Do you have a young person in the house who wants to make extra money? If so, you can teach that young adult how to use the lawn mower. Not only can they help maintain the landscaping at home, but they can also make a little extra cash by mowing for neighbors. Some basic safety needs to be explained before you turn him/her loose on the yard. To help keep the operator safe and the mower in good condition, you should point out all the different obstacles that should be avoided as he/she drives or pushes the mower through the grass.
Since the mower already works hard enough, it will help its longevity if the new user understands the layout of the lawn. The easiest way would be to do a walk through of the yard pointing out areas where the mower might get stuck or the blade might be damaged. If you really want the youngster to study, you can mark the areas on a "map" of the yard for him/her to keep and look over.
Knowing that even experienced mower operators can damage a blade, try to be patient with the new user who may cause damage or some aggravation the first couple of times that he/she mows. With so many situations that can cause damage and with such little reaction times, expect some mistakes.
Let the new user know that culverts, metal fencing, and driveways and walkways can damage the blade if hits such hard objects. These places may be fine at one mowing but not the next time. With erosion culverts can become exposed and damaged fences can occur between mowings.
Other obstacles may include surface tree roots. Large root systems can easily bend or break a blade if it is hit even once. You may have a septic clean out vent or metal water cover that they should avoid. Try to think of any ground level object that could get into the way causing damage.
Once you have gone over the existing known dangers, you and the young new helper could look for any new issues. Finally, you can let the youngster go to do the job while you sit back and relax. Isn't it nice when they grow up and do some of the work, too?
