The Right Mower Can Make Lawn Care a Pushover

Presented by Pittsfield Lawn & TractorSPONSORED CONTENT
02:14PM / Thursday, April 21, 2016Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mowing a lawn isn't always something people look forward to. But there are many ways to make the job easier and more effective to provide a lush look that will make your neighbors green with envy.

Kevin Stengl, marketing manager at Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor, said one of his best tips for a more efficient cut is to mow the outline of your yard first. Going around the perimeter one time, then backtracking halfway creating a "U" shaped border before going up and down making rows, will alleviate the need to back up on every swipe and will save you time while giving you a professional-looking finish.

"It actually does save time when you do it," Stengl said.

He said homeowners should also avoid cutting the grass too short and should strive to remove only one-third of the grass height at a time, except for the first mowing of the season when it's OK to remove more.

"Otherwise it won't degrade into the lawn, and will cause a buildup of thatch over time," he said.

In addition, people should strive to have their mowers serviced by having the blade sharpened a few times during the cutting season as well as having the mower's oil changed at least once a season.

And one last tip that you might not think about when pulling out the mower for the first time this spring: Avoid using gas that you stored away last fall.

"Don't use that unless you had put stabilizer in it," Stengl said. "Gas will go bad."

This time of year many may realize it's time to buy a new lawn mower. Maybe you just purchased a new residence and are looking to purchase your first lawn mower, or you need to upgrade or replace your existing mower.

Of course, before you mow the lawn you have to have the right mower.

When choosing a new mower, you might be surprised to know the amount of acreage is not the only factor in determining if you need a riding mower. If you have hills or a large lawn, a riding mower might be the right way to go. If the hills are large, Stengl recommends choosing a riding lawn mower with a larger engine and possibly one that offers four-wheel drive.

Honda and Husqvarna mowers both offer a "personal pace" style mower. This is a self-propelled mower that offers variable drive speeds to the operator. This style allows you to cut grass more comfortably and adjust the mowing speed to your pace.

Riding mower versus push mower often comes down to personal preference. Walk or sit, mowing time, and the size and number of hills to be mowed are some of the most common factors used to decide which equipment is best for you.

When choosing a new mower, inquire about the warranties offered on each brand. The John Deere D10 is one of Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor's two most popular models and comes with a two-year warranty. If you prefer a longer warranty, the John Deere X series offers a four-year bumper-to-bumper deal.

For more information, interested homeowners can contact Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor, 1548 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, at 413-443-2623 or www.plt.com for more information on different models.

Tags: lawn care, sponsored content,

PHS Community Challenges FY27 Budget Cuts

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:31AM / Tuesday, March 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee received an early look Wednesday at the proposed fiscal year 2027 facility budgets, and the Pittsfield High community argued that $653,000 would be too much of a burden for the school to bear.

On Wednesday, during a meeting that adjourned past 10 p.m., school officials saw a more detailed overview of the spending proposal for Pittsfield's 14 schools and administration building.

They accepted the presentation, recognizing that this is just the beginning of the budget process, as the decision on whether to close Morningside Community School still looms. The FY27 budget calendar plans the School Committee's vote in mid-April.

Under this plan, Pittsfield High School, with a proposed FY27 budget of around $8.1 million, would see a reduction of seven teachers (plus one teacher of deportment) and an assistant principal of teaching and learning, and a guidance counselor repurposed across the district.

The administration said that after "right-sizing" the classrooms, there were initially 14 teacher reductions proposed for PHS.

"While I truly appreciate the intentionality that has gone into developing the equity-based budget model, I am incredibly concerned that the things that make our PHS community strong are the very things now at risk," PHS teacher Kristen Negrini said. "Because when our school is facing a reduction of $653,000, 16 percent of total reductions, that impact is not just a number on a spreadsheet. It is the experience of our students."

She said cuts to the high school budget is more than half of the districtwide $1.1 million in proposed instructional cuts.

Student representative Elizabeth Klepetar said the "Home Under the Dome" is a family and community. There is reportedly anxiety in the student body about losing their favorite teacher or activities, and Klepetar believes the cuts would be "catastrophic," from what she has seen.

"Keep us in mind. Use student and faculty voice. Come to PHS and see what our everyday life looks like. If you spend time at PHS, you would see our teamwork and adaptability to our already vulnerable school," she said.

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