ABOUT US Gardening services Landscaping (design, retaining walls, paving, planting, etc.) Lawn mowing Lawn edge trimming Garden refuse removal Residential irrigation installation Various other garden services Gardening Health and Safety: ​Safe Lawn Maintenance As if you needed an excuse not to mow the lawn! But if you did want some support for your argument that mowing is a health and safety risk, here goes. Let me begin by stating two things. Firstly, the following advice and comments are not taken from any Health and Safety manual. They are all based on personal experience. In the second place, the maxim of “practice what you preach” does not always feature strongly in my life. So if you ever come across me mowing a lawn, please look the other way and read on. Don’t do as I do, do as I say. 1. Pick it up, put it down If you’re just mowing your own lawn or perhaps the neighbour’s, this point probably does not apply to you. But if you ever do need to lift a lawnmower in or out of a vehicle, remember this: unless you are a contender for the next Strongman title, it is nearly impossible to do this without some damage to your back rather get help or use some form of ramp, so you can wheel it up or down bend your knees and lift straight up, not bending over 2. Keep it close A level lawn is a joy to mow. It’s like pushing a shopping trolley down a straight aisle; you could probably do it blindfolded and in high heels (not recommended, though). When you have a lawn with any kind of slope, gravity plays all kinds of weird tricks on your body’s support structure. You will probably be tempted at some point to go uphill like a price-fighting bull, head down and horns (arms) extended, or downhill leaning back and braking with your back (i.e. breaking your back). Don’t. The further you push the mower from your body, the more strain it puts on your back. Let your arms and legs do the work by keeping the lawnmower close, elbows against your body and keep your back straight. This does not initially feel very comfortable, but it saves your back and if you keep at it, you’ll soon have biceps and quads to dream of. If the slopes make your Swiss visitor homesick for the Alps, consider investing in a ride-on. But don’t fall off. Alternatively, get rid of the slopes through clever landscaping like terraces and retaining walls. Or get a gardener. 3. When push comes to shove Unless you have an unusual lawn design, it is inevitable that you will mow yourself into a corner every now and then and will then have to pull backwards to get out. Again, with a level lawn this is so easy that you probably won’t even notice when you’re reversing. On a slope, when push comes to pull, you’re working against gravity. Don’t let your back do that work. Keep it close. 4. Dirty does it You might have heard it said that the best back protection is an apron. Following on the previous points, then, you’ll be more likely to lift the mower correctly and keep it close if you aren’t worried about getting your clothes dirty. Or getting your toes chopped off. So ditch the thongs, dear, and don your sturdy boots. Your feet will be thanking you. 5. Grass is heavy It might seem all seed and wispy bits, but once it starts collecting in the mower’s catcher, grass can get weighty. This is worse if the lawn is overgrown or wet. On the other hand, don’t underestimate the amount of soil that can be sucked up from a dry, patchy lawn, adding to the weight of your catch. Emptying the catcher regularly may seem like a nuisance, but it saves your back and arms. It’s like unloading groceries – better to make the trip a few times than try to carry all fifteen bags in one go. Right? Besides, the heavier the load in your catcher, the more effort to push the mower. 6. All the other protective stuff So-called core strengthening exercises can also help in protecting your moving parts. To keep the rest of you safe, there is a variety of protective gear available. Ear muffs help against the noise, safety glasses protect against stones and other flying bits a mower or whipper snipper can shoot out, hats reduce sun damage to your skin and gloves are useful when you have to pick up grass clippings or other garden waste. Well done, you have just passed Lawn Safety 101. No excuses now, I’ll see you outside… For all enquiries contact us today!