IT didn't take long to get round the village. I knew when I was doing it that tongues would soon be wagging.

It wasn't as though I could hide it, though. The noise was the giveaway, I suppose. The sound of a lawn mower engine in February does seem out of place.

I have never been one to do things a certain way just because that's the way they have always been done. Tradition is fine, as long as there is a logical and practical reasoning behind it.

The practice of not cutting the lawn between September and May does have some sound evidence to back it up. The winter months are usually cold. This inhibits the growth of the grass. Conditions are often wet. This makes mowing impossible and can lead to compaction of the soil beneath it.

Sometimes however, there can also be prolonged mild and dry periods. Such was the case just a few weeks ago (before this frosty front came over). My lawn was looking particularly scruffy as I hadn't got round to the last autumn cut. There was still a good collection of leaves in the hollows (it undulates, I don't have a bowling green lawn) and the border edges were tufting out. I carefully assessed the state of the ground.

It wasn't spongy, but fairly solid. The frosts weren't forecast for a week or so, and it hadn't rained for a good few days. I duly decided that all the indicators suggested that it would be fine for me to cut the lawn, even though it was out of season.

As I dragged the mower out of the garage, I could feel a thousand neighbourly eyes looking at me. I could sense them all shaking their heads in disapproval. I was still determined to complete my mission though. Just think how much better my lawn would look compared to theirs.

I checked the mower over. It's always wise to do so after a period of hibernation. I remember last year pulling it out for the first spring cut. I had moved house during the autumn and hadn't had need of the mower until then. I was in a hurry and went straight to start it. It coughed, badly, sprayed oil all over the driveway and then conked out.

An emergency mechanical diagnosis concluded that the machine had been tilted during the house move and that the oil had seeped out of the reservoir into the engine. Luckily the mechanic managed to put it on life support and perform a successful transplant at a very reasonable cost. Consequently I learnt to empty the lawnmower of all fluids at the end of every mowing season. There are one or two other things to check when you bring it out of storage again. If you have a petrol mower, give the spark plug a quick clean (make sure that it is all switched off).

If you have an electric one test your RCD plug. Pull the starter cord slowly out to its full extension. Check for wear and tear. Rub away any rust and file the blades, or get a professional to sharpen them.

I always put a generous helping of cooking oil on the blades. This not only helps prolong their life, but it prevents wet grass sticking to them. It also stops those irritating clumps of shorn clippings being thrown out of the mower half way round the garden.

My mission was a complete success. The lawn was mown to perfection and did indeed look sharp. I emptied, cleaned and packed the mower away again for a few months. All I have to contend with now is the rest of the village thinking that I have lost my marbles.

JOBS TO DO THIS WEEK

Air the greenhouse During the day open the vents for a few hours to let the air freshen up in the greenhouse.

Trim ivy Ivy which has outgrown its space or is getting into the eves and gutters can be chopped back now.

Thin out citrus Conservatory lemons and oranges may have set small fruitlets. Thin them out to let one or two good-sized fruits develop. If you don't you risk losing them all or ending up with a handful of sour undersized fruits.

POST SCRIPT Brigid is on hand to answer any more gardening questions every Sunday morning from 11.00-12.00 on Radio Cleveland, 95 FM.

You can email your questions to her on brigidpress67.freeserve.co.uk or write to her c/o Nature's World, Ladgate Lane, Acklam, Middlesbrough.

Published:24/02/2002