Mowing the Lawn (dangerous, gardens, yard)

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Nor'Eastah

Egads, I wish I had no lawn! I have a half-acre of just lawn to mow!

I purposely bought forest land. Because, well, I wish to do things that I think of doing, and not cutting grass.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Fort Lauderdale mermaid

Wow Maineah, that's a lot of lawn and a lot of horsepower to cover it!

I left out the three Stihl string trimmers and the leaf blower! I gave away the Mantis tiller with the edger attachment!

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I left out the three Stihl string trimmers and the leaf blower! I gave away the Mantis tiller with the edger attachment!

I've got to tell you, I found those string trimmers to be more of a pain in the butt than anything else. Might as well get out a pair of scissors, it'd be faster. Maybe I never had a good one, I dunno. That and they're uncomfortable /awkward to hold.

I used to ask (hahaha) the kids to mow, what a joke! I think they used to intentionally do a lame job knowing I'd go out and fix it. I liked nice even lines.

[forest beekeeper]

I have a stihl trimmer [I hate that plastic fishing line], then I put a circular saw blade on it. Now it can drop trees up to four inches thick.

I had to make a eight foot wide cut through the forest for our power line to be installed [running from a transformer on a Bangor-Hydro pole at the pavement, to my pole on my driveway]. I did it all with that trimmer. Now I do not dislike trimmers as much.

[island mermaid]

Great idea Forest, I think I could be dangerous w/ a circular saw blade. That whole piece of equipment I found to be heavy with only the string on it. Can't imagine the damage I could do w/ a saw blade. Definitely better for a man for sure. (not that I'm whimpy by the way)

Okay, maybe be a little whimpy...

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I purposely bought forest land. Because, well, I wish to do things that I think of doing, and not cutting grass.

we have a big lawn i wish i didnt have to mow allmost an aker.
i told my wife i wanted it to grow wild flowers and apple trees.
she said why wild flowers? i said so i dont have to mow any more.
then she said why apple trees? and i said with a big grin for the deer.

[elston]

We just bought a new home with a large lot that has been cleared and graded but not landscaped. I think it was hydro seeded a year ago but the house didnt sell so it wasnt watered and the lawn didnt take. We are trying to seriously minimize the areas for lawn by using alternative plantings and ground covers. We don't want to buy a riding mower, dont want to spend hours mowing etc.

The soil isnt great but also isnt terrible. It has a layer of loam...is not gravel....some heavy clay in places under the loam.

So far we are accomplishing that out back with blue berries, lilacs, day lilies, mulched areas, a shade garden, ground covers and shrubs and some formal box wood plantings. When we are done....it will be like a park, we are trying to establish a small grassy "yard" up near the deck. The front yard is more challenging. Our neighbors on the street all have expansive yards.

[island mermaid]

Elston, that sounds absolutely beautiful! It also sounds like you are both really enjoying creating your little piece of heaven. I am thrilled that you guys are so happy in your new neighborhood. Life is good! Enjoy!

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I started mowing today. It's hard to believe that four weeks ago that same lawn was under three 3 feet of snow!
I didn't have to mow the whole lawn,just about 1/4 of it. We have a good sized lawn area we keep mowed. It takes us about 1 1/2 hours to mow with two riding mowers. Alone it takes a little over three hours. I will start mowing it twice a week in about a month right up until October.
We have four mowers one of which is dead. We have a 60" finish mower for the PTO on the New Holland TC 33D tractor, A John Deere 316 garden tractor with a 50 inch deck (the dead one), a John Deere LT 180 riding mower with a 48" deck and a Honda 22 inch self propelled walk behind mower with a new engine.
The 316 John Deere is a 1986 and the engine finally went on it last fall. I'm not sure if I'll repower it or try to find a newer lawn tractor. The JD LT 180 is no where near as well built as the JD 316 but it's 18 years newer so I guess I'll keep it. I can't say I love mowing though the lawn does look nice when it's done!

How much mowing do you do? What kind of mower do you have?

Pur mower can't be any newer than the 80's plus woxy managed to find an old "reel" mower for when the air quality is too bad to mow. We've mowed twice already!! Our OCD neighbor about 5 times!!!

[boonelsewhere]

were you feel save useing it, i have a lots of young trees seedling about 1"- 2" in diameter want to thin them out to create path in the wood lot. i have have try to use chain saw, it hard on my back and the chain does not last once it hit rocks, dirt.

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I have a stihl trimmer [I hate that plastic fishing line], then I put a circular saw blade on it. Now it can drop trees up to four inches thick.
I had to make a eight foot wide cut through the forest for our power line to be installed [running from a transformer on a Bangor-Hydro pole at the pavement, to my pole on my driveway]. I did it all with that trimmer. Now I do not dislike trimmers as much.