Poll of the Day > Lawn mowing advice

(+) Yeah! (+)

It's a problem I never had to deal with before...maintaining a yard.
An issue I'm encountering is all the articles and youtube videos on different mowing options are from the perspective of "how to make your lawn look the best".
That's not my goal, though. I have allergies, and I never even wanted grass. I want to do as little maintenance as possible and mow as infrequently as humanly possible, bounded only by the restraint of keeping it from getting so long that it draws the ire of the county / my neighbors.
I have Zoysia grass, if it helps. Seemed to be the lowest maintenance grass option available from the landscaper.
I'm trying to figure out the best option for my needs. I like the idea of a manual reel mower and in normal circumstances would welcome the exercise involved. But it takes a lot longer and I can't be spending hours amidst the grass pollen. I definitely don't like the gas-powered typical mower options, they're dirty, noisy, and not environmentally friendly. So I think my best option is an electric battery powered mower?

Perhaps something like this Greenworks model?
https://www.amazon.com/Greenworks-Brushless-Battery-Included-MO40L414/dp/B0918YVWNW/

It's nice as well b/c it seems to be able to go over and mulch leaves. Apparently leaving mulched leaves on your grass is good for it, and if it means less work (raking/blowing them all in a pile, bagging them up, and taking them to the landfill), even better! Again...don't really care about the aesthetics/look of my yard, just minimizing effort.

https://youtu.be/TWmbEYnv-IM?t=283

Planning to get a full-face gas mask to deal w/ the pollen. Anyone w/ allergies tried that for mowing lawns? How's it work out? I figure I should still try and spend as little time among the pollen as possible, even w/ the mask.

Thanks for any tips/advice.

what square footage are you lookin at

agesboy posted...

what square footage are you lookin at

I estimate my yard is roughly 1/3 acre of grass, after deducting the house and paved areas from the lot's square footage.
Front and back are pretty evenly leveled, sides around the house are sloped.
EDIT: Have some "forest" area in the back, too. So probably more like 1/4 acre I actually have to mow. I need to go do some actual measurements.

Look into a clover lawn. Looks similar, flowers occasionally (and therefore benefits pollinators), never needs mowing unless you want to remove the flowers, outcompetes most weeds, uses less water, needs no fertilizer, and is still durable enough to stand up to most everyday use.

adjl posted...

Look into a clover lawn. Looks similar, flowers occasionally (and therefore benefits pollinators), never needs mowing unless you want to remove the flowers, outcompetes most weeds, uses less water, needs no fertilizer, and is still durable enough to stand up to most everyday use.

I asked about a steppable groundcover like vinca minor, creeping thyme (probably my favorite), Isotoma fluviatilis, or micro clover.
Unfortunately, I had to use my builder's landscaper, and they didn't really deal in that stuff and said anything they did have would cost many times what grass seed would. I even asked about just doing plugs spaced out (since creeping species will...you know...naturally spread over time) to save money, and was shot down. They were pretty much resistant to doing anything but grass.

I had a lot of things I wanted to do w/ building my house, and almost all of them met w/ the hard reality that local contractors are set in their ways and don't like to deviate from what they normally do, and I have little power in who my builder uses for subcontractors.

But yes, I was looking into that a lot. Probably a good long term solution to have take over my yard gradually (I just worry about controlling it from expanding into neighbors' lots). But in the short term, I have fucking grass springing up way faster than I had hoped and need to deal with it. And apparently getting someone to cut it for me costs so much that the damn lawn mover pays for itself within 3 months or less.

The eternal homeowner challenge (outside of rock/etc). If you have neighbors watching you/HOA rules/county rules there really isn't any alternative to taking care of it.

I suppose my advice is don't skimp on the equipment cost. The better gear you find the faster it will go. I have a battery-operated Ego myself: it's environmentally friendly (but not really any different in effort from a gas powered mower).

If you have the space, though, consider buying a (used?) riding mower...even for a "normal sized" yard. Those get the job done QUICK and the cost isn't a big issue in the long run (certainly compared to paying others to do it). Better yet get together with your neighbors if you're building at the same time and buy one together: maybe four of you can agree to trade off on each others' lawns such that you're only actually mowing once per month or so. They're gas users, but they're more efficient than push mowers so they're probably not much different environmentally (and you're further from it so you don't smell nearly so gassy). If your yard is flat and uncomplicated I very much doubt you'll regret it.

My parents have a cabin with a flat 1/3 acreish yard and a riding mower. It seems like a ridiculous thing to own, but it's so nice to whip through the chore and relax that I would buy another one if it ever breaks down. If you can find an electric one these days...better yet.

Turf

Suggest removing it all, it just make is so much more enjoyable for both parties, especially if you are a chick.

I have a greenworks, it works really well and is light. I have a small yard, so I have never had an issue with the battery dying while mowing. Edging tends to be the bigger pain if you don't have a good edger. I would get rid of my lawn outside of a small patch in the backyard if I was allowed to. It is a waste to have lawns in Texas when it gets so hot.

Gravel, spray-painted green

I have a Greenworks 40V mower. I use it to mow the smaller areas where my 60" Hustler Super Z can't fit. I like that I can use the batteries for other tools like a chain saw, string trimmer, snow blower, backpack sprayer, even a portable fan and work light. And there's practically no maintenance compared to a gas mower. No spark plugs, no carburetor, no messy oil or gas. Only thing you ever have to deal with is the blades, but that's true of any mower. And it's SOOOOOO easy to use. Very light weight, especially if you mulch with it instead of bag. And it's push-button start. No yanking on a rope and hoping it will catch.

A friend of mine bought an Ego 56V zero turn mower. It was crazy expensive (about $5000, and that's with only 4 batteries), but it was still cheaper than the Super Z. But it's only a 42", so it would take a lot longer to do my place. While it can do "up to 2 acres" (with a full compliment of 6 batteries), I think the area I mow is a bit larger than that, since I also mow the grass along the road for half a mile.

streamofthesky posted...

I have allergies, and I never even wanted grass. I want to do as little maintenance as possible and mow as infrequently as humanly possible

Same for me. I've got mild hay fever when it comes to grass, and it makes mowing a real miserable experience. Fortunately I'm not severe, but it does mean when I mow I'm constantly blowing my nose for a while afterwards (and often during). Just oh so much snot.



streamofthesky posted...

Thanks for any tips/advice.

Two things:

First, what sort of mower you want kind of depends on what your yard looks like. If you've got a relatively flat level yard, a self-motivating mower might be great for you (or even a ride-on mower if your yard is large enough). But if your yard is very hilly and has lots of trees or other obstacles you'll need to mow around, that kind of mower will be terrible and you'll probably want something smaller and fully manual. Added to which, if your lawn grows relatively slowly, doesn't have a ton of weeds, and you're planning on mowing often an electric mower may serve your needs, but if your lawn is heavier, is prone to a lot of weeds, and/or if you want to put off mowing as long as possible (meaning the lawn is going to be much higher when you finally mow it), an electric mower might lack the power you need to really push through it, and you'd be better off with a gas-powered mower. No one mower is going to be perfect for every yard type - you need to judge for yourself what your needs are.

Second, if you can, try to look for a recycling/mulching mower. Those you can mow bagless and the mower basically recycles the grass clippings into fertilizer that goes back into the lawn. You want this, because emptying a bag full of grass is an absolute bitch if you have hay fever, and getting rid of the clippings can be a hassle if you're not just composting them or otherwise just straight dumping them somewhere. The average mower can run without the bag, but will tend to leave large clumps of grass that look like crap and can cause your lawn to look patchy - so you're better off making sure you've got one that will help break the grass clippings down smaller as you go.

sounds like you shouldn't have bought the property

Goats

Also, do all of you with allergies just not take anything for it at all?? I have terrible seasonal allergies and can basically eliminate them with a daily antihistamine and a prescription eyedrop or nasal spray. I thought I'd never be able to get rid of them, but you just have to ask for the right things.

Aerius + Flonase = you're good

if you want to get serious, then Bepreve.

I would get electric which is basically all I've used. main downside is managing the extension cord as you go, but it looks like the one you linked actually uses batteries which is awesome.

ReturnOfFa posted...

Also, do all of you with allergies just not take anything for it at all?? I have terrible seasonal allergies and can basically eliminate them with a daily antihistamine and a prescription eyedrop or nasal spray. I thought I'd never be able to get rid of them, but you just have to ask for the right things.

Aerius + Flonase = you're good

if you want to get serious, then Bepreve.

advil and reactine together usually work for me but not always. sometimes it becomes acute sinusitis and I basically have a minor cold for about 24 hours. in those cases advil sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't.

my actual advice (on top of the allergy management advice) would be

1) ride-on mower would be most efficient for a property that size. that's pretty big. get it done faster, and put more space between you and the clippings overall.

2) go electric over gas. I mow weekly with a gas mower and they're just nasty.

Sahuagin posted...

advil and reactine together usually work for me but not always. sometimes it becomes acute sinusitis and I basically have a minor cold for about 24 hours. in those cases advil sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't.

I definitely recommend switching antihistamine brands if you've been on one for a while. I find that the effectiveness of one will wane eventually, and switching can help. I personally get better relief from desloratadine, but it's going to differ for everyone. I also reaaalllly recommend seeing a doctor if it's accessible for you and checking out the prescription products I suggested. I was blown away when my mom lent me them. Certain times of the year just have my face leaking like a faucet, eyes and nose. The nose spray and eyedrops make life normal again.

Blightzkrieg posted...

Goats

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/2/8/AAQwHjAAEcW4.jpg

Archgoat posted...

I have a greenworks, it works really well and is light. I have a small yard, so I have never had an issue with the battery dying while mowing. Edging tends to be the bigger pain if you don't have a good edger. I would get rid of my lawn outside of a small patch in the backyard if I was allowed to. It is a waste to have lawns in Texas when it gets so hot.

captpackrat posted...

I have a Greenworks 40V mower. I use it to mow the smaller areas where my 60" Hustler Super Z can't fit. I like that I can use the batteries for other tools like a chain saw, string trimmer, snow blower, backpack sprayer, even a portable fan and work light. And there's practically no maintenance compared to a gas mower. No spark plugs, no carburetor, no messy oil or gas. Only thing you ever have to deal with is the blades, but that's true of any mower. And it's SOOOOOO easy to use. Very light weight, especially if you mulch with it instead of bag. And it's push-button start. No yanking on a rope and hoping it will catch.

Sounds like the Greenworks might be the best option, thanks.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

First, what sort of mower you want kind of depends on what your yard looks like. If you've got a relatively flat level yard, a self-motivating mower might be great for you (or even a ride-on mower if your yard is large enough). But if your yard is very hilly and has lots of trees or other obstacles you'll need to mow around, that kind of mower will be terrible and you'll probably want something smaller and fully manual. Added to which, if your lawn grows relatively slowly, doesn't have a ton of weeds, and you're planning on mowing often an electric mower may serve your needs, but if your lawn is heavier, is prone to a lot of weeds, and/or if you want to put off mowing as long as possible (meaning the lawn is going to be much higher when you finally mow it), an electric mower might lack the power you need to really push through it, and you'd be better off with a gas-powered mower. No one mower is going to be perfect for every yard type - you need to judge for yourself what your needs are.

Second, if you can, try to look for a recycling/mulching mower. Those you can mow bagless and the mower basically recycles the grass clippings into fertilizer that goes back into the lawn. You want this, because emptying a bag full of grass is an absolute bitch if you have hay fever, and getting rid of the clippings can be a hassle if you're not just composting them or otherwise just straight dumping them somewhere. The average mower can run without the bag, but will tend to leave large clumps of grass that look like crap and can cause your lawn to look patchy - so you're better off making sure you've got one that will help break the grass clippings down smaller as you go.

Like I said, front and back are mostly flat. Sides have a gentle slope. No trees except at the back of the lot (basically forested, wouldn't bother mowing there) and along the sides.
A mulching lawn mower is exactly what I want. I think the Greenworks is one.

ReturnOfFa posted...

Also, do all of you with allergies just not take anything for it at all?? I have terrible seasonal allergies and can basically eliminate them with a daily antihistamine and a prescription eyedrop or nasal spray. I thought I'd never be able to get rid of them, but you just have to ask for the right things.

I take Zyrtec. Nasonex for nose, Patonol for eyes. I've used them for years, maybe I could try switching... It helps, but I still have horrible allergies especially in the spring. Also did 7 years of immunization shots. Then moved for my job and got another 7 years of immunization shots for the new area... My allergies are just really bad. Especially tree pollen, but grass/moss/weeds are pretty bad for me, too.

ReturnOfFa posted...

my actual advice (on top of the allergy management advice) would be

1) ride-on mower would be most efficient for a property that size. that's pretty big. get it done faster, and put more space between you and the clippings overall.

2) go electric over gas. I mow weekly with a gas mower and they're just nasty.

Ride on mower just seems excessive... And probably a lot more money.
It seems if I go electric, I have to mow weekly instead of bi-weekly, but if I can do it quickly and masked, maybe it won't be so bad.