It never hurts to be one step ahead of nature when it comes to having a great-looking lawn, says Tim Kinney, general manager of Lincoln Rent-All Sales and Services Inc.
“Believe it or not, people start thinking about spring lawn projects and getting equipment ready for use around mid-February,” he says.
For that reason, his company is offering free pickup and delivery of Toro lawnmowers needing tune-ups, at its Auburn Street location now through April 1. The service includes oil change, new air filter, new fuel filter (if necessary), new belts, blades, a drain and flush of fuel lines, quality fuel and a power washing of the unit.
Lincoln Rent-All specializes in sales and service of the brands it sells, whether or not it sold the equipment. It carries Toro lawnmowers and Stihl hand-held equipment such as leaf blowers, chain saws, hedge trimmers as well as earth-moving equipment, small construction tools and party and event supplies.
If you’re in the market for a new lawnmower this spring, it’s a good time to buy one because of improvements made in recent years, Kinney says.
“Improvements in suspension systems have made riding lawn mowers so much more comfortable to operate. Better shock absorbers, electric start and other changes make walk-behind mowers easier to operate, too,” he says.
Kinney recommends sharpening mower blades every year to cultivate a clean, crisp, healthy lawn. A dull blade makes a lawn look matted, ragged and dull, he says.
It pays to rent some equipment like aerators and dethatchers. Aerators generally sell for thousands, but can be rented for $40 for three hours or $90 for a day. An aerator perforates the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to reach deep roots more efficiently. Dethatching removes dead grass that would otherwise hinder new growth.
Lincoln Rent-All has two Rockford locations; 6625 E. Riverside Blvd. and 3110 Auburn St. For more information, call the Riverside location at (815) 633-9322 and the Auburn location at (815) 968-0931. Both locations are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. ❚