Do you like 'cutting the grass'?

[Superman]

My dad made me mow the lawn with a reel mower. He liked the stripes. I complained. The first time I returned from college, he had a regular rotary mower.

[Zeke]

It's been said that Paul Newman used to hang a six pack in a bag of ice and climb on the mower.

I recently restored this old '50's Pittsburgh mower to do my 200 sq ft.



I paid the mower shop to sharpen it and I could have done better. And I will.

[stevej37]

^^^ If I had 200 sq ft of lawn...that is exactly what I would use.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Very nice. The edging is superb.

Skillet needs to chop down that Atlas Cedar and unload the dump he’s living in.*








*(Green is for dummies)

[stevej37]

^^^ His chimneys are bigger than my utility building.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by gregpark

^same. Weed whacking is work. Mowing is fun with the 0 turn. I got the wife to try it and she loved it until she ran into a chair, panicked and pushed forward on the controls instead of pulling back. The chair rammed into a table and both hit the fence. She veered to the left and the Cherry tree stopped her rampage. This all happened in seconds.. First and last time she even sat on the thing.

Thanks for the mental image. My missus gave it a whirl and thought it was fun, but we've got a ton of space. She'd have had to have tried to run into stuff like that. Still, I don't think she's going to take over mowing.

I spent 2 hours mowing, 6pm-8pm. I think I mowed about 3 acres. I really need to get a load of top soil dropped off. I've got some spots that REALLY need to be filled in.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Mowing is very fun.
Weed whacking...not so much.
Cleaning the underside of the mowing deck..worst job of the bunch.

How often do you take the time to scrape the dried grass off?

I've done it at least every other time, but then I've also mowed some stuff that was 12" deep and very well hydrated.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've done it at least every other time, but then I've also mowed some stuff that was 12" deep and very well hydrated.

That's about what I've done the last few years....it's a real chore.
Flipping the mower over (after removing it) can be fun with the rollers on the deck.
Then scraping the dried grass off is more fun yet.

[cabmandone]

skillet,
Put the striping kit on that bad boy. Can't tell if that's the XR deck on the Hustler or not. The XR or newer used a roller mounted to the deck. They do a better job than my older model. Mine just has a rubber flap that bolts onto the machine right behind the tires.

[gregpark]

Nice pad Skillet!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ ok...but don't you see an improvement from start to finish?
That's where I fully appreciate the work I've done.

I don't think it's an improvement. What I see in a large expanse of manicured turf grass is a huge breeding ground for Japanese beetles. They love a well groomed lawn.
We had over 2 acres to mow when we moved into this place 3 years ago. I've pared it down to about an acre by planting a small orchard of a dozen fruit trees, blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry arbors, a quarter acre vegetable garden and I'm expanding the wildflower patches every year. It's easier to take care of and I think it looks much nicer now.




We had over 2 acres of lawn when we moved here. we called it the "green desert."




We've planted dozens of different fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It's easier to take care of and I think it looks better.

[fastfredracing]

My zen time used to be in the shop/garage working on some dilapidated sports car, or truck. Now, I find my peace out in the yard. I have 3 acres to mow. I have collected a few vintage IH tractors that I enjoy the maintenance , and then mowing on. It takes probably 5 hours weekly to mow, and trim. It is the most peaceful time of my week
I love to dig in the dirt, plant , trees, flowers, spread mulch, drainage work etc.
For the last 2 seasons, I have spent every spare minute outside , working in the yard .
I am just trying to tie it all up while I am still able to do it .

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

That's about what I've done the last few years....it's a real chore.
Flipping the mower over (after removing it) can be fun with the rollers on the deck.
Then scraping the dried grass off is more fun yet.

I have a Zero Turn. I watched a video on changing the blades, and in the video, the guy lifted the front end and put something under the wheels. I was surprised (but it makes sense) how light the front end is (the thing is basically rear engined).

I have 2 things that I can do. THe top of my deck has a nipple on each side. I can stick a hose on the nipple while the mower and blades are running and it is supposed to clean the underside of the deck. It seems to do a pretty good job. I can also lift the front end (lift with your legs not your back) and then set the front tires on a couple of upside down 5 gal buckets. Then I can lay on the ground or garage floor and easily get to the bottom of the deck to get any especially nasty spots scraped. I use something long enough so that nothing more than my arm is under the thing even though it's quite sturdy.

Using this method to change the blades with a battery impact wrench is also very easy.

I eventually want to pull the deck to clean it, inspect it, etc....

I need to thoroughly read the manual for my mower too. I've skimmed it looking for specific items or things that looked important, but not really read it.

[Robert Coats]

Can't stand yard work, period. The irony with me is I just retired after nearly 30 years working at the lawn mower division of Honda, where I had free access to everything from a 19" trim mower to to a monster three-blade 60" commercial beastie. I have a really nice 21" self-propelled walk-behind, mulch/bag/discharge, blade clutch, you name it, and it just sits while I stroke a check to a lawn service every month.

After moving to our 1/3 acre spread two years ago, the costs of paying somebody else is starting to annoy me, so I am tempted to pop for a 42" ZTR. My little slice of lasagna says she'll mow if I edge and run the blower, so it's a maybe right now. I have three strapping sons all living < 5 miles from me, so maybe that is an angle I might use as well. Let them keep and maintain the ZTR and just drop by a few times a month in the summer and cut the Fescue for their grey-haired old dad. "Hey you kids! Get over here and MOW my lawn!'

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Robert Coats

Can't stand yard work, period. The irony with me is I just retired after nearly 30 years working at the lawn mower division of Honda, where I had free access to everything from a 19" trim mower to to a monster three-blade 60" commercial beastie. I have a really nice 21" self-propelled walk-behind, mulch/bag/discharge, blade clutch, you name it, and it just sits while I stroke a check to a lawn service every month.

Hah. Yep, it's just one of those things. I knew a mechanic whose wife complained that she had a hard time getting him to fix stuff on her car.

[wdfifteen]

My uncle always had one of these, only his was a Montgomery Wards brand (I assume - every thing he owned came from Wards). As a 6 year old I was fascinated by it. It would not cut dandelion or plantain stems, so after he mowed his lawn the grass was nice and short with all these spikes sticking up.

[Seahawk]

I had a ten year run when I LOVED mowing the lawn - because my kids did it

Get them started early, set the hook:



Work in some Tom Sawyer-esk competition:




...Viola`



Honestly, they both love to mow, even more so with the commercial ZT Kubota. I used to put flat weights in the seats so they could mow without the engine cutting out.

My Daughter is an artist on a mower, btw. She sees patterns during different times of year and mows accordingly.

Now? My wife mows the lawn and bank with the ZT, I mow the lines and everything else.

Thank god for FM headphones.

[cabmandone]

Holy Sh.T!!! That is one serious aerator!

And what the hell are FM headphones anyhow? Nowadays we use earbuds ya old geezer!

[Tim Hancock]

5 acres of runway I do with PTO driven 72" finish mower and separate pull behind self engined 60". Takes about 45 minutes. I don't like mowing, but it has to be done.





Wife does the 4 acre house yard on 60" Hustler zero turn... Takes her about 2 hours.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Holy Sh.T!!! That is one serious aerator!

And what the hell are FM headphones anyhow? Nowadays we use earbuds ya old geezer!

I am as old as the aerator!

The aerator came with the farm. I replaced some bearings and grease the thing, but leave the "patina", also known as rust, alone. The aerator wheels, for lack of a better term, are really neat.

This weekend, we aerate anew!