A clean cut isn’t just about looks. It’s about the health of the plant too.

• Your equipment: Make sure your mower blades are sharp. If the carbon steel omniblade on your Gtech SLM50 or CLM50 is dull, you can buy a spare or replacement blade direct from our site.
• The impact of blunt blades: They ‘bruise’ the grass, leaving the tips looking ragged and brown. A sharp, high-torque Gtech omniblade slices through, allowing the lawn to heal faster and stay a vibrant green.

This is what will get you a nice-looking professional finish.

• The technique: Mow from the perimeter of your lawn first. Once the edges are done, move back and forth in straight lines, slightly overlapping each pass.
• The benefit: Starting with the edges gives you a clear boundary and makes it much easier to see where you’ve already been. You won’t miss any patches this way.

Whether you’re using a petrol, corded electric or battery-powered model, the speed of the blade is key.

• Petrol mowers: You may need to manually adjust the throttle to keep the blades spinning fast enough through thicker patches.
• Electric (corded and battery) mowers: Many models have this covered for you. The CLM50, for example, features an intelligent blade. It senses thick grass and automatically boosts its speed from 2,800rpm to 3,500rpm.
• Slow down: If you hear the motor pitch change or ‘rev up,’ don’t push harder. Instead, slow your walking pace. This gives the blades more time to process the grass, ensuring a clean, healthy ‘slice’ rather than a ragged tear.

We all have our own default when it comes to walking the lawn, but it’s worth changing it.

• The action: Every few mows, change the direction you cut in (i.e. if you usually go north-to-south, try east-to-west next time).
•  Why?: Doing this will prevent the grass from ‘leaning’ in one direction. It’ll also prevent your mower’s wheels from creating permanent ruts in the soil. This keeps the surface level and healthy.

What you do with your grass clippings can actually feed your lawn.

• Mulching: If the grass is short and dry, consider mulching (letting the clippings fall back into the lawn). The SLM50 is designed to mulch your grass.
• Collection: If the grass is longer or a little damp, use the collection bag to capture them.
• Why?: Grass clippings act as a natural fertiliser, returning nutrients to the soil as they decompose. However, when damp, they can clump together and suffocate the grass underneath

A healthy lawn isn’t created by cutting it as short as possible. It’s created by mowing in a way that works with how grass grows.

When conditions are right, blades are sharp, and you only remove what the plant can comfortably recover from, you’re not just tidying the garden - you’re protecting the roots, strengthening the grass, and encouraging thicker, greener growth. A clean slice heals quickly. A torn blade struggles, inviting stress, weeds, and disease.

Get the basics right and your lawn does most of the hard work itself. That’s the thinking behind grassology, and why Gtech mowers are designed to slice cleanly and consistently - helping you mow less reactively, and care for your lawn more confidently.

A beautiful lawn starts with a clean cut. Most homeowners focus on feed and water, but the edge of your blade is a critical factor in your lawn's health. At Gtech, we call this ‘grassology’ - understanding the science behind a perfect lawn and breaking it down into simple, actionable steps. A sharp blade is the difference between a lawn that thrives and one that merely survives.Cutting the lawn with a dull blade can cause all kinds of problems, from white tipping to increased susceptibility to disease.

We'll cover everything you need to know about lawnmower blade sharpening. From identifying when a blade is beyond repair, to the engineering behind Gtech's Omniblade technology, to how to safely sharpen your blade. This guidance reflects common UK mowing conditions and the engineering principles used across modern cordless lawnmowers.

Yes. A sharp blade slices through like scissors. A dull blade, however, acts like a blunt instrument, 'shredding' the grass. It's often overlooked - many home gardeners wait until the blade is beyond repair before replacing. However, as we've explored in our When and How Often Should I Mow the Lawn, and How to Mow the Lawn guides, 'shredding' or ‘tearing’ is terrible for your turf.

Most lawn damage attributed to ‘poor grass quality’ is actually cutting damage rather than soil or feed issues. From a grassology perspective, a clean cut is about recovery. An unclean cut creates a ragged, open wound that forces the plant to spend its energy on healing rather than growing. So, a sharp blade is the difference between a surgical snip and a torn graze.

• The Grass Tip Test: Look at your lawn a few hours after mowing. If the tips are white, frayed or jagged, your blade is dull.
• Visually Inspect the Blade: If you see nicks, dents or a rounded 'shiny' edge on the blade, it's time for a sharpen.
• The Paper Cut Test: A sharp blade should be able to slice through a piece of card or heavy paper with minimal effort.

Safety is always paramount. Before you begin, always remove the battery (if you're using a cordless mower), make sure it's not plugged (electric mowers) or disconnect the spark plug (petrol mowers) to prevent accidental starting.

1.       Remove the Blade

Tilt your mower onto its side (ensure the air filter/carburettor is facing up on petrol models). Use a spanner to loosen the central bolt.

Pro Tip: Use a block of wood to wedge the blade against the mower deck to stop it from spinning as you loosen the bolt.

2.      Cleaning the Edge

Scrape away any dried grass and debris. This isn't just for aesthetics - you're not just keeping up appearances. You cannot properly balance a dirty blade.

3.      Sharpening the Edge

You can either use a metal file, a bench grinder or a drill-mounted sharpening stone to hone the edge. Follow the factory bevel - usually a 30-degree angle. Remember: only sharpen the top edge of the blade. Move from the inside of the blade toward the tip.

If you sharpen the bottom too, you'll create a double bevel. This pushes the cutting edge higher up, away from the grass. So, instead of a clean slice, the blade will likely push the grass down or shred it at an awkward angle.

Pro Tip: Don't over sharpen. You aren't looking for a razor edge. Instead, a 'butter knife' sharpness is more durable for the high-speed impact of mowing.

4.      Balancing the Blade

This is a key step. An unbalanced blade will vibrate, eventually destroying your mower's motor bearings. Hang the blade by its centre hold on a nail in the wall. If one side dips, file a little more metal off that end until it stays level.

Traditional lawnmower blades can be tricky to maintain. They're easy to install upside down. And they can be difficult to balance. We wanted to simplify lawnmower maintenance. That's why we engineered the Omniblade – featured on our CLM50 and SLM50 models.

The Omniblade's unique, one-sided aerodynamic profile doesn't just improve the cut - it makes your life easier. Because the blade is asymmetrical, it's designed to be sharpened on one primary edge. Rather than a basic steel bar, it's a precision instrument, engineered to a higher standard than standard 'utility' blades. Its keyed mounting system ensures it slots back onto your mower perfectly, every time.

"When we designed the Omniblade, we wanted to take the guesswork out of mower maintenance. Its specific shape means it only fits onto the motor hub one way - eliminating the risk of installing the blade upside down, which is a common mistake that can destroy a lawn's health. The blade is affordable while delivering consistent high performance." - Nick Grey, Gtech Founder & Inventor]

When paired with the intelligent cutting technology featured in our lawnmowers, the blade speed automatically increases from 2,800rpm to 3,500 in tough patches of grass. You get a mower that works harder, so you don't have to.

"That jump in speed is why a sharp edge is so vital. A dull blade at 3,500rpm creates immense drag, which drains your battery and puts unnecessary stress on the motor. Keeping that single leading edge sharp ensures you get the full benefit of that extra power, just when you need it most." - Nick Grey, Gtech Founder & Inventor.]

If your blade has significant cupping (thinning of the metal that occurs over time) or deep cracks (from hitting stones), sharpening becomes a safety risk. In these instances, it's time for a replacement.

Shop Gtech Replacement Omniblade Assembly

Is your lawnmower struggling even after sharpening the blade? It might be time for a fresh start. Explore the Gtech Cordless Lawnmowers range for a cleaner, easier cut.

For the average UK garden, we recommend sharpening twice a season: once in the spring before the first cut and once in mid-summer. If your garden has rocky soil or many twigs or fallen branch pieces, you may need to do it more frequently.

No, you do not need to sharpen most high-quality mower blades before using them for the first time. It's a common misconception that lawnmower blades should be razor sharp. New blades often feature protective coatings to prevent rust while in storage. You should wait until the blade has completed roughly 20-25 hours of mowing. For most UK homeowners with a medium-sized garden, this usually means a full season of use.

We don't recommend this. While there are 'on-mower' sharpening tools, they don't allow you to balance the blade properly or inspect it for dangerous cracks. For the sake of your mower's motor, take 10 minutes to remove the blade and do it properly.

You spend hours tending to your lawn and borders, nurturing growth, and battling weeds. But what about the trusted tools that help you achieve that picture-perfect garden? In many cases, they're put back in the shed, caked in mud, sap and grass clippings. And this means they come out of winter 'hibernation' in a rusty, blunt state come spring.

The truth is, neglecting your garden tools isn't just bad for the tools themselves. It's a hidden threat to your entire garden's health. Think of grassology: our concept for the science behind a healthy lawn and garden. Clean tools are your first line of defence against deficiencies and disease.

After years of testing garden tools in real UK gardens, one thing is consistent: tools that are cleaned regularly simply last longer and perform better. We're here to walk you through how to care for your garden tools, ensuring they last longer, perform better and protect your precious plants.

Beyond extending their lifespan, regular garden tool maintenance offers several crucial benefits:

• Biological Security: Dirty tools that have been used on infected plants can cause cross-contamination across plants. Understanding the impact this can have on your plants is a key element of grassology.
• Cleaner Cuts: Sharp blades allow plants to heal faster. A blunt blade tears the grass, leaving it vulnerable to pests.
• Improves Performance: Sharp, clean blades cut cleanly, promoting faster healing for plants and reducing strain on your body (and your tool's motor).
• Ready to Go for Gardening Season: Nothing kills your motivation for gardening like a mower that won't start or a rusted pair of secateurs.
• Saves Money: Proper care reduces the need for costly replacements or repairs. 

"I used to spend more time untangling cords and scraping rust than actually gardening. When we designed our garden tool range, the goal was to make maintenance so simple you actually do it." - Nick Grey, Gtech Founder & Inventor]

Even your simplest hand tools benefit immensely from a quick clean after each use. They're the backbone of your shed. Knowing how to clean your basic garden tools is important.

1.       Scrape and Scrub: Use a stiff brush to remove dry soil. For sap on secateurs, use a cloth dipped in soapy water or a drop of linseed oil.

2.      The Sand Bucket Hack: To keep spades and trowels rust-free, fill a bucket with sand and a small amount of mineral oil. Plunging your metal tools into this after use cleans and coats them in one go.

3.      Dry Immediately: Moisture is the enemy. Never put a wet tool back in the shed.

When it comes to your power garden range, maintenance is about safety and performance. They may require a little more attention than hand tools, but the principles remain the same: clean, dry and protected.

To truly master how to clean a lawnmower, you have to look under the deck. Your lawnmower deck can harbour fungal spores and disease-causing organisms. Clumps of wet grass provide the perfect moist environment for these pathogens to thrive, ready to be transferred to your next strip of healthy lawn.

This is why cleaning garden tools, especially your mower, is non-negotiable for a vibrant lawn. It’s a key part of our grassology concept too.

• Disconnect the Power: Remove the battery or disconnect the spark plug. Never take any chances with moving components.
• Get Underneath the Mower Deck: If you’re struggling with a heavy petrol mower, cleaning is a nightmare. Gtech lawnmowers are lightweight, making it easy to safely tilt the machine to brush the deck.
• Remove the 'Green Concrete': Use a plastic scraper to remove grass from the mower blade and underside of the deck. Wipe away any caked-on mud with a cloth.

 Pro Tip : A dull blade shreds your lawn. If your mower is vibrating or leaving ragged edges, it’s time to learn how to sharpen lawnmower blades.

Sticky resin is the primary foe here. If you're wondering how to clean hedge trimmer blades effectively:

• Remove the battery or ensure it’s unplugged: Safety is paramount.
• Alcohol or Resin Solvent: Wipe the blades down to remove sticky sap.
• Lubricate: Apply a light machine oil to the blades to keep them sliding smoothly.

"Our carbon steel blades are built for durability, but a quick clean ensures the motor doesn't have to work twice as hard to cut through the grime." - Nick Grey, Gtech Founder & Inventor]

Your grass trimmer often deals with the toughest, wettest grass, leading to significant build-up around the head and guard.

• Safety First: Always remove the battery, disconnect the spark plug (if petrol) or unplug before cleaning.
• Clear the Head: Remove any tangled grass, weeds, or debris from around the cutting head, shaft, and guard. A small screwdriver or knife can help carefully dislodge stubborn clumps.
• Wipe Down: Use a damp cloth to wipe down the head, guard, and shaft.
• Inspect Line/Blades: Check the cutting line for wear and replace if necessary. If your trimmer uses blades (plastic or metal), check for damage.
• Dry Thoroughly: Ensure all parts are dry before storage.

[QUOTE BOX:

"We designed our GT50 grass trimmer with easily replaceable plastic blades rather than wire or line. Their balance and cordless freedom also make them simple to clean and maintain - without the fuss of draining petrol engines." - Nick Grey, Gtech Founder & Inventor]

Proper winter preparation is key to prolonging the life of all your tools, especially the battery-powered ones. Knowing how to store garden tools is just as important as cleaning them.

• Battery Care: This is the big one. If you use cordless tools, never leave your batteries in a freezing shed over winter. Bring them indoors and store them at around 50–70% charge, or in line with the manufacturer’s guidance, to help maintain battery health.
• Vertical Storage: Use wall racks. Storing tools off the ground prevents moisture from the floor that can cause rust.
• Final Oiling: Give all metal surfaces a final wipe with an oily rag before ‘winter's hibernation.'
• Store Smaller Items in Drawers: You'll know where they are when you need them, and it'll also help to prevent moisture causing damage.
• Good Airflow: Make sure your shed or garage is well ventilated to prevent dampness.

[QUOTE BOX:

"One of the biggest maintenance risks with corded tools is the invisible damage caused to the power cable - when it's wrapped or spooled for storage. With our cordless garden tools, we've eliminated this risk, whether you're cleaning or storing." - Nick Grey, Gtech Founder & Inventor]

Looking to upgrade your gear for gardening season? Explore our range cordless garden tools today.

Want more gardening tips and advice? Learn more with our guides on how to trim hedges and bushes, how to clear overgrown gardens and how to mow the lawn.