jeff says:

May 26th, 2009 at 9:27 am

I have to admit that I’m a power user. In my defense though, I use my tools to help my friends that don’t have chainsaws, brush cutters, and trimmers. I don’t feel too bad about owning a pickup then because it is always full of a successful day of cuttings and trimmings.

Su says:

May 26th, 2009 at 10:24 am

I don’t have a lawn - just gardens sneaked into our mostly wooded lot. My one power tool is a string trimmer, which I use on paths and the weedy area near my compost heap (cuttings go into the heap…) We do occasionally borrow a neighbor and his chain saw, but only for storm damage cleanup, and we help him with his cleanup in return.

Debw says:

May 26th, 2009 at 10:46 am

I started off with a reel mower but also was not diligent enough to get stuff mowed often enough so it looked clumpy like a self barbered haircut. We own one Ryobi power head and the mini tiller, string trimmer, power snowbrush attachments. We also have a power mower so that the little path between the flowerbeds and the boulevard does not get too shaggy. I have planted enough flowerbeds that the entire mowing experience lasts about ten minutes. Done, dump bag in garden for mulch.
The other half however owns and operates tools much like Tim Allen on Tool Time ( more power, more power…).
If I get something my lttle stuff won’t handle then we call in the big guns, chainsaws, rear-tine tiller, electric winches, omg!

Geoff says:

May 26th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

I want to be all environmentally friendly, but when they come out with products like this:

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/product.aspx?category=292&subcategory=563&item=9758

What’s a guy to do? Screw the weed whipper!!

Elsa says:

May 26th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

I have a manual mower - we chose this first because somebody gave us their old one when we bought our house. We have a relatively small lawn so it’s quite adequate - you get a little bit of exercise, it’s quiet, no stinky exhaust unlike my neighbors’ mowers. I like it fine. If I had a bigger yard I might feel differently, though.

muxhut says:

May 27th, 2009 at 11:14 am

May I pose questions for those who have reel mowers? (Well, I’m gonna, but feel free to ignore …)
My reel mower is about 5 years old, and I’ve never had the blades sharpened. Any recommendations for DIY or a good Mpls shop?
Also, it’s far from “quiet enough to hear the birds” … it rattles and clicks a ton. Not as loud as a gas mower, but far from silent. I’m not sure if the rattling is normal or it should be looked at. Any thoughts? Thanks!

laura says:

May 27th, 2009 at 2:46 pm

i just have a regular gas lawn mower, and i water the lawn just enough to keep it alive, but not enough to encourage it to grow. i also leave my grass taller than any of my neighbors, and with barely watering and setting the mower higher, i dont have to mow very often. heck, i havent mowed yet this year (though the bumper crop of dandelions really could use a trim).

my neighbor on the other hand, he has a riding lawnmower with all sorts of pull behind attachments. hes out there mowing once, sometimes even twice a week. he mows his lawn down to an itty bitty stub and has to constantly water it. i swear he must just like riding the darn thing. and i will brag that aside from my dandelions, my lawn looks better than his for not even a fraction of the work.

Andrea says:

May 28th, 2009 at 9:45 am

I recently bought a gently used Neuton battery powered mower. The battery unit plugs in to charge. With the charged battery in the mower, it runs cord free. It came with a bagger and several other attachments. It is very quiet! It isn’t as wide as a standard mower, but that works well for the narrow spaces in my small city lot. So far, I love it!

http://www.neutonpower.com/