Mowing in the rain

[dcyrilc]

I've only used a scythe years ago to clean a fence row. I think the farmer gave me the scythe so he could laugh at my efforts. These days a good scythe would probably cost a lot more than a weed whacker.

Chuck

A few years back, when my son took over mowing the lawn, I priced one of the manual rotery push mowers since I figured he was a little young for the gas mower. They were more expensive than the gas mowers. The cheapest one I could find was like $400 or $600.:confused2: It convinced me to teach him how to safely use the gas mower.:laughing:

 

[Chuck52]

Apparently I was wrong about the cost of scythes:

The Marugg Company, Tracy City, TN - How to mow with a scythe

I may have to get one. For really tall grass and weeds, as I get in some areas where I can't mow easily, it might be easier to use than the weed whacker. I have a Stihl, but even a good weed whacker can get bogged down in really tall stuff. Using one would beat paying to go to a gym!

Chuck

 

[czechsonofagun]

Apparently I was wrong about the cost of scythes:

The Marugg Company, Tracy City, TN - How to mow with a scythe

I may have to get one. For really tall grass and weeds, as I get in some areas where I can't mow easily, it might be easier to use than the weed whacker. I have a Stihl, but even a good weed whacker can get bogged down in really tall stuff. Using one would beat paying to go to a gym!

Chuck

once you know how to sharpen it and use it, you will like it. I may sound like a tree huger but it agrees with the nature more than two stroke engine - IMO.

 

[Chuck52]

Prokop,

What's like the minimum height of grass/weeds you can easily cut with a scythe? I can see that a really sharp blade could work well on knee-high stuff, and maybe down to a foot tall. Seems like the shorter the grass, the harder/faster you'd have to swing to cut it vs just pushing it around. I have some trees in a field that I'd like to give some room to grow. The fescue is nearly waist deep there now, and I bet a scythe would do wonders on it, while the weed whacker winds up the tall stuff and hits me with enough shredded material my wife won't let me in the garage, much less the house.

Chuck

 

[dcyrilc]

Prokop,

What's like the minimum height of grass/weeds you can easily cut with a scythe? I can see that a really sharp blade could work well on knee-high stuff, and maybe down to a foot tall. Seems like the shorter the grass, the harder/faster you'd have to swing to cut it vs just pushing it around. I have some trees in a field that I'd like to give some room to grow. The fescue is nearly waist deep there now, and I bet a scythe would do wonders on it, while the weed whacker winds up the tall stuff and hits me with enough shredded material my wife won't let me in the garage, much less the house.

Chuck

I use a Stihl gas powered hedge trimmer for that tall stuff. Works just like a sickle mower.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Prokop,

What's like the minimum height of grass/weeds you can easily cut with a scythe? I can see that a really sharp blade could work well on knee-high stuff, and maybe down to a foot tall. Seems like the shorter the grass, the harder/faster you'd have to swing to cut it vs just pushing it around. I have some trees in a field that I'd like to give some room to grow. The fescue is nearly waist deep there now, and I bet a scythe would do wonders on it, while the weed whacker winds up the tall stuff and hits me with enough shredded material my wife won't let me in the garage, much less the house.

Chuck

Chuck:

It is all about the skill. I recall seeing an old guy with a long pipe in his mouth, puffing away and swinging slowly back and forth cutting grass 2 inches long and leaving it 1/2" and all the same length - I will never be able to do that, that's for sure. The swing has to be smooth and the left hand - if you are right handed - goes behind your back, otherwise it will leaves moons of uncut grass right where the tip cuts.

Long grass is easiest, it holds against the cut and the scythe will also lay it down nicely in a row. The fescue should not be a problem.

 

[Specop_007]

I've only used a scythe years ago to clean a fence row. I think the farmer gave me the scythe so he could laugh at my efforts. These days a good scythe would probably cost a lot more than a weed whacker.

I used to work at the University of Puerto Rico. The grounds keepers there used long machetes to do the trim work. There were lots of ground keepers and they were in a union. I can't remember ever seeing a weed whacker on campus.

Chuck

I suppose that would make it a more enjoyable location from a sound pollution perspective.

Love the look of well maintained landscape but those little engines do make a noise.

 

[Chuck52]

I suppose that would make it a more enjoyable location from a sound pollution perspective.

Love the look of well maintained landscape but those little engines do make a noise.

The cheap weed whackers I've had in the past were noisier than my Stihl, partly because they didn't seem to run at less than full out. The Stihl has a lower tone, and I can idle the Stihl and still cut weeds. I especially appreciate that when I'm trimming around trees with tender bark. I can use very low speed to pull the weeds away from the trunk without scarring the bark....at least during the rather short period when I am still fresh enough to do the delicate trimming.

Chuck

 

[Chuck52]

Chuck:

It is all about the skill. I recall seeing an old guy with a long pipe in his mouth, puffing away and swinging slowly back and forth cutting grass 2 inches long and leaving it 1/2" and all the same length - I will never be able to do that, that's for sure. The swing has to be smooth and the left hand - if you are right handed - goes behind your back, otherwise it will leaves moons of uncut grass right where the tip cuts.

Long grass is easiest, it holds against the cut and the scythe will also lay it down nicely in a row. The fescue should not be a problem.

His blade must have been Ninja sharp!

Chuck

 

[dave1949]

Hi Chuck,

Like that tree hugger, Prokop , I have also seen short grass cut cleanly and smoothly with a scythe. An old fellow gathered fresh, tender grass shoots for his rabbits along side our driveway in Germany. He made regular use of his honing stone as I recall. He would scythe when the grass wasn't even tall enough to need mowing.

You could get a scythe with a cradle, gather that tall grass up and bind it into shocks.

The moral of this tall grass tale is: 'Don't sow more than you can reap' :laughing:

We could use some rain. My strawberries are about ready to form berries on the blossoms and it's too dry. Have to get the water hose out tomorrow.
Dave.