Before we know it, it will be springtime, signaling time to care for our lawns and gardens. There are a few things homeowners should do to prepare their lawn and garden equipment for the warmer months and avoid grass that’s up to their knees. The following are tips from the experts at Sears Homecentral:

• Give your mower an oil change and a tune-up. Giving your lawn mower a yearly tune up just before spring is insurance against premature mower failure, warns David Krueger, Sears Homecentral’s technical manager for lawn and garden equipment. “A good rule to follow is to do this at the beginning of the season and again at the end of the season so the mower is ready to go when you are,” he says. Krueger suggests taking advantage of pre-season specials on lawn and garden equipment to get the best value and to make sure you are ready for the summer ahead.

• Replace spark plugs. Krueger says spark plugs should last one season, if you maintain your fuel supply and air filters. Be sure to replace your spark plug with the exact replacement suggested in your operator’s manual because many spark plugs look the same but are not.

• Replace the blade. The blade has the hardest job to do, so the sharpness of the blade is critical to the performance of the mower. Keeping a sharp blade in your mower will keep its cutting ability at peak levels, suggests Krueger.

• Replace the air filter. A clogged air filter prevents the engine from breathing, which affects the ability for your engine to start and run smoothly. Keeping a clean air filter in your mower will reduce the number of times you have to pull your mower’s rope to get it started.

• Keep fresh gas in your mower. Make sure your mower has fresh gas in it at the beginning of spring, and is empty when you are ready to put it away for the winter. Also, any gas in your fuel can should be emptied at the end of the summer and replaced with fresh gas at the beginning of spring, says Krueger. He also reminds homeowners to properly dispose of the gas in your equipment and suggests emptying remaining fuel into your car’s gas tank to ensure safe disposal of the potentially dangerous product,

• Have a professional inspect your equipment. “Today’s products are becoming so complex, which means it is more important than ever to have a professional you trust service your equipment,” Krueger says, “and to make sure the repair or preventative maintenance check comes with a satisfaction guarantee.”