Do Push Reel Mowers Work?

[Christina]

We have a lot of tall grass on the steeper outskirts of the developed part of the property that has to get mowed down every year after it goes to seed and my partner does that with a large gas weed whacker. There are a few wide paths closer to the house that I usually take care of with a smaller electric one that's easier for me to use but I broke the string feeder on it from getting frustrated and banging it on the ground too hard. I hate power tools, I'm mechanically challenged, I have no affinity to anything with moving parts and I don't like the noise. I'm thinking about getting a manual one since I have plenty of time and I'd rather listen to the birds or music than some noisy motor. It's not a very large area to have to mow and it's reasonably level but they're 6-8" weeds, not nice short lawn grass. Has anyone ever used one of the manual kinds? From a quick look it doesn't look like they're made for anything over 3" tall.

[Anne]

Tall grass is too hard, and you have to keep the blades sharp.

But yeah, they work. Pretty darn well, if you kleep on top of it. And don't have a HUGE yard.

[reddhedd]

I have one and use it every summer. It won't do a thing for grass over 6-7" high, but I get out there twice a week and it's fine...one day I go vertically over the yard, 2-3 days later I go horizontally. Mine is height adjustable; I generally keep my grass around 4-5 inches high, but I can raise the mower up to get longer grass cut if I need to.
I don't know if they all are adjustable, though.

Keep in mind that I am not anal about a perfect lawn; if I miss a few blades here or there, I simply reach down and pull them up by hand. If I go on vacation, I'll borrow the neighbor's lawnmower to get th grass back down to a height my reel can handle.
I'm slowly replacing the grass with plants, and as my cutting area is rather small, the reel mower makes sense. I don't like the noise and smoke from the gas mowers anyway; I enjoy the birds as you do, as well as the exercise. 20 minutes cardiovascular 2 a week...makes the MD happy!

Also, as a benefit (IMO) I have a lot of small garter snakes...the power mower sucks them up into the blades, resulting in a messy death. The reel mower goes right over them, leaving them unscathed.

[Christina]

I don't have anything resembling a normal lawn. I have a few large areas with groundcover and a collection of weeds that get whacked down. It might be a good thing to use to maintain it after the first few spring rounds are done but it also might be more of a hassle than it's worth. I'd probably have to rake all of the pine cones and small rocks out of the way first and that's more work than weed whacking is.

[Free in Freeport]

Mine worked beautifully for the first year or two. Then the blades got dull. It costs $50 to sharpen them, and that didn't seem to help much. Also, the smallest twig will jam it.

[Christina]

Also, the smallest twig will jam it.

:eek:

Forget it, then. This is the woods and it would take me 2 days to get things clear enough to mow. I'm just going to have to admit that I broke another one and learn to use the big one. There must be some way to adjust the length so that it's manageable for someone my height. He has 8" on me and I can't control his well enough to only whack what I'm aiming at.

[Brother Daniel]

Mine worked beautifully for the first year or two. Then the blades got dull. It costs $50 to sharpen them, and that didn't seem to help much. Also, the smallest twig will jam it.
My experience is much the same.

We bought a kit for sharpening the thing, but it didn't work very well.

I absolutely HATE the loud noise of powered mowers. Even electric mowers are too loud for me, and they're not as bad as the gasoline-powered mowers.

I ended up digging up the whole front lawn. No more mowing for me.

We still have some grass in the back. Mostly I just let it grow. Sometimes I get down on my knees and cut it by hand -- with those thingies that look like scissors but are much bigger.

[Master Taran]

In the mid 60's it was punishment for me for indiscretions as my father would say.

[BWE]

I spend about 6 hours sharpening mine once a year. It cuts better than scissors. One thing: it wouldn't even slow down for a toe or finger so it is actually pretty dang dangerous.

[JamesBannon]

Used to use them all the time when I was a kid (no power mowers in those days). Like others have said, you have to keep the blades sharp and the rollers well oiled. Also, they do not do well with long grass, weeds or stones.

[Loren Pechtel]

It depends on how tough your grass is. I've tried to use one on bermuda grass, forget it.

[Christina]

I gave up when the conversation got around to sticks and rocks because it would be a waste of time here. I could do it faster by hand. Nothing is going to work well but a weed whacker in those areas. Joe will probably do my share so that he doesn't have to let me near his.

[Anne]

get a goat.

seriously.

It'll eat everything and then some.

[Christina]

get a goat.

seriously.

It'll eat everything and then some.

We've considered that but the coyotes are going to be a problem and the smaller areas are right next to flower beds and large shrubs. I don't particularly want a goat even if it would work. I don' know anything about livestock and I don't want to deal with one in the rain all winter.

[Anne]

ah, but you'd get free milk and cheese! and your grass cut!

[Christina]

Yeah, for about 12 hours until the first pack of coyotes found it. I'd have to build a barn which is a bit more expensive than a weed whacker.

[Goldie]

My electric mower is super quiet, but very heavy. I wouldn't recommend one for anyone with a very large or steep lawn. But, right now, it works graet for me.

My dad used to mow our lawn with a manual on when I was a kid. It did a good job.