Fun with DIY lawn mowing
Frankly, this wouldn’t have occurred to me as a topic appropriate for DIY (doesn’t everybody outside of the McMansion crowd do their own lawn care?). As I’ve witnessed contractors mowing neighbor lawns (renters included), however, I’m wondering if people down south think differently than this transplanted Yank.
I found a wonderful brawn-powered machine that worked a whole lot better than I imagined. In fact, I finished my first Roanoke lawn mowing experience about as quickly as it would have taken me to do while choking over the stench and getting cranky from the racket of a gas-powered engine.
The Fiskars 18-in Reel Lawn Mower at Lowe’s® was a surprise. In fact, I was fortunate to be contemplating this purchase when a “leased” unit sat on the floor near the service desk. When I asked about it, the staffer explained this common occurrence “someone buys a product for a short-term need then returns it claiming it didn’t work.” Since I was told I could bring it back if it didn’t work and get my money back, I figured, why not give it a shot.
The beauty of this purchase – I paid $50 for a $199 item, then assembled it and mowed most of the lawn that evening with less than an hour before sunset. Directions even included clear written and illustrated instructions. I like easy.
I was amazed at how handily this device cut through grass that was already longer than ideal. I did have to back it up a few times where the lawn was dense, but overall, it left the lawn looking better (and set up for better year-round health) than its engine-powered counterparts.
I was treated to the delightful smell of fresh cut wild rosemary & onions (something you won’t enjoy while inhaling fumes), chirping birds and a decent, but not too taxing, workout – no health club fees needed.
This is not a good choice for you if your property has steep hills or an expansive lawn. I’m mowing about 1/3 of an acre on fairly flat land – a perfect use for this little chugger. Also, if you’re lazy about removing debris before you cut, you’ll regret this purchase. Limbs, rocks and other hard obstructions get thrown back into the protective shield, jam up the blades and are very difficult to dislodge (there is no easy way to pull the blades from the back casing).
The machine works best and easiest when propelled at a decent clip. The blade height is easy to adjust, cropping as short as 1-inch (not recommended) or as high as 4-inches. I was surprised at how simple it was to push even through deep grass once in motion.
No gas cans, oil, mixers, spark plugs or grass catcher purchases add to the cost of operating this unit.
I’m one who prefers to get my workouts with tasks I need to do anyway. If you’ve suffered a heart-attack or are terribly out of shape, this probably isn’t a good choice for you.
Lawn mowing has morphed from chore to delight for me with this little find.
In case you’re wondering, I don’t collect any endorsement money for the recommendation. I just liked it and thought maybe you would too. See if you can find a “leased” unit to get you smiling even more.
