Playing it Safe with Lawn Maintenance

At Peace of Mind, we love the spring and summer basically because we get to be outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine.  There  really is nothing better than seeing the results of our hard work in a client’s yard.  Some homeowners merely need our assistance getting started with the landscaping each spring and we are happy to do it.  While others need our help installing outdoor kitchens, hardscapes or water features.  We love to do it all because we get to know our clients and their yards.

As a result every spring we like to remind our customers about some of the dangers that are inherent with lawn maintenance.  If you are doing some of the lawn care by yourself here are some helpful tips to stay safe this spring and summer. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention. . .

• Make sure all equipment is in good working order.  You may want to have a repair shop give a check up on mowers and trimmers.  This will make sure there are no broken parts that need repair or parts that could harm the operator.
• Wear protective gear such as boots, pants and goggles to protect yourself from any flying debris.  Check the lawn with a quick walk around to be sure there are no toys, rocks or other pieces of debris that could become a projectile if run over by the lawn mower or trimmer.
• Keep pets and children away from the area you are working on.  Unfortunately injuries can result from objects entering the blade and exiting the chutes. Every year emergency rooms deal with broken bones, eye and limb injuries due to lawn mowers and other lawn equipment.
• Do not put fingers or arms into the area of the blade.  Sounds like common sense but you would be amazed the number of people who try to unclog chutes or grass with sticks or fingers.
• Do not leave a running mower or trimmer.
• Wait for the engine to cool before putting it away in a shed or garage.
• If operating an electric tool,  keep the wire behind you at all times.  Use extension cords that are brightly colored to see them easily.

Hopefully these quick reminders will keep all of our customers safe this season as they enjoy their lawn and garden. Happy Spring!