annual gripe about mowing the lawn.

[jyl]

If it isn't a tradition, I will make it so.

The season that calls itself "spring" has been foully wet and cold this year. Our annual tasks of pulling the year's first weeds, replacing winter's casualties with new plants, sprouting tasty vegetables, and laying down the year's mulch have all been done in rain and gloom. The roses are rusty, the veggies stillborn, soggy mulch puddles around a slimy patio.

Protected by the weather, our grass has grown and grown, daring me to mow in the rain, laughing at my defeat.

Finally we had a sunny day. Instead of settling down with a cup of green tea (organic and harvested by fully-actualized peasants of course) to watch the TiVo'd Formula One race, I was hustled outside with instructions to borrow the neighbor's mower and have at the damp 6" jungle.

Why his mower? Well, I only own a manual reel mower, and the wife apparently doesn't think my life insurance is quite sufficient, so she wanted me to do the job with power tools.

Safety guard - check. Eye protection - check. No cats napping under the mower deck - check. Fully charged battery - check. Yes, this is a rechargeable electric mower, the latest in low impact ecologically friendly urban grass control technology.

My yard is not large. It is probably about the size of Moses' living room. My sidewalk strip is likely smaller than your average master bedroom. It took the entire charge of that puny electric Toro to make one pass over that postage stamp of grass. Where the grass was thickest, I practically had to give the mower CPR. By the time I got to the back yard, we were more massaging the grass than actually cutting it.

Before I took the mower back, I turned it over to find the reason for the excreable performance. I suppose dull blades could make a difference. Unbolted the blade, clamped it in the vise, sharpened it, and returned the mower.

After all, I'll might be using it again. The damn grass doesn't go away. I'm not buying a new mower. It's gonna rain tommorrow.

[Nathans_Dad]

Been there, done that! Luckily this spring has been pretty decent for us in D/FW. My grass is actually looking 100% better than last year, I finally seem to have gotten the upper hand on the damn winter bluegrass that has been trying to take over my bermuda for a couple years now.

I am currently mowing twice a week to keep the bermuda low and spreading into the thin areas to seal the bluegrass' fate...

Not much better for the man-esteem than a really nice looking lawn.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

Not much better for the man-esteem than a really nice looking lawn.

[jyl]

Wife and I decided, this year we're ripping the grass out of the backyard. The stuff is a weed, for heaven's sake.

[Bill Douglas]

I use a Husquvarna strimmer. It actually does a very tidy job and is quick.

[porsche4life]

Sounds like you need to hire somejaun....

[alf]

Spend time and money to grow it.
Spend time and money to nuture it.
Spend time and money to harvest it.
Spend time and money to toss it.

It is a dumb ass thing to have and yet I have a lawn in 2 countries. I hate the damm things.

[Scuba Steve]

We outsourced the lawn this year. I'm out of town too much, and when I'm around I'm too busy trying to redo the main bathroom and kitchen, and too much other stuff to list. Well worth the price... besides, I'm not really acclimated to central TX anymore. I grew up there but have been away too long. The northwest feels like home now.

[Tidybuoy]

The true reason for a lawn:

[Jim Richards]

what is this mowing you speak of?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

+1. I can think of fewer more pointless wastes of time and money. I'm just letting whatever wants to grow, grow. I could care less. If someone wants to claim the place looks foreboding that way, good - I don't want people coming around anyway.

Love the cat picture though - although I keep mine indoors at all times (fleas, predators, cars, etc.) They've got enough stuff to roll around on/play with, but that is one happy looking cat!

[s_morrison57]

I bought a battery powered mower so the wife can do it, BTW the mower works real good, I was surprised

[Rot 911]

I feel your pain. Been mowing here since the end of March. That is in between all the rain. And I have 2 acres!

[Tim Hancock]

With 9 acres of grass to mow and a warm wet spring, I have to chuckle about guys whining about mowing postage stamp lawns with electric push mowers.

While I do not always enjoy the process of mowing, I love playing frisbee with the dog or fishing in the pond while enjoying a freshly mowed lawn on a nice 75 degree spring/early summer evening.

[The Gaijin]

I pushed a lot of mower as a kid.

I still like it, just like the tractor and a beer a bit better..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

I pushed a lot of mower as a kid.

I still like it, just like the tractor and a beer a bit better..

Yeah, that and delivering newspapers (on foot) were my "jobs" when I was 12-->15.

I enjoy it, but have someone else do it these days. I just have too much other stuff going on, and for $30 a pop, it's hard not to have someone else brave the weather.

[1990C4S]

When I cut my lawn:

My cell phone doesn't ring

No one bothers me

No one asks for charitable donations at my front door.

[VINMAN]

Yep, I actually enjoy mowing my 3/4 acre somewhat of a resemblance of a lawn.

[jyl]

9 acres of grass. Wow. Imagine how I'd whine if I were there!

I had that much grass, and a water supply, I'd enter into a share-cropping arrangement with a small farmer. Get some income, no more mowing.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

With 9 acres of grass to mow and a warm wet spring, I have to chuckle about guys whining about mowing postage stamp lawns with electric push mowers.

While I do not always enjoy the process of mowing, I love playing frisbee with the dog or fishing in the pond while enjoying a freshly mowed lawn on a nice 75 degree spring/early summer evening.

If you build it they will come. I dare ya. Seriously