lawnmower etc

Lifestyle Bazaar Talk
1

what all equipment do i need for lawncare, and what are some good products, lawmowers, trimmers etc etc..

I am not really looking for a riding lawnmower, it may be overkill. unless y’all think otherwise. Its for a 1/3 acre lot

2

i wouldn't know what brands, if thats what u r lookin for...a few things to keep in mind when buying one:

  1. the cutting height adjustment...good ones will offer a bigger range (as low as 12 mm, and as high as 55 mm)
  2. the cutting blade size...the bigger, the better (u can get 17" - 22" blades i believe)
  3. the cutting blade type (plain, or mulched...mulching blades are better, grass gets cut finer and ezier to dispose off as well)
  4. starter type (typically pull, for a gas powered motor, button for electrical...personally speaking, i prefer gas...more powerful, ezier to manouver without worrying about running over the wire :p)
  5. hp of the motor (typically 4.5 hp and above...more powerful motors do a better job obviously)
  6. pushed or self-propelled (assuming u don't want those riding types)...self-propelled will obviously require less effort on ur part
  7. grass dispenser (does it have a bag? or throw out on side?)

i think those are the points to keep in mind for a lawnmower :) hope it helps...

avg price for a decent lawnmower in canada btw (lets say with a 21" mulching blade, adjustable cutting height range of 15mm - 55 mm, gas powered, pull starter, 5 hp motor, pushed, with a bag) is $400...

how big is a 1/2 acre lot? in feet that is :D

3

DM

Thanks for your info, i will refer to it when i go lawnmower hunting.
I typed 1/2 in error its 1/3 which is 14,520 sq feet. but the yard area I need to cut is 10,000 sq feet if i take out the house and driveway etc

4

Hire cheap labor..expect to pay $25-40 a week for mowing, edging and muclhing etc.

5

Kaleem

thanks, but I am looking to do this myself. I will probably hire a landscaper for some of my projects next spring as well as seasonal stuff but as far as maintenance goes I want to do it myself. I enjoyed it as a kid and well have not had my own yard which i needed to maintain ever. I have had a yard since 99 in my old place but the landscaping service took care of the entire neighburhood.

6

ok, I was just thinking that you will probably want to save time and effort:). I have similar dimensions, and I lasted whole two weeks in this sweltring Texas sun. If you want to take care of it yourself more power to you.

7

haha kaleem

I may have the same learning curve as you and decide to bring in someone after a few weeks. I will let you know how it goes :) maybe next summer u will be answering my question on how to find a good landscape main company

8

my friend bought a fixer upper and immediately purchased a mower.. he's a do-it-yourself fanatic.. but it took him less than a month to just throw in the towel and let the landscaping people that visit his block once a week to do it.. he has a corner plot so has more green to mow.. plus.. it's Texas and was hot enough for him.

9

^^ PA, it reminds me of what happened to me. We moved into our house in July 99. I bought the whole kit (lawnmower, edger, spreader etc). Mu house is on the cul-de-sac, not big front area, but backyard is huge. I lasted exactly two weeks, before I spotted my friend "Martin" who offered to take care of my lawn for $30/week. I told him to start right away.

10

PA, i have a corner lot so have more area to mow as well. luckily we dont have the texas heat here so that will be less of an issue but my laziness may be.

11

gas vs electric powered?

I would prefer to use an eletric mower, since it is considered better for environement and is quieter. However the corded ones have their issues of lugging a cord around and the rechargeable need to be recharged and teh battery would need to be replaced every few years, which I am fine with.

Otherwise, if I do have to go with a gas powered one, I want to get one which is efficient..so mabe not as environmentally friendly as the electric ones, but best of class in those terms of the gas powered group.

performance is also important.

12

splurge man! get a riding mower

13

never liked those mini-me tractors aka riding mowers. plus they are an overkill for the amount of yard I hafta mow.

the core issue remains, I wanted soemthing electric because it is better from a noise and environment perspective