Trying to start your tractor after a long cold winter of inactivity can be a frustrating experience if you didn't perform some simple maintenance tasks last fall. But its not too late to do them nowbefore the grass starts growing:

• Wash and thoroughly dry the machine (a power blower can be effective in blowing standing water off the mower deck and in hard-to-access areas. If you have an air-cooled engine, use a wooden dowel or stick to remove any gunk from the cooling fins. If your machine is water cooled, check the condition of the coolant and top off the reservoir if necessary. Use a strong jet of water to clean the radiator's cooling fins.
• Drain the fuel tank and replace the gas filter; clean the air filter housing and air filter as well.
• Remove the spark plug(s) and inspect them for corrosion and wear. If they are showing some wear, don't try to clean them. It's cheap insurance to simply replace them with new plugs. Be sure to blow away any debris with compressed air before removing the plugs, and torque the new ones to specifications in your owner's manual. A few dabs of anti-seize compound will ensure easy removal next time.
• Clean and lubricate the choke and throttle linkages and apply grease to all the fittings, including the mower deck. If you removed your mower deck this item will be easy: scrape away any grass from underneath the deck and sharpen or replace the blades. Replacement is needed when there are any deep nicks or cuts in the blade's tempered surface. If you didn't remove your deck, now's the time!
• Inspect drive belts and tighten loose belts. If your inspection shows any deep cracks or ply separations, replace the belt.
• Charge the battery and clean/check the security of the terminals. Apply grease to the posts to retard corrosion.
• Last but not least, change the oil in the crankcase of the engine. Change the filter. Check the level of oil in the transaxle and top off if necessary.

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There are three basic needs for a good lawn: fertilizing, mowing and watering. Every lawn needs feeding throughout the entire growing season such as spring, summer and fall.

The right amount goes a long way- Don't figure because a little fertilizer is good, a bigger dose will be better - it will hurt the lawn. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package.

Steps to great fertilizing:
1.  Time fertilizing to meet your lawn's needs. Let the lawn green up and mow it once or twice before applying a lawn food formula in spring.
 
2.  Choose a lawn fertilizer made for your type of turf grass. Read the label to be sure it lists your grass (bluegrass or zoysia, for instance) and to see how often you can use it.
 
3.  Use "new lawn" or "starter" formulas for seed, sod or sprigged lawns less than 2 years old. You'll appreciate the thickening effect they deliver in the first seasons.
 
4.  Select slow-release, granular complete fertilizers for established lawns - they deliver a consistent supply of nutrients during the lawn's fastest growth times. Avoid fertilizers that have only one ingredient (such as nitrogen or potassium) unless a soil test indicates you should apply them.
 
5.  Borrow or buy a fertilizer spreader and be sure you understand how to calibrate it for your lawn's favorite granular food. Walk behind the spreader at a good pace (but don't run), and make a pattern that covers each area of the lawn only once.
 
6.  Know that water-soluble lawn food doesn't last long in the soil, and plan to reapply it as directed on the label. Spray with caution - cover each section only once to avoid overfeeding.
 
7.  Fertilize at least one more time during the growing season, and apply a winter formula in early fall if one is recommended for your lawn grass. Don't worry if you forget, though - research says that once a year, whenever you remember, is fine for established turf.

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Each time you use your digging tools, you can prevent rust by cleaning and lubricating then with a sand/motor oil mixture. Just plunge the blades several times into the sandy mixture.

Stubborn rust stains can be rubbed with soap-filled steel wool dipped in kerosene or turpentine.

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As the ground warms, insects will hatch or come out of their dormant phase. Spraying insecticides now on woody plants will catch insects missed by dormant sprays. Lawn insecticides may also be used to avoid damage from insects which begin developing in late spring. This is also a good time to give vegetable gardens an initial spraying. Spray to Control: Cutworms, Grubs, Flies, Ticks, Ants, Aphids, Leafhoppers, Lace Bugs and Many other pests

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Choose a garden location that gets at least six hours of sun a day, near the house and a water source, away from mature trees that could invade your soil with their roots. Avoid underground utility lines.

• Provide air circulation by avoiding areas beside solid walls or fences. This will reduce the likelihood of fungal diseases attacking your plants.
• To mark the perimeter with string attached to stakes, or use a garden hose. Create a border using plastic, metal, wood, stone or even a plain trench to keep grass out.
• If the area you have chosen is covered with grass, do not till this grass into the soil to sprout again. Remove the sod with a shovel to a depth of about four inches . Replace this sod with a mixture of leaves and compost. Water this area well for a week or two, pulling any weeds pop up. It's ready to plant.
• If your soil is claylike and very compact, add peat moss or mulch to it. Then turn the soil with a cultivator until itís uniform. Use a landscape fabric or weed preventer to keep weeds away.

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Look for black spots on the surface of the rose leaves. Remove any infected leaves and spray to control. Repeat spray as often as recommended by the chemical label. Spray to Control: Rose Leaf Black Spot

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• Most lawns need a minimum of one inch of water every week.
• Apply water all at once to deeply soak the lawn and reach the grass roots.
• It's best to water before 10:00 am so the water can soak in before the afternoon hot heat causes evaporation.

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• Mulches prevent loss of water from the soil by evaporation.
• Mulches reduce the growth of weeds, when the mulch material itself is weed-free and applied deeply enough to prevent weed germination or to smother existing weeds.
• Mulches keep the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, thus maintaining a more even soil temperature.
• Mulches prevent soil splashing, which not only stops erosion but keeps soil-borne diseases from splashing up onto the plants.
• Organic mulches can improve the soil structure. As the mulch decays, the material becomes topsoil. Decaying mulch also adds nutrients to the soil.
• Mulches prevent crusting of the soil surface, thus improving the absorption and movement of water into the soil.
• Mulches prevent the trunks of trees and shrubs from damage by lawn equipment.
• Mulches help prevent soil compaction.
• Mulches can add to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and interesting texture to the surface.
• Mulched plants have more roots than plants that are not mulched, because mulched plants will produce additional roots in the mulch that surrounds them.

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• To give your soil extra enrichment, use an organic mulch. It breaks down into humus and controls weeds.


• Sprinkle coffee grounds around vegetable gardens. As they decompose they provide nutrients to the soil


• Dried, chopped autumn leaves provide a cheap and nutritious mulch for flower beds.


• If your soil is infertile, stony or poorly drained, you can build a framed raised bed and fill it with enriched soil.

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• Wash any utensils and plates that have come in contact with raw meat before using them for cooked foods. Be sure to keep vegetables or fruits that are intended for grilling separate from raw meat. That way, no one will munch on a piece of produce that’s been contaminated with meat juices.
  
• Remember to put your barbecue sauce on the meat just before it’s done. Most sauces contain sugar or tomatoes that will burn and dry out the meat if it’s added too soon.
• Spray your grill with cooking spray or coat it with cooking oil before grilling to prevent food from sticking to it.
  
• Give Your Charcoal Adequate Time To Heat Before Cooking:
  A charcoal fire takes 30-45 minutes to reach the proper cooking heat after you light it (unless you use a chimney). You can tell when the coals are at proper cooking temperature because gray ash will form evenly over the briquettes.
• Prevent Grease Fires:
  Always keep the bottom tray and grease catch pan of your gas grill clean and free of debris. This not only prevents dangerous grease fires, it deters visits from unwanted critters. A sprinkle of red pepper is another safe way to discourage animals.

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DO:

• Always use the grill outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Always follow all the
  manufacturer’s instructions and keep written materials and manuals in a safe,
  accessible place.


• Make sure the grill burner controls are turned off and keep the cylinder valve closed when not in use.


• Make sure the gas grill is shut off and completely cooled before covering it after use.


• Always use or store cylinders in an upright, vertical position. Be sure to store them outdoors away from sources of ignition (i.e. heat, matches, or lighters).


• When a cylinder is refilled, have the supplier check for dents, damage, rust, or leaks.


• After filling, take the cylinder home immediately. While transporting, keep the vehicle ventilated with the cylinder valve closed and plugged or capped.


• When a grill is not in use, cover disconnected hose-end fittings and burner air intakes with small plastic bags, or obtain protective fitting caps from the propane gas retailer to keep out dirt, insects, and moisture.


• Before lighting a propane gas grill burner, use a leak-detection solution to check all connections for tightness. Contact a local propane gas retailer to obtain the leak-detection solution and instructions on how to use it.


• If there is a significant and uncontrollable release of gas or fire, call the fire department immediately and move all people and pets away from the unit.

DON'T:

• Do not bring cylinders indoors or into an enclosed space such as a garage.


• Do not smoke while handling the propane cylinder.


• Do not leave the cylinder in a vehicle.


• Do not use matches or lighters to check for leaks.


• Do not allow children to tamper or play with the cylinder or grill.


• Do not use, store, or transport a cylinder where it could be exposed to high temperatures. (This includes storing spare cylinders under or near the grill.)

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