I get by with the cheapest discount store model in the spring. Some
last a long time and others don't.

If it's a small lot, consider a push reel mower. The things are
a LOT easier to push than power mowers. American Lawn Mower Company
18" is nice, or the Scott's 20" (also made by ALMC though) for a
bigger lawn, or Great States, which again is ALMC I think. You
get a nice quiet walk, and easily do it in stages because there's
no ritual about starting and stopping, and you can hear birds, if
your neighbor isn't mowing anyway.

You do need a way to cut _long_ grass though, in case you get behind;
so a power mower available or borrowable is probably necessary too.

Also, for sharpening the blades, take very literally the need to
wipe off _all_ the grinding compound in their simple instructions;
spend an hour at it in fact, or the blades will quickly grind themselves
dull again.

Other than that, it works great.

I use a scythe on long grass myself, but find it's just a great hobby
and doubt it will be widely shared http://www.scythesupply.com .
The addiction is that if you just _touch_ a stand of suitable long
crisp grass with the blade, the grass falls over in a neat row onto
your newly honed blade. Would that the blade stayed that sharp for
more than a minute, or that all grass was crisp. Anyway you go out
looking for the perfect stand of grass, and it's a nice pasttime.

--
Ron Hardin


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.