According to mower manufacturers and most lawn care professionals, mower blades should be cleaned and sharpened twice a season.
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Why it’s important to clean and sharpen mower blades
As you mow, your blades’ main job is to cut grass, but if they are full of debris, are dull, or have knicks it makes it hard to do their job well. If you notice your grass isn’t being cut in even heights, if the blades look as though they’ve been torn instead of sliced, and if your grass blades have brown, frayed edges - it’s time to clean and sharpen.
When grass blades are cleanly cut, this results in much healthier blades of grass and an overall healthier lawn.
How often to clean mower blades
For the normal lawn maintenance guru - twice a season is generally enough to keep your mower blades working and functional. Lawn care professionals will tell you every 25 hours - but remember, their mowers are used at a much higher frequency than the normal, everyday resident. The best thing to do is keep an eye on your grass. If it isn’t cutting well, it may be time for a cleaning.
According to mower manufacturers and most lawn care professionals, mower blades should be cleaned and sharpened twice a season. So if the quality of your cut is suggesting it’s time to do something - you can take a stab at it yourself, or contact a local resource to clean and sharpen them.