MACHINERY
Now’s the time to service your mower
W
ith the onset of
cooler weather in
Gauteng you will
probably, by the
time you read this, have
mowed your lawn for the last
time this season, and your
From page 30
if the ground looks flat
enough to pitch a tent on for
a good night's sleep, it's
probably level enough. Mark
out the shape that you want
with string or sand. The size
will depend on how much
space you have and how
much water has collected.
Avoid straight lines or a
perfect circle, so that it looks
more natural.
Dig out the grass and soil,
creating sloping sides and
gradually reaching about 1m
depth in the middle. Line the
trench with black plastic
mower (and your brushcutter,
too, once your fencelines and
verges have been shorn) will
be ready for at least four
months of storage.
Given that a modern ride-on
lawnmower probably costs more to buy than your first
car it makes sense to have it
serviced periodically, just like
you do for your car.
And now, in the winter
months, is the ideal time to
take it in to a lawnmower
sheeting. Mix 1/3 of the soil
with 1/3 river sand and 1/3
compost and refill the hollow.
Before allowing the water in,
you might want to plant
some of the underwater
“oxygen weed” that is used
in aquariums.
Allow the water to overflow
slowly into the area. It is
quite likely that the standing
water is in the lowest part of
your plot so that all runoff
water has collected there.
In early spring plant marsh
loving plants such as the
bamboo reed (Elegia capensis), dekriet
(Chondropetalum tectorum),
Vlei bluestem (Andropogon
appendiculatus ) , Bulrushes
(Typha capensis), peacock
flower (Dietes bicolor) and
the wild iris (Dietes
grandiflora). Look out for
sedges (Cyperaceae), which
are grass like plants that grow
in wetlands. Plant
wonderlawn (Dichondra
repens) or the indigenous
daisy lawn (Phylanodiflora) as
low ground covers around
the wetland perimeter.
ON THE LAND
31
www.sasmallholder.co.za
dealer for a service and
inspection. Much better to do
it now, after all, when you
don't need it to work, than to
wait until spring when the
grass comes to life only to
find that the dealership can't
get it back to you in under
four or more weeks.
A good annual service by a
registered dealer is especially
important if you are unable to
do basic maintenance
yourself, either because of a
lack of skill, or because of a
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