Tips on Deck Mower Speed

Non-Mowing Speed

• Just because your mower is in gear doesn't mean that you're cutting the grass. When your blade is disengaged, feel free to ride your mower as fast as you want -- within reason, of course. The rules that apply to riding across hills and slopes remain, but you have much less to worry about when your blade isn't chopping away. If you have to drive a few hundred feet from your garage to the field you're cutting, you can speed up to get there faster.

Up and Down

• When you're mowing slopes, you should always move up and down the hill -- never across at an angle. Riding across can cause the mower to tip over. If your mower struggles to climb the slope, shift to a higher speed for a boost when you're at the bottom facing up. When you reach the top, shift back down to a slow speed and turn around/ Always go down the slope at a slow speed to avoid losing control of the mower.

Straightaways and Bends

• When you're mowing a wide open space, like a field or big yard, don't feel tempted to mow at top speed: You can still lose control of the mower. Always mow straightaways at medium speed, and when you approach a turn, border, corner or obstacle, shift to a low speed. This is not only safer, but it also helps you achieve a more accurate trim and makes it less likely that you will have to repeat the same path.

Various Hazards

• No matter what speed you're moving at, you need to be on the lookout for safety hazards. The most apparent hazard involves pets and other people, particularly children, who don't always appreciate how dangerous a deck mower is. Always check for children and pets before making a turn or backing up. Check the yard before you begin mowing so you can avoid hitting any objects like toys, sticks, rocks or cans. Hitting an object like these is never ideal, but the danger increases when you are moving faster; it can make the mower tip over or even send the object shooting through the air like a projectile.