Im thinking about letting my grass grow

[fastfredracing]

Its time management . I have 3 acres, its all flat and grass . I have always kept it Pretty nice and groomed , all of it . There are 2 creeks that run through the property so I have to trim them almost weekly.
Its not laziness at all, I love the hustle, just after 25 years parking my butt on a tractor, or holding a weed whacker , I want to do more with my free time .
Pretty much from April - September it takes me a whole day a week to keep it nice . 3 hours to mow on a zero turn, then trim with pushmower, + a few hours a week weed whacking and trimming, and all the other stuff that goes along with it .
I've enjoyed it for the most part. Its always been good mental health time and good physical exercise. I got to burn fuel and play with tractors for 25 years
Its been really hot and dry lately , and I have not had to mow for 2 weeks now . It is amazing all the time that this has freed up and the other things I have accomplished in this time
I think I'm going to let a few acres grow, and just keep the front of the property that people see, nice , and let the back half turn into a field for a while . Maybe when my 7 year old gets bigger I can get him to pitch in some .
I have even tossed around the idea around of paying someone once a month, but I've never been someone to pay someone to do something that I can do .
My 18 year old is autistic. I managed to get him to mow maybe 5 times in his life, and the battle that led up to said mowing, was monumental and took more time than the actual mowing itself .
I have a 7 year old so, I probably have 5 more years before I can get some help from him . I will deny him basic food and water till the grass is mowed if I have to .. joking
I know a bunch of you guys live on plots, and I wonder how you have managed over a life time ?

[masraum]

Yep, let it grow. Maybe find out what sort of plants/flowers are native to your area (not just the junk that HD sells) and plant some of that or spread some seed. Let some of it go "natural" and keep the yard a yard.

The only thing, to think about, do you have snakes, rats, etc.... that might decide to take up residence in the wild areas? It's probably not a big deal for you, and as long as you keep the "yard" (near the house) mowed, that'll give you the DMZ that the critters are likely to avoid because it offers them no cover.

Yard maintenance is time consuming, and 3 acres with creeks is a lot (we've got just under 6. I eventually talked the missus into letting the bit across our ravine/creek go wild.

I say do it. You've got plenty of other stuff to do than to spend 1-2 days/wk dealing with 3 acres of yard.

[Baz]

I vote you hire someone for a while and see how that goes.

Letting your lawn get "too tall" - assuming that your standard is to keep it manicured - is not a desirable option.

Or....just keep doing it yourself and look forward to cooler weather.....which is my philosophy!

[Seahawk]

FF, I spent five hours mowing/spraying today. Two yesterday. As long as we keep the farm, I have to mow and keep everything neat.

That said, I completely understand. I am over mowers after 30 years here.

See what the local ag agent recommends in terms of native grasses, making the transition from grass to what you want.

Best.

[Ayles]

My uncle has a huge area of lawn, at this stage like you said just doing the visible areas and keeping a yard. He does mow a path into the back acreage though. Maybe just do something like that to maintain some easy access?

[Rusty Heap]

Hah, lived on and developed several 5 acre lots all my adult life, (since the late 80's) and have learned a thing or three over the last 15,000 days of land ownership.....

My thoughts?:

1) Get the right size tool for the job. (anything from a cordless weed-eater to a Kubota Tractor.....)

2) Plan for low maintenance. Everyone's "Low" is different.

3) Better Living through Chemical Warfare. Roundup and Crossbow are your friend for Grasses and Woody-Stem Nuisances.

4) Buy all the land you can cuz they aren't going to make any more of it.

5) For any outbuilding, shop, barn, or structure.........if you're going to build a roof, build a TALL roof. Don't cheap out, the rest is only siding. Max out your building site dimensionally. Show me someone that has ever said "I built too big of a shop..........." yea right.

6) Everybodies Wallet is Grown Differently. Some swing their own hammer. Some get a blister writing a check.

and my final words of wisdom......

ANYTHING in Life comes down to Three Things.

1) Time
2) Money
3) Personal Priorities.

Bummer typically you can only pick 2 out of the 3.

and of course you have to dream it, before you can do it.........

Higgins and other Pelicans have frequented my Humble Abode.


Hah, my nearest neighbor is 600-700 feet away through thick trees and he complains my shop stereo is too loud.........yup. They Walk Amongst Us.


Post is worthless without some drone video of my Hood the last 25 years.


Starts and Ends at my place........up the road to neighbors and back. DJI Air2 Drone.

[Seahawk]

That was great, Rusty!

"Get faded": I have not heard that in a long time

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I know a bunch of you guys live on plots, and I wonder how you have managed over a life time ?

I was a ranch kid in California and grass was taken care of by a push mower.

Based on that, I made a lot of early mistakes on the farm in terms of equipment, time hacks, costs, etc.

I just had no real frame of reference.

I think the statute of limitations has run out, but I used to put weights in the seats of the small tractors so my kids could mow...kept the cut off switch from activating. They both started around 8/9.

The best days of my life followed...having kids, especially kids who lean into farm work, have friends that got roped into my Tom Sawyer web, is just a blessing.

Now, both grown, professionals, this place is lonely and has become work without the grab-ass, which I miss.

Hang in there, FF...

[Scott Douglas]

Nice video!

I used to take a lot of pride in my ability to keep my yard looking nice with just a mower and weed whacker and an edger, no blower.
I also used to be envious of you guys with big(er) yards as I got a lot of satisfaction from my mowing. Then I had a heart attack and hired a gardener.

While I probably could mow my own yard again, I doubt my wife would allow me to do it. All the implements are still out in the shed.

Instead I get to 'redistribute' some of my meager wealth to a guy who works for someone else pushing a mower all day.
My neighbors aren't home owners so this is what I get to look at in retirement.

My yard still looks presentable as the gardener comes every week whether it needs it or not.
I'd say grow your grass, it's yours and you've earned the right to do with it what you want. I'd encourage you to keep the 'public appearances' up though.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

They don't have roomba versions of lawnmowers yet? Seems like an easy thing to make with marker stakes or whatever to keep it in bounds. Maybe a kid or pet getting run over by one is why we don't see them?

[stevej37]

[Baz]

There are also control products (PGR's = Plant Growth Regulators) that when sprayed on plants (including turf) will slow their growth.

Quite a few different ones - some only meant for ornamentals....some only for turf.

So you have to get the right one.

Here's one for intended for turf, example:

T-Nex Plant Growth Regulator

About this item

KEY FEATURES: Manage growth and improve quality and stress tolerance of warm- and cool-season turf grasses
BENEFITS: Improves rich color, lateral stems and root mass developmen and helps produce healthy, durable blades in turf grass
USE SITES: Turf, Golf Courses
EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Bahiagrass, Fescue, Bentgrass, Kikuyugrass, Bermudagrass, Annual bluegrass (Poa annua), Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Buffalograss, St. Augustinegrass, Carpetgrass, Zoysiagrass
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Trinexapac-ethyl 12%

LABEL

$132/gallon

Rates are lower for Warm-season grasses - especially St. Augustine, which is what I use it on. Higher on Cool-season grasses, so you'll have to decide whether or not it's worth the trade-off. Plus you need to factor in the labor to apply. Not bad for a small residential yard - but for acreage....you'll need special equipment.

[WPOZZZ]

Whew! Knowing some of you guys, I had to wonder about the title.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

They don't have roomba versions of lawnmowers yet? Seems like an easy thing to make with marker stakes or whatever to keep it in bounds. Maybe a kid or pet getting run over by one is why we don't see them?

They do have robotized lawn mowers. Although it sounds like it would be a bit more complicated to regulate with 3 acres and 2 creeks than a regular yard.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by masraum

They do have robotized lawn mowers. Although it sounds like it would be a bit more complicated to regulate with 3 acres and 2 creeks than a regular yard.

good to know. My sense is you stake out broad swaths of acreage and then come back and do the detail work yourself.

[oldE]

With 3 acres and a couple of water courses, I would recommend the following:
Designate an area of immediate perimeter near house and outbuildings. Keep this groomed with two objects in mind. First, as stated above, wild critters have no cover in the area and will tend to keep away. Second, it can aid in keeping grass fires away from your structures.

Plant shade trees along the water courses. This will eventually help keep the water temperature down, improving habitat for fishes, if any are present.
Make pathways through the "natural" areas. Thiese should lead to benches under the trees, places for rest and reflection.

In the end, your property should be an asset, not a burden.

Best
Les

[mjohnson]

Rewild most of it, carefully. Another resource for info (besides ag ext office) could be a local nature center or of course one of the more "natural" local nurseries. Barring anything else you could get one of the "wild" seed mixes that fit your climate and usage/maintenance plans.

A neighbor went with a xeric grass that never gets more than 4-5" tall even near the house. He watered only a bit for the first year to get it started.

Done thoughtfully I think an outer "prararie" would also provide another separation between your inner sanctum/lawn and neighbors and the street. It'd also help cut down on noise.

[LWJ]

Do a Mullet: Business in the front, party in the back.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Do a Mullet: Business in the front, party in the back.

Im pretty far past that point. Been letting my hair grow since my wife passed . 2 years now. Im starting to look a little ragged . There is no longer anyone to say " no" .

[Rick Lee]

I just came back from Europe and stayed with a few friends who had yards of size and lawn mowing robots. They had teenage boys too, but the robots did all the mowing. Seemed to work pretty well. They just run until it's time to return to base for a charge, then go back out. They're very quiet too, almost silent.