Lawn mowing writ small

I was reading Carson's thread on mowing, and realized I'm about to be in a somewhat similar situation. In July I'll be moving to a new house with my girlfriend. I haven't got a house picked out yet, but it's almost certain 1) it will have a lawn that we will be responsible for mowing, and 2) the lawn might be a quarter acre, tops.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has any experience with the old-tech reel mowers. I like the idea of low maintenance, lower complexity, and less storage footprint, and the extra exercise wouldn't hurt me. I think I could probably get by with a reel mower and a small ~20cc gas trimmer (I've been told to avoid electrics, but it's been a long time since anyone I know had one). Anyone have any specific reccomendations?

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/acres-per-gallon/1962/page1/

You have to keep up on it with a reel-type mower. They won't cut really tall grass and they don't like the little stalks that clover send up (with the little white flower on top). They stop dead in their tracks when you inadvertantly try to mow a stick the size of a pencil (something my old yard had MANY of). There is only one blade, so that's nice come sharpening time. The helical looking things are just bars to feed the grass against the blade, like a sheer.

I'd say 1/4 acre is probably too much for all but the most dedicated of folks to realistically do with a reel mower (like if you've got trees dropping sticks).

I loved my plug in electric mower. I got it at the swap meet for $10 and ran it until the motor started smoking. With a little planning (for the feeding out of the extension cord) it's not too much hassle.

I also had a battery operated electric. It doesn't tolerate tall grass any better than a reel mower. However, it did work acceptably if you mowed frequently. I'm sure mine was an uber-cheap one. I got it off ebay and I think it was a return-repair type deal.

If you want a reel mower, get one. But realistically, you'll probaby appreciate a backup for the times when it rains for 3 days straight and the grass gets too tall and thick before you can knock it down.

Clem

Tag Sale season is almost upon us here in the northeast. $25 lawnmowers ftw.

I had on of these for mowing around the pool without getting clippings in the water.

http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/node3099.aspx?nid=124214&pid=88451

Clem's right, they don't like tall grass or bumps. You need to have a near prefect lawn and really keep the blades spinning. It's the only time that mowing fast is best.

Husqvarna just introduced a new model:

http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/company_press_release_details.aspx?_newsid=7648

A quarter acre of lawn is probably more than you'd want to tackle with one of these more than a few times.

I have had electric mowers for over a decade and they work really well. I prefer battery operated ones.

I love not having to try to start them, keeping gas around the house, no spark plugs/points, etc. I've had battery powered and corded ones and once you get the cord set (near the house and mow outwards) you really never have to worry about the cord. I prefer the corded ones since there are no batteries to replace so they become the ultimate in maintenance free mowers.

It's so easy small kids and wives can operate them so you aren't stuck with doing all the mowing.

Yep, I've got a reel mower and it is a pain if I don't keep up on the grass. So I've got an electric trimmer to take care of the stuff the mower won't when I let it get out of hand. However, I don't have to do anything but wheel the thing out, mow the lawn, empty the clippings and wheel it back in the garage. I get a little bit of a work out, I don't pump a bunch of fumes in the air or annoy the neighbors with the noise (actually had the neighbor across the street tell me he wishes he had bought a reel mower because it is so quiet). Every month or so I'll check the blade, etc.

Now, I will say this: I have a tiny yard and it is flat. If I had a yard that was much larger or not as flat, then I may reconsider the mower choice.

Quarter acre is the absolute max we'll find. I have a feeling it'll be more like an eighth, maybe less. We're talking rental houses in town. I've lived a lot of places in this town, and I'm thinking the biggest yard I've ever had could be mowed with a small gas pushmower in about half an hour.

Anybody have specific reccommendations or warnings about trimmers?

psteav wrote: Anybody have specific reccommendations or warnings about trimmers?

Wear pants...

And closed toe shoes/boots

I'd like to find one of those reel mowers cheap. My neighbor has one, and it seems to do a pretty good job. They don't keep up on their lawn particularly well, and we both have trees in the back yard, yet I've never seen them struggle with sticks/taller grass.

$.02:

Check with a local hole-in-the-wall small engine repair shop, and get you a decent used self propelled gas mower. My $300(?) mower from Home Despot lasted all of three years. The $35, 15 year old Craftsman I bought from William Ratcliff, who does small engine repair in his basement, has lasted 6, and still runs like a beast with no maintanence other than sharpening the blade once a year. Our lot is 1 acre, and the yard is probably .5. If/when it finally dies, I'll buy another $35 mower.

Also, I've been really happy with our Black and Decker electric weedeater, and blower. The weedeater carries enough charge to do the driveway and house.

fiat22turbo wrote: And closed toe shoes/boots

and don't half-ass repairs on an electric one. my dad was fiddling with his electric one because it had a short or something in the switch, the switch kicked on when the head was laying next to his foot, and the thing climbed his leg up to just below the knee. i think it hurt more than it actually did damage, but he's still got the scars.

Used to have the push-mower kind, but it never seemed to be sharp enough to do a good job. I've had a Sears electric for about ten years - works great as long as you don't run over the extension cord.