We have a yard! No one is allowed to walk/play on it yet (Ben...I saw you taking a short cut across the grass the other day) but it won't be long. This is the grass at two weeks post-seeding. The bottom two photos are one week after. But having a lush lawn means maintenance - something we've never had to worry about ourselves in the past thanks to condo associations and/or having a gardener as part of the rent. First item of business - purchasing a lawnmower - a task that should be easy enough...or is it?
After reading a couple books on lawn care (I recommend "Lawn Geek" by Trey Rogers) and searching the Net I have decided that #1 - I want a lawnmower that mulches. Everything I have read has suggested that leaving clippings on the grass a) returns much needed nutrients to the soil and b) cuts down on the need for watering. It also saves me from having to empty the bag (when mowing as a teenager I never did like to be interupted by a full bag - plus it gets heavy). #2 - I don't really want to deal with getting gas, storing gas and emptying gas when storing for the winter. Or the fumes. #3 - I also don't want to have to wear noise-cancelling ear thingys when mowing the lawn. So this leaves me three choices - a plug-in electric model - nope, don't want to deal with a cord, a battery operated electric mulching mower or a push reel mower (yes they still make these).
I thought I had settled on the second option and found one I liked on Amazon that had good reviews. The downfall of the cordless electric option is a finicky battery that can only charge for so many hours before being ruined and is expensive to replace. So why not a push reel mower - it supposedly gives a great cut and I think I'd get a great workout as well.
I think Ben wants a manly roaring, fuming, self-propelled version. At first we'll probably fight over who gets to mow because we are so excited to have a yard (and b/c we enjoy bickering). But we all know who's going to end up mowing. Oh, we don't all know? My guess is it will be me - since I just stay at home lounging all the time. But, I don't think ladies of leisure are supposed to do yard work...
So I need experience and opinions here - opinions borne of experience. I am happy to hear that at least one friend does actually have and like the cordless electric mower. I consider that to be one vote in favor of option #2. There will be a poll.
14 comments:
The yard looks great:) Andy and I have a bagless mower that throws the cut up grass into the lawn. Who knows if it helps the grass but it's fun to use. Since, I've been mowing the grass lately I would opt for one that I could drive:)Don't know if that's an option but either way Congratulations on your beautiful new home and lawn!
Perhaps I should post this anonymously, but no--I'm actually proud of this little detail. I have never in my life mowed a lawn. And I hope I never do. Just not my thing. Growing up with four brothers and now being married to a man who LIKES to do yardwork certainly helps. I guess I fit into your 'lady of leisure' category. =)
Sorry I can't help, but good luck. (My vote would be the cordless rechargeable one your found on amazon, BTW.)
I should have said that we have a reel push lawn mower and loved it for the several times we used it. Unfortunately, it really is meant for small yards, which yours doesn't appear to fit that description. It was a fantastic workout, but with so many other things to do with your time, don't spend it on mowing the lawn forever. We did a lot of research on our cordless electric lawnmower and have had no problems with it. It cuts/mulches or bags as you would like with no fumes, and little noise. Go for it. If you don't like it, you could always sell it for a great price since going green is so hot right now. And, check out your county's rebates on non gas lawnmowers. We got $ off our electric bill just for buying one and even more if we traded in a gas lawnmower. Enough said.
I am one of those gals that have never mowed the lawn either. I think that since I basically do everything else, why can't my hubby at least mow the lawn. And besides he likes mowing. We currently have a push mower and it's great, but we have alot smaller yard than you guys.
wow, the grass looks awesome! in our old house, i mowed the lawn a few times, but ryan got mad/ashamed every time i did, and it wasn't worth the fight. then it turned into ryan always mowing the lawn on his few days off, so eventually we got a gardener. and it was well worth it. we had a hand-me-down gas one, that ryan loved, definitely manly. if i could choose...i would choose the electric for all the reasons you mentioned. good luck!
Buy a good gas mower with a bag. You can't go wrong. "Green" mowers suck! They are week and a hassle. Look at what the pros use. Briggs and Straton or other more powerful lawnmowers of the gas variety. You will never see a professional lawn care specialist stupe low and use an electric mower or a manual one, those suck even worse and there's a reason somebody got the bright idea to invent a gas one, it's called having a sore back. I have cut grass since I could walk and I've used all the types of mowers you listed, believe me always go with the mower that the local lawn cutters use. Mulchers leave nasty clippings everywhere that stick to your shoes, clothes etc and blow in the wind. Did I mention I have a strong opinion on this subject?
i love that you guys have a lawn! and sad that we don't:( anyway, we bought a self propelled lawn mower because that's what mason says is the best-i should have him post his opinion on the subject(or not:) good luck and again-so jealous of your grass!
OOOooo! Looks gorgeous. Our water rations here in Texas are leaving our lawn pretty much dead. (We go to every-other week watering starting on Saturday!) I'd have to say let Ben decide and he's got to mow it--I haven't mowed our lawn once yet...keeping my fingers crossed. (The pregnancy card did help a bit there though.:)
I use to have to help my dad mow the lawn when I was younger, the only part I liked about it was spending time with my dad. Other than that, I pretty much hated it. I say, hire a gardener! :)
from Mason
My dad bought a black and decker electric. it works fine on thin small grass yards but even then it became jammed if the yard is wet. Currently i have a used craftsman gas self propelled bagged mower.It does a good job i can mow any grass but it also has the guts tfor mowing the field next to our house. i would say go with the best tool for what you need. If you want your yard to look neat and tidy you want a bag or your yard will have a later of brown dead grass. You could always make a mulcch pile in the back yard. If you had a small yard you could go electric. Ihave an electric edger and it is perfect for my small yard, if ihad a bigger yard i would go gas. Self propelled makes the work alot easier especially if you have a big yard.I like it also because it makes it go faster. If i had my dream mower i would get a Honda.
I am a man of few words, and I try to keep my nose out of others business, but I must say, I find this whole discussion a little offensive. It is going to be a sad day when we go from seeing pictures of Ben operating heavy machinery and power tools to a little electric play toy.
Nix on the battery mower. We had one. Tyler loved that he could mow at 6am because it's quiet, but the swath that it cut was smaller than a regular mower (we had a Neuton), so it took longer. When we got a bigger yard he sold it. And it didn't cut as clean as a regular mower, so he kept the gas-powered mower and would alternate using each one. Not smelling like gas is nice, if you don't mind your lawn looking a little shaggy. I could use it which was great (since our regular mower is NOT self-propelled), but it just didn't look as nice as a finished product. Good luck!
So jealous of the green soft grass. We're having a drought here in Texas and everything is baking in the 100 degree weather. With water restrictions in place, everything is brown and crunchy!
I mow the lawn more than Matt (aside from when I was pregnant). I like getting some sun and listening to music while I mow. I didn't put much thought into a mower. We just went cheap because we are cheap.
Post a Comment