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Many moons ago I made the decision to hire someone to mow my lawn. The reasons for that were threefold: 1) I don't really like to cut grass, 2) my yard is rather large, requiring an inordinate amount of time to cut, trim, weed whack, and dispose of the clippings, and 3) I could afford to have someone cut the grass for me.
So I was providing jobs and boosting the local economy. Then the alleged pandemic hit and someone took office in DC who had not one clue what they were doing. Fuel prices went through the roof.
Now the guys who did my lawn were a small operation, they did it to supplement their regular incomes. Once fuel prices skyrocketed they were thinking of getting out of the landscaping business. I was told that they thought of charging more but a number of their customers had already said if that happened they were out.
So they decided to maintain the status quo. Then their truck broke down.
It was a numbers thing, they could raise prices and lose many of their customers and make a little extra money but, oh yeah, the truck needs replacing. Now they would be losing money.
So we had to find a new guy, one that wasn't going to charge an arm and a leg to cut our lawn. And do we did, ten bucks more a week, but he was ready to jump right in. So we hired him.
He'd been doing it for a couple of years when he hurt his back. Pretty badly I'm given to understand. While he was hors de combat we got a temporary service which, while they kept the grass short, didn't trim the gardens, nor haul off the grass clippings. Fortunately our guy came back, ready to go.
Unfortunately all he did was injure his back further. So now ...
As I'm retired and have the time to spend mowing the lawn, I decided that I would go ahead and purchase a mower and weed whacker and go back to doing the lawn. Was I excited about this? No, not at all.
Someone suggested selling the house and moving into a townhouse or some such thing. Yes, I worked fifty f**king years to buy and own a home just so I could ditch it once it's paid for.
Nope.
Then The Missus Herself said, "Why don't you get a riding mower?" (Something she had vetoed some 25 years ago.)
I shook my head, in surprise and wonder, then looked at her.
"Yes, indeed. Why not?"
Son-in-law Tuttle asked, "What are you looking for in a riding mower?"
"Gotta have a cup holder."
"Well, then, your needs are simple."
"Why yes, yes they are."
So our return to Little Rhody will see me out and about, shopping for a riding mover.
Exciting times, neh?
Remember...... It's Fresh Air Sarge, have a self-propelled walk behind myself that I've used for the thirty five years here (not the same one though). Good for you, stimulate that economy!
ReplyDeleteFresh air is good.
DeleteHmmmm.....yardwork seems hard on backs and you're going to take it on at your age? Brave man!
ReplyDeleteWe'll see.
DeleteI have an Automower. It's like a Roomba that mows your yard. Take a look.
ReplyDeleteHhmm, I did not know of these. Research to follow!
DeleteI saw one in action the other day, it looked like a guy was controlling it with a remote. I'd never heard of it before that either...
DeleteThat would be rough, sit in the shade with a beverage and watch the robot cut the grass!
DeleteCub Cadet make a nice cup holder
ReplyDeleteI saw that.
DeleteI had a house on 3/4 of an acre in Atlanta and cut the grass in 30 to 40 minutes with a John Deere 111 riding mower. I moved south and I have just over two acres. It took 6 hours to mow the yard with the JD. I now have a service that takes care of the yard.
ReplyDeleteOur yard has lots of obstacles in the form of flower beds. When it was just grass it was doable in an hour. Now? Not so much.
DeleteMy lawn gets mowed 3 maybe 4 times a year and rolled into bales by a Kubota with a cup holder.
ReplyDeleteLawn? Sounds more like a pasture.
DeleteThe difference between a pasture and a lawn can be how often you cut the grass.
DeleteI think size would be a factor as well.
DeleteI had someone cut the grass when I was working. One free day a week was worth it. The guy who cut it raised cattle and he and his father in law did about a dozen apartment complexes around the county. Then one day he just disappeared. I had just retired so I bought a commercial zero turn and trimmer. I love it! It's my time for about 3 1/2 hours a week in which I solve all the world's problems and wonder what the future will bring. My neighbor makes hay out of one pasture and I have two minions who pick up sticks and help me trim trees.
ReplyDeleteNice!
DeleteI'm a fan of mulching mowers, no picking up of the cut grass and more organic material back into the lawn.
ReplyDeleteDepends on how good they are at mulching. I had one which just made the clippings smaller, still very visible and not appreciated by management.
DeleteSarge, I have had cause to use one at my parents' place. There is a certain amount of entertainment to be gained from driving one; that said, I am not a huge fan of the associated noise (although I guess some sort of noise canceling device could be used). On the bright side, it is a great way to be out in the sun doing something and you do not get grass on you.
ReplyDeleteAh, so they're noisy. Something to factor in when making a decision as to which machine to go with.
DeleteMy parents was older, to be fair. Newer models may be quieter.
DeleteOne would hope!
DeleteNoise? Radio/bluetooth enabled ear protection. You Zen out whilst driving around your empire, listening to mind expanding music, not hearing all the noise. Gives you time to think an dump stress.
ReplyDeleteOr, you can get an electric rider, or both.
Not a bad idea.
DeleteWith a Zero-Turn mower you can imagine yourself driving a tank.
ReplyDeleteWith a robot you can imagine yourself not getting nasty and dirty.
With a townhouse you are subject to the whims of the property management.
I like mowing lawns. Wait... I like watching other people mow lawns.
So sorry to hear you're now the yard boy.
Yeah, not real happy with this turn of events.
DeleteWith a zero-turn, the first few passes look like you've been driving a snake. Takes some practice.
DeleteHow well a mower mulches depends on the blades and blade rpm. If you wait until the grass is six inches high, no muling makes it go away. At 2-3 inches, it disappears nicely. A "tractor" style mower will do an xlnt job, but they don't like hillsides much. Their cost for a "top of the line" mower is pretty reasonable. Zero turns are usually higher performance than tractor style, they cost more, repairs cost more, they're easier, faster, when you get experienced. 48 inch cutting deck is best all round size for both. If you have valleys in your yard, you may need a cutting deck of only 36". If yer yard is flat with no pinch points, you can get the biggest deck you can find/afford. Sharp blades are your friend. Non-alcohol gas is your friend also (it won't kill the seals and gaskets in your fuel system). Also, with alcohol free fuel, I don't winterize my stuff, it starts in the spring, though, you may need to use starting fluid at first.
ReplyDeleteI used to work with pro yard maintenance folks until 10 years ago. Then I moved to Tennessee and became a pro yard guy because I have a real acre to mow. Hopefully I've given you enough info to make disastrous decisions, OR ask intelligent, leading questions of people trying to separate you from your money.
There's no shortage of guys that thought they could do it themselves, or foolishly went into business for themselves and things didn't work out. They are "don't wanters" with mowers they want to get rid of. You can get xlnt equipment for 25-75% off, by looking patiently. Try to get one with a little trailer, getting it into a pick up can be dicey (you DO have a pick up, right?), and getting it home or to the maintenance shop can be an issue. Craigslist is a good place to start looking. It CAN be kinda fun. Oh yeah, don't forget about that PLANE OF ROTATION. Be careful where you put evaporative fingers and feet. I've been around this my whole adult life with tree service and worklng with my landscaper buddy when I got slow. Ya know...they might have vocational classes at yer local community college for safety n sheeeit.
Good luck.
2nd sentence, Mulching, not muling. derp...
DeleteTM #1 - No, I don't have a pickup, there is no need for one.
DeleteTM #2 - Okay, good to know, I don't think the zoning laws allow for mules in my neighborhood.
DeleteI got a riding mower and weed whacker when I moved to (well East of Portland) Orygun, I spent my Sundays, after coaching soccer (I used to work Mon-Sat, emergency call only two Sundays/month) mowing the lawn (all 2½ acres of it fronting the house; TG the back 8 was in Doug fir) in the rain. Orygun's an unusual place: growing season's winter, in the summer everything turns to desiccated yellow hay.
ReplyDeleteAfter I learned that our frontage in some (important) places can get up to 65° (yes! I remember well the first time I did 60° eights around pylons), I decided my Spanish would come in handy hiring a Mexican group looking for work (and no, I didn't ask to see their visas)
BION, I sold the mower for only $2 under the purchase price (used only twice)
Nice.
DeleteUm, Sarge? It looks like somebody misplaced the engine on your mower.
ReplyDeleteOK, there may be one on there somewhere. Mine's rather large, but I have 2+ acres to cut.
--Tennessee Budd
Well I don't see a mast and there is no way to control the sails or steer into the wind so I'm not sure how much use that thing will be.
ReplyDeleteI realize that you are a lost cause but for years I've been doing my bit to help my fellow man. You may have missed it. Extreme bottom right side of my blog it lays out the rule to successful happy and fulfilled life in just 4 words. Words to live by men. Words to live by. Just look at Ole Sarge's gardeners all broke down and crippled and stuff. It hurts my soul to see men suffer so. :)