More on Lawns

Published by

Clarissa

June 24, 2014

So I come into the living room and see N watching a very loud video on his computer.

“Ah, Call of Duty!” I think.

And then I come closer and discover he’s watching videos about different kinds of lawn mowers. Creepy shit, folks.

Say, does anybody know anything about mechanical lawn-mowers? The ones that don’t have an engine? I happen to have a husband who is do considerate of people that he can’t imagine disturbing the neighbors with a whirr of a lawn mower even when the neighbors rattle on their mowers all day long.

N and I are so different because it would have never occurred to me to wonder if the mower disturbed any one. When I was 6, my music teacher predicted I’d grow up to be a sociopath and a serial killer, so I’m glad my homicidal tendencies don’t go beyond not caring about the noise I might make with a lawn mower.

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15 responses to “More on Lawns”

Dennis Walsh

June 25, 2014

Brill. German engineered. The blade doesn’t hit the base so VERY quiet. Quite light. I have had one for about 10 years. They are good. Supposedly, the Cadillac of reel lawnmowers. But why not the Mercedes? I wonder. Check peoplepoweredmachines.com

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 25, 2014
  
  Thank you so much! We will check it out.
  
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David Bellamy

June 25, 2014

Mechanical lawn mowers are wonderful for getting exercise if the lawn is not too terribly big. The electric ones with a cord to plug in are also very quiet. They are, in addition, easier to maintain than the gasoline powered ones. I have used an electric one for years.

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 25, 2014
  
  I wonder why he isn’t looking at electric ones. I will tell him about this, thank you.
  
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NancyP

June 25, 2014

Mechanical mowers are good if the lawn isn’t huge. You get a workout pushing the thing.

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thevenerablecorvex

June 25, 2014

Mechanical lawnmowers are fine so long as you remember to mow at least once every two weeks or so. Otherwise the grass becomes so thick and tangled that pushing the lawnmower through it becomes very difficult.

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Dennis Walsh

June 25, 2014

Electric mowers have issues. Cord or non-cord. Battery depletion. Depletion time. Charge time. Size of lawn. Hillside. PUSH or automatic.
http://www.mowersdirect.com/stories/54-How-to-Pick-the-Perfect-Electric-Lawn-Mower.html

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 25, 2014
  
  So the mechanic mower is the best, I guess.
  
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  1. David Bellamy
    
    June 26, 2014
    
    I have used the same corded electric mower since the 1980’s. It has no battery. You just have to keep from running over the cord. This is about as difficult as avoiding spilling gasoline when you refill a gasoline powered mower.
    
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Dennis Walsh

June 26, 2014

I suppose it should be the machine which best addresses the “lawn issue”. I mow flat lawn — maybe 1,500 sf. Cut weekly. Brill reel mower. If I were cutting a lawn that happened to be part of a mountain side, I might go for a gigantic, roaring, smoking and belching, quasi-Harley Davidson mower. If your lawn isn’t really large or sloped, a reel mower might be best. If you have a larger lawn, then one type of the electrics might be good. Who will be doing the mowing? Does the operator want some PE or “just get it done”? THE consideration yet encountered is what do your neighbors lawns look like? My son in law is totally green — loves dandelions, plantain, thistle, noxious growth, et al. He even likes the 12 blades of grass that have survived his “care”. His neighbor is a compulsive type with a perfect lawn — spring top seeding, fertilizer with weed killer – ergo, no weeds and a gorgeous, thick lawn. (I must admit the neighbor’s lawn is better than mine.) If good fences make good neighbors, my son-in-law needs a much, much higher fence. He and the neighbor are not friendly. My son-in-law says the neighborhood squirrels don’t forage in the neighbors yard. I guess perfection doesn’t preclude toxic. I suspect there are many unwritten theses on neighborhood sociology of lawns in urban America. Well, this is too long for what should be a short subject — since it’s not a thesis … yet. Remember the grass is always greener …. And have fun with your adventure/s.

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1. Clarissa
  
  June 26, 2014
  
  Yes, I know, we have already started comparing our lawn with the neighbors’, and that’s disturbing to me. 🙂
  
  My husband will do the mowing and there is some sloping because the area is very hilly.
  
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Jones

June 27, 2014

I suddenly have this vision of you, standing on your now smoking lawn, saying to nobody in particular, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning … smells like … lawn care” … 🙂

You could turn your lawn into a place to grow things for nobody in particular as well, provided that the previous owners didn’t treat the soil with various “enhancements” provided by the petroleum, fertiliser, and pesticide industries.

Ever wanted to be a cat lady? Attract all the neighbours’ cats by planting peppermint and spearmint on your lawn … [sinister grin]

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Walsh

July 27, 2014

Curious. How is the lawn experience going? Push lawn mower? Any regrets?

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1. Clarissa
  
  July 27, 2014
  
  It took him 3,5 hours yesterday to mow the entire lawn with this manual mower. He totally loves it, it’s like a massive open-air gym visit. Today he is cutting down the shrubs with a machete. I totally recommend both activities to people who want to reinvigorate their personal lives. 🙂 🙂
  
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Walsh

July 27, 2014

I hope it continues to be a Brilliant experience. I should warn that some people will stop and eye him curiously. Old people will smile and nod. He can consider himself a renaissance man — or maybe a throwback.

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