Debate on lawn mowing

[charby]

I have mowed four times this year and like to see all the bees on the dandelions and clover. Perfect lawns are a mental disorder.

You don't live in town where if you don't mow somewhat regularly, a neighbor will complain, the city will mow and you'll get a bill for it. Even worse the weed commissioner comes out, will find a noxious weed and treat your lawn for you, then send a bill.

[zxcvbob]

You don't live in town where if you don't mow somewhat regularly, a neighbor will complain, the city will mow and you'll get a bill for it. Even worse the weed commissioner comes out, will find a noxious weed and treat your lawn for you, then send a bill.

I mow just enough to avoid that, barely.   I've been pushing my luck for a while; I better mow tomorrow...

[French G.]

You don't live in town where if you don't mow somewhat regularly, a neighbor will complain, the city will mow and you'll get a bill for it. Even worse the weed commissioner comes out, will find a noxious weed and treat your lawn for you, then send a bill.

Closest I came was getting a now your lawn nastygram when I lived in a historic district. Just when you thought HOAs were fun... I had been gone thirty days on a big grey boat so while I did now my lawn I also called the code people and gave them a full on blast of thank me for my service.

Lemme guess, an edible dandelion is a noxious weed.

[charby]

Lemme guess, an edible dandelion is a noxious weed.

No, every state has a list by statue. Usually very invasive and can cause agronomic losses.

Here is Iowa's https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/317.1A.pdf

[Perd Hapley]

Late to the party here. I thought this would be about lawns enforcing white male patriarchy or something awesome like that. Crabgrass Lives Matter and stuff.

[grampster]

I have 1.4 acres.  It appears I have maybe 20 different breeds of grass, crab grass having a substantial minority hold on it.  Other weeds I don't care about because they are mainly green.  Some weeds have little white or yellow flowers in the late spring and early summer.  They are pretty.  Green is good, too.  Crab grass gets sort of reddish about now.  I ride around on a Husky 22hp rider and I wear headphones and listen to music.  I don't pay much attention to how I mow it.  I don't really care if I leave tracks.  I don't think the grass cares either.  Neither do the weeds.  It rained a lot this year so I didn't have to turn on my irrigation system more than 4 or 5 times.  When it doesn't rain, I turn it on for 20 minutes a zone over 6 zones every 2 or 3 days...when I happen to remember to turn it on.  Sometimes I forget to to turn it off.  It comes on at 5AM.  I don't get up till 8.  I know when I forgot if the day I am going to mow, the grass is still wet from the irrigation system.  I have a couple more coffees and mow it later.  I also turn the system off.

[Silver Bullet]

My wife gave my 10 years old mower to her son and bought me a new one.

I know she meant well, but the new mower

1) does not have a mulcher attachment
2) does not have a bag
3) cannot have its cutting height adjusted
4) does not drive the wheels
5) requires priming to start

Of those, I miss (1) and (3). 

As someone else previously mentioned, my next mower will be a robot mower.  They've made a lot of strides the last few years.

[230RN]

Maybe she should'a given him the new mower.

Is a trade possible?

[MillCreek]

I am trying to understand how a mower can be manufactured with no ability to adjust the cutting height.

[MechAg94]

I am trying to understand how a mower can be manufactured with no ability to adjust the cutting height.

Badly?

[HankB]

My wife gave my 10 years old mower to her son and bought me a new one.

I know hope she meant well, but the new mower

1) does not have a mulcher attachment
2) does not have a bag
3) cannot have its cutting height adjusted
4) does not drive the wheels
5) requires priming to start

Did you forget her birthday or something? 

[MechAg94]

Just pick out clothes for her birthday. 

[grampster]

Naw, just get her some new pots and pans or a new toaster.

[lee n. field]

My wife and I are having a debate on mowing the lawn.  I have been mowing lawns for 46 years now, and I have always alternated the mowing direction every week.  On the first week, I mow the lawn north to south and the next week, I mow the lawn east to west.  I do this to avoid wearing a pattern into the grass.  My wife now tells me that is outdated thinking and I should consistently mow the grass in whatever direction is easiest.  As it happens, due to the hilly terrain in my yard, it is easiest to mow it east to west.

What says the collective?  Alternate each week or pick one and stick with it?

Don't sweat it.

[Northwoods]

My current lawn mowing protocol.  



Dang photo won't show up.  It's my lambs grazing.

[230RN]

Generic, just to get the problem off my desk.



I got your pic to show, but it includes too much ID stuff.

Whether you care about that or not, I didn't want to be responsible.

And now, just to be even more helpful (sample of many):

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/rent-goat-clear-brush-and-maintain-your-lawn.htm

I understand, but don't have any information on it, that some folks use chickens in movable bottomless cages to trim grasss and weeds.

OH!  One more thing.... Fig Newtons are named after a town in Massachusetts, not the scientist !

Terry

[Ron]

Typical suburbanite here with corner lot.

I alternate every time I mow and get the baseball outfield effect.

It is pleasing to the eye and neighbors have commented on how nice it looks.

Most folks around me have lawn services. The nearly all use the easiest/fastest pattern, the spiral.

[230RN]

Wouldn't ya know it?  I turned on the TV this AM and guess what came up first thing:

Modern Marvels   Yard Tech      

In the 21st century, turf grass is the number one crop grown in the U. S. When suburbia exploded after World War II, turf became the defining characteristic of nearly every yard.

Channel
KUSA5 (9-5)
Date
Monday, Sep 30
Time
9:00 am
Rating
TVPG
Genre
Science

Kismet, I tells ya, Kismet.