Spring is here. It's now time to get your lawn mower ready for the lush, green grass it awaits. There's no need to call in the experts— you can tune-up your mower by yourself. It's such a breeze (get it?) that you can complete the process in just under a couple hours. Think of your lawn mower like your major appliances. For optimal efficiency and durability throughout its lifetime, your equipment definitely needs to be maintained.

Here are some things to check for:

First, does your lawn mower cut grass inconsistently or in patches? If so, the blade may need to be replaced. To know if the blade is dull, inspect the grass ends and look for frayed or uncut pieces. If that’s the case, your lawn mower’s blade is worn out and needs to be sharpened. You can either do this yourself, or for under $20, take the blade to a specialized repair shop to have it sharpened.

You also need to tune-up the engine. It’s as simple as starting by replacing the spark plug. To remove the spark plug, it will require special tools that you can pick up at your local hardware store. Make sure to use a spacer to ensure the new plug comes with a gap before you install it. All that's left is removing the carburetor, replacing the needle, fully cleaning out all the components, and then reinstalling it.

While you do the tune-up, remember to check the brakes, wheels, and cables and replace those accordingly.

Get Your Lawn Mower Ready for Spring with a DIY Tune-Up