from a large retail store, the mower comes in a box, which the customer then has to take home and assemble themselves. Some customers are not always given enough advice on what is required to assemble these products – which fuel and oil to use and if the machine is running at its optimum performance once started.  Putting the wrong fuel in a 2-stroke engine, for example, would seize the engine and void any warranty.”

With most of us working longer hours, and commitments with family sport on weekends, Saturday afternoons and Sundays are sometimes the only opportunity busy families have to access the shops to purchase these products.

The Mower Shop carries major brands such as Honda, Husqvarna, Echo, Victa, Masport and Briggs and Stratton.  A fully equipped service department and a pick up and delivery service add to our commitment to complete customer care.
 

• Mowers
• Whipper Snipper-Brushcutters
• Hedge Trimmers
• Outdoor Cleaners
• Generators
• Parts & Accessories
• Blowers
• Chain Saws
• Ride-On Mowers
• Mulchers

Ignition System
One of the main considerations when buying a mower is how easy it is to start up.  Petrol mowers have a variety of mechanisms – the most common and traditional type is a ripcord start, which pulls the motor into life. This can be frustrating and hard work on some models.  Always ask to test this yourself before buying the mower, so you’re sure there will be no problems starting the motor yourself once you get it home.

Blades
Look for blades made from hardened steel, they will give a cleaner cut and last a lot longer. Also look for a mower with a four-blade system, to ensure it can cut through thicker grass.  The width of the cutting area is important. A good petrol mower will be able to cut right to the edge of the unit, but electric mowers generally have a smaller ‘cutting deck’ – the circle within which the blades spin. This means it takes longer to mow the lawn, and there’s more twisting and turning involved.

Catcher
Look for a catcher with properly located handles that make it easy to detach, hoist up, and empty into a bin.

Mulcher
Some mowers are able to process cut grass into mulch that is then spread over your lawn. This is a great option, that lets you nourish your grass while you mow it.

Cutting Height
The more height settings, the easier it will be to deal with rough, patchy ground or regenerating grass. Electric mowers are less flexible and harder to raise and lower than the petrol models. Try these settings for yourself and see if it’s manageable.

Handles
Height-adjustable handles allow for better comfort, while the upswept handles allow for better ergonomics.  The handles should be able to fold over for compact storage.

Petrol lawn mowers come in a variety of two and four stroke models.
The four-stroke is the most common of the new lawn mowers you’ll find. The  engine runs on standard unleaded petrol.  The benefits of this are that you don’t need to make two-stroke mixture, simply use normal petrol.  There is much less pollution than the two-stroke engine and there is a wider cutting area, which equates to quicker mowing time.

The two-stroke mower has an older style of engine that runs on a fuel-oil mixture. The bad side of these type of mowers is that the fuel-oil mixture needs to be made up and the machines are generally higher in pollutants. Another type of mower is the Push Mower, which is the old-fashioned way of blades attached to wheels cutting the grass as you push the mower over it. The case against this type of mower is that it is only suitable for small areas, and it can be frustrating and time consuming to use.

There are also electric lawn mowers on the market, which plug straight into a normal wall socket with an extendable cord. The downfall of these models is that they can be unsafe (if the cord is run over) and the length of the cord may not cover the full size of a garden.  They have a narrower cutting width and have less features than the petrol mowers.

So as you consider your purchase of a lawnmower, you will need to weigh up all the features incorporated into the machine, such as – the ignition, the motor capacity, cutting height, cutting area, the ease of use, fuel required, availability of replacement parts and servicing costs.

When planting container grown plants, disturb the roots as little as possible so that they continue to benefit from the compost they are grown in.  Water as usual after planting.

When planting bare rooted trees and shrubs, spread the roots out like an umbrella, twisted roots stunt growth.  As you cover the roots with soil shake the plant from time to time to allow the soil to drop down well between them.  Water well after planting.

A circle of twigs about 500mm high (20ins), provides a better support for border plants than a single stake, and is less obtrusive.

Save wooden ice cream spatulas, lolly sticks or plastic knives to use as garden labels.  Write on them with a waterproof marker.

An old hot water bottle filled with foam rubber chips is a handy kneeling pad for long gardening jobs.

If you find handles of tools, mowers and shears uncomfortable to hold try buying a foam bicycle handlebar grip.  Slip the grips over the tool handles, using washing up liquid or Vaseline if you are having problems fitting them.  Pipe insulating foam may also work.

Always buy strong, good quality tools and look after them well.   If you can afford it buy stainless steel as they will last a lifetime and are easier to clean.  When choosing tools pick them up and try out for balance and weight

Before filling a strawberry barrel with compost stand a piece of drainpipe or cardboard tube upright in the centre and fill with pebbles.  As you fill with compost gradually remove the tube releasing the pebbles.  This will act as a central drainage system preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged.

If your hose springs a leak, temporarily repair it by inserting a cocktail stick into the hole.  Snap the stick off as close to the hose as possible and wrap around with insulating tape or waterproof tape (if available).   This should extend by about 2" each side of the hole.  As the wood absorbs the water it will expand and seal the hole.

An old wheel rim makes an ideal storage place for a garden hose when not in use.  This can be hung on a garage or shed wall.

Sprinkler heads get clogged frequently with bugs. To stop this, use pantyhose, cut off a piece large enough to be able to cover the anti-siphon valve (the part that unscrews that has the rubber stop in it), tie it with a rubber band or piece of string, no more clogs.  Bugs get in through this valve because it is open at the bottom to allow air to get in, not through the sprinkler head. 

If your plastic garden furniture gets stained, make a paste by mixing of baking soda and water and apply it for a few minutes before wiping it off.

To preserve aluminum garden furniture, and metal tools over the winter apply oil (cooking oil, but remember to wipe it off before using again)

When planting flowers if you don’t like to wear gloves, take a bar of soap and scrape your fingernails over the soap, that way your nails don’t get stained and you can work the soil around the tender plant roots.

Applying a teaspoonful of salt can individually kill a weed such as dandelion in your lawn.

Where the soil is mainly clay, cracks may appear in the lawn in summer, they can be very unsightly.  The cracks can be filled with a 50/50 mix of sand and soil-less compost or peat.

Try pouring a line of salt where you think ants are coming into the house, and a pile where they tend to congregate (pantries, around pet dishes). You won’t get rid of the big nasty carpenter ants, but the average ant will be gone after a few days of regular application (and you won’t kill your children or pets!)

WATERING: ALWAYS CHECK LOCAL WATERING RESTRICTIONS FIRST

New Lawns: Initially slow and deep. Use a fine mist to keep the seed bed moist. Never let it dry out. You may have to water several times daily in very hot weather. When lawn is showing clearly, water daily then reduce watering to a soaking once a week after the 3rd or 4th mow. Never let it "look" dry. Watering after sunrise is best but avoid watering after sunset unless absolutely necessary

Established Lawns: Most lawns do without watering for much of the year. It’s mainly through the summer months that you need to turn on your sprinkler. The following can help to reduce your water costs without detriment to the quality of your lawn.
 

• Delay watering as long as possible in the warmer months and lengthen the time between waterings.
• Soak the soil – use a fine spray and allow water to soak down to the full depth of the root zone. Aeration will help as will a ‘Wettasoil’ product in heavy soils.
• Aerate or spike the soil to allow more rapid soaking.
• Never water in the heat of the day and for maximum benefit, water at night but before it’s dark.
• A good soaking one or two evenings a week is more beneficial than a sprinkling seven days a week. In addition, this allows the soil to dry out slightly between watering, reducing the risk of fungal infections.
• Not only does over-watering leach nutrients from the soil, it also wastes fertiliser.
• To stop run-off, especially on steep slopes with clay soils, use a fine spray for short (five minute) periods per watering, improve soil structure and spike or aerate the lawn.

How often should I water lawn seed during germination?

The amount of water required depends on the soil type, wind, temperatures etc.  Generally three waterings per day if no rain, with a fine hose attachment so you don’t wash the seed away or into clumps, keeping the top 2cm moist at all times.

How long does seed take to germinate?

It completely depends on which variety has been planted.

MOWING :

New Lawns: Mow when the grass is 8 to 10cm high so you can just cut the top 2cm off the grass. This encourages root growth. (Young grass can be damaged by close mowing). As the lawn matures the blades can be lowered gradually on each successive mow.

Established Lawns: Many home gardeners make the mistake of trying to create a bowling green in their garden. This can be expensive in time, money and water.  If you feed your lawn regularly, your soil will gradually become acidic. Correct this in the winter by the addition of lime. Winter is also the ideal time for aerating lawns.
 

When is the best time to sow Pooch Couch or Sunsmart Couch?
Sow these varieties when ground temperatures are consistently 23 degrees or more. Months of October until February are appropriate for most places across Australia.

How soon can I start cutting my lawn?
When seedlings are approximately 5 to 6 centimetres high, remove about 1 centimetre. Regular and early morning mowing will strengthen and thicken the lawn.

 
How to prepare for best result from a lawn when you have clay soil?
Rotary hoeing coarse sand & Gypsum into the clay will improve drainage and better root development of the lawn. The deeper the roots can penetrate, the longer the lawn and go without water.
 

How to prepare for best result from a lawn when you have sandy soil?
Prior to sowing, apply Weta-Lawn at the rate of 1kilo to 2 square metres, spread over the area and mix into the top 2-5cm.

When is the best time of the year to sow evergreen lawns?
Autumn & Spring.
 

How to sow seed evenly?
Mix seed with Superstart Lawn Fertiliser at sowing time, this will enable better distribution of seed and thus better results.
 

Which are the most hard wearing lawn varieties?
Warm Season lawns are considered to be hard wearing. Sun Smart Couch, Kikuyu, Buffalo etc.

When can I spray for broadleaf weeds on a new lawn?
It would depend on the variety planted. Check with the manufacturer, but generally once the lawn has been in for 3 to 4 months. Always follow exact directions on container. Guess work with application quantities can be unsafe for the lawn.