If grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice to reduce load and pos- sible fire hazard from dried clippings. Make first cut relatively high; the second to the desired height.

Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet grass will plug mower and leave unde- sirable clumps. Allow grass to dry be- fore mowing.

Always operate engine at full throttle when mowing to assure better mowing performance and proper discharge of material. Regulate ground speed by se- lecting a low enough gear to give the mower the best cutting performance as well as the quality of cut desired.

When operating attachments, select a ground speed that will suit the terrain and give best performance of the at- tachment being used.

f.,

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

iMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. Clean after each use.

The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and re- duce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide, nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best re- cutting action of the blades.

Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form clumps and in- terferes with the mulching action. The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area will not be exposed to the direct sun.

For best results, adjust the mower cut- ting height so that the mower cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. For extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut on each pass and mow slowly.

Certain types of grass and grass condi- tions may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings. When doing a sec- ond cut, mow across or perpendicular to the first cut path.

Change your cutting pattern from week to week. Mow north to south one week

then change to east to west the next week. This will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn.

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Craftsman 917.270822 owner manual Mulching Mowing Tips