Rachel's Journal

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Lawn Mower RIP

13 May 2011 19:57:09

more irises

Our lawn mower died yesterday.

I'm not talking about the ride-on needed to cut the lawn. I'm talking about the petrol mower needed to cut the strip between where the ride-on reaches and the flower beds.

It was 10 years old and, although kept in the shed, the metal just rusted and gave way on both handles at the same time. I suppose we got a good innings out of it as it used to be used to cut the whole lawn before we purchased the ride-on. That was great fun - five hours solid hard labour once a week!

So, we are looking to buy a new mower. Has anyone any recommendations? We need three machines to tend to our lawn but I really would like to hear other solutions as too much time is spent on grass. The three machines are :

1) Ride-on - used by hubby to cut most of the grass. It's a mulching lawn-mower so the grass has to be done ofter to avail of the mulching option.

2) Petrol hand mower (recently deceased) - used by hubby for the edge of the borders (where rode-on doesn't reach) and a few small bumpy areas.

3) Me - to go on hands and knees and pull the horizontally growing grass along the edge of the borders, every second mow. I use the half-mooner occasionally but you can't really be using that more than once a year.

Hoping for some input on this. WW

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Jacinta 13 May 2011 19:59:21

Bigger Borders!

Rachel 13 May 2011 20:00:59

I'm trying, Jacinta. I'm trying. But the more borders, the more tricky edging (2 & 3 above) :P

sallysarah 13 May 2011 20:07:09

I have a hover mower (without the wheels), Rachel, which is good for bumpy bits and goes over the edge, though you still have to do the edges. Do you know I can't remember what the name of it is - will look at it tomorrow and get back to you. We really like it as we have two sloping lawns and it's the best sort to cope with that problem. Plus you don't have to wait for lawn to dry out.

Jacinta 13 May 2011 20:09:48

My mower is a Flymo Turbomac and just whizzes over lumps and dips no problem. I have it about 6 years and has never given me any trouble. Never had it serviced. Clean it the odd time. That's it. Very low-maintenance. And not dear either.

Rachel 13 May 2011 20:19:00

Sally and Jacinta, hover mowers are great and light weight to use but they need to be plugged in and are not really built for large gardens. It would be impossible to plug a lawn mower in here considering the distance it has to travel.

Rachel 13 May 2011 20:19:44

I got a quote for about €300 for a new petrol one!

Jacinta 13 May 2011 20:21:25

Hmmm sorry, hadn't thought of that! Looks like a petrol one is the way to go so. And a dab of petrol on your dandelions gets rid of them forever.

NoelleP 13 May 2011 21:30:23

A goat? According to my farmer neighbour they are just lawn mowers on 4 legs!

I've gotten quite good at getting the ride-on close enough to the plants and beds and I have one of those large Sissor-like edgers with extendable arms for doing around the beds but I have been keeping an eye out for a reasonably priced walk behind mower too. Woodies have a self-propelled petrol one on their website for €270 but I don't know the make.

Periwinkle 13 May 2011 21:36:46

Hi Rachel, I'll be watching this space! I find keeping grass under control demands a lot of hard work and am always looking for ways to make it easier! I have a push petrol mower, a Rover, which is good for my uneven and awkward areas. Push mowers are much lighter than power driven ones for small awkward areas. By the way, just got the Irish Garden and enjoyed your article!

ladygardener 13 May 2011 22:03:03

Hi Rachel I'll be watching the reccommendations with interest also. For my awkward bits, banks etc I use a hover electric to supplement the ride on. As you say not ideal for larger gardens and I'm messing around with two extension lead rolls, howver I could never get the hang of starting a petrol one. I'm not mechaniacally minded and starting one made me cross and sweaty before I'd even started cutting the grass. Apparently a petrol one with an ignition would be nearly double the price! Ditto my hedge trimmers, very annoying having to use extension leads but lighter and easy to start.

andyf7 13 May 2011 22:18:50

i think 300 euro is quite good for a petrol mower, if it lasts another 10 years you would be happy.

AitAlainn 13 May 2011 23:27:03

I use a ride-on and then strim all the edges. Would be lost without the strimmers - have it about 17 years and has never given any trouble and its lovely and light too - it a Maruyama. Mind you, I often say a push mower would be handy, as a few areas, especially the orchard, are not that suitable for the ride-on so will be interested to see what you get.

Lìga 14 May 2011 07:39:23

I don't know about lawn movers anythnig...:))Love that iris ,so nice colour!

sallysarah 14 May 2011 08:01:40

Flymo Turbo 330. I forgot about it being electric (I don't cut the lawn). We have two fairly large lawns but quite near to the garage where the electric supply is. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Rachel 16 May 2011 22:04:24

Ok, thanks, everyone for your input. Time to buy a new mower, methinks.

unagrant 17 May 2011 14:29:03

Cuttting grass is a pain in the butt, it takes so long every week. I love it when it's cut but I swear I see it growing the minute the mower is put away. A petrol strimmer might be worth thinking about for your edges, I bet you could get a good offer with a new lawn mower. Any good at striking a bargain