Weedwacking Sucks
 

Gotta do it, the fire dept requires it and its just common sense. I have to have it done by June 1, and I have been traveling a lot for work. I got back from Montreal late last night. I used to hire my gardener to do it for $350, but he was stealing from me so I fired him. The new gardeners want $950, so I'm doing it myself. I won't hire unlicensed gardeners, only those with workmen's comp, insurance. The last thing I need is a day laborer getting bitten by a rattlesnake and suing me. I bought an Echo line cutter for $200 (the best IMHO, BTW) and find I'm able to do it for about 2 hours at a time; I'm 59 and its all up hill. Heavy boots, ear plugs, N95 dust mask, long pants and shirt. I'm gonna move in about five years, this is getting to be too much effort.

This is what it looks like in the Winter and Spring. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/673609-i-love-my-backyard-time-year.html

Nice and green. This is what it looks like this time of year.

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Can you plant some kind of ground cover that will keep the grass from growing, like juniper bushes?

Juniper burns hot as hell. Juniper and mesquite (brush) smell like they want to burn (lots of oils). Some of my neighbors plant Rosemary as ground cover which is madness), it too has lots of hot burning oils). I keep a 5 gallon pot of Rosemary for cooking seasoning. I'm in heavy brush fire country in SoCal. I've got 18 acres. Its an odd relationship between me and mother nature. I need the grasses in the Winter for erosion from rain, I wack them down in the Spring and the seeds grow again.

Hire Labor Ready. I've been using them for over 10 years for all unskilled work on jobs. I suspect it'a bout $18/hr these days, but fully insured and withholding. 4 hour min. No like, No problemo. They will replace a lazy worker.

You can use a couple of guys with one rental weed machine and yours. Let them do the tough parts. Set goals based on what you can do. Let them know you will and tip them if they achieve the goal. Give them water and some food. 10 min break every 2 hours, 1/2 hour lunch. If they have to use a bathroom. let them use the motorhome.

Keep an eye on them. I've never had a problem except for drinking.

Thanks Zeke. I'll check them out.

Some of that looks like it can be mowed which would be faster.

PGR's are chemical control products used to slow down growth of plants but not for all applications. Worth looking into

Milt's idea of using a labor force might also be a viable option.

Other than that.....I still take care of my grounds myself - as do many others here. Welcome to the club. :)

Just finished doing some weed wacking myself. I have five acres and bite off a little at a time. I usually get out there without a shirt, shorts and sunglasses. I know there are rattlesnakes around but in the twenty years I have been here I have not come across one.

Go find the folks with the "Will work for food" signs and...
OFFER THEM WORK. Watch them make excuses.

No snake boots?

Pay someone to do that.

This is the only weedwacker worth buying, IMHO :D

http://www.saintarnold.com/images/be...weedwacker.jpg

you need a teenager


... or some goats

I've hired high school kids before, they don't work much. I've got too many coyotes for goats. Although I guess I could buy/hire goats and stand out there with a rifle.

maybe you own too much land

Yep, but someone has to preserve the environment. You know, carbon dioxide sinks and all that for fighting global warming .

I'm facing the weed whacking scenario myself shortly. I let the grasses turn so the seeds drop, since I want the grasses for soil stability. After that I choose between my 5 weedwhackers (three electric, one 34cc gas, & one Huskvarna 45cc whacker, cutter, general demolisher), If I can't get it done with one of them, I've got the DC brush mower. Though I'm glad I'm getting things organized & manicured down to where it's decently manageable. This coming week is when I get started.

Hugh, you might check out a push weed whacker. Lightweight and should be able to push it around that hill. Would save your back a little

Gave up weedwacking years ago. What a PITA. Running out of li ne, hard starting, etc. Life is too short. Get some Total Vegitation Killer (like Roundup) and spray where you don't want grass. Along flower beds (spray carefully and not in a strong wind), driveway, etc. You'll get about a 2" wide dead area along those areas, but sheesh...who cares? Haven't started a weedwacker in 3 years.

Hire a herd of goats.

Look at it this way, its all part of living in paradise. I just got done for 1400 bucks. Without the pretty natural hill side, you may encounter other issues such as otheer home owners.