Enjoyed the video. I was looking to see the 18 inch vs. 16 inch. I have the 16 inch and it is easy to take around the garden but unsure what the 18 inch would do with the same turns.
Thanks. You answered my question regarding the first few cuts to the new grass. The only downside is that I would most likely only use it for these first few cuts and never use it again. We have a Northern Cool Grass blend.
Great video and spot on. The only thing I would add is you can add a cylinder mower but unless you have a really small yard you will need a rotary mower for yard clean up and the inevitable overgrown grass. So, if you have a large yard < 1/3 acre, and only want a single mower, go rotary.
How are you doing with the washboarding? I just started mowing with a manual reel this week (southern Bermuda with a Fiskars 18" reel). I had significant washboarding on the first mow. I did some Googling and found that a lot of times it's the number and speed of your spinning blades vs. your walking speed. Best I can tell is that with fewer blades spinning more slowly, you have to walk more slowly to minimize washboarding. Motorized reels spin faster and have more blades than most manuals. The frequency of cut is faster and can be adjusted too. It sounds like ground speed (either walking or self propelled) is less of an issue with motorized reels. At any rate, the motorized reel guys can dial in both their reel speed and ground speed easier than those of us with manual reels. I've done several test cuts on my yard over the last few days and found that by taking less grass off at once and slowing my pace, I am able to either minimize, or in some places eliminate the washboarding. I still have a couple of areas where the grass is very thick that it gets the washboard effect to some degree. But I've found experimenting with different walking paces has really paid off quickly.
Hey there thanks for watching!! That is really good info. I have a couple places where I get the washboarding. Typically I'll go over it in multiple directions but it doesn't completely get rid of it. Next mow I am going to try going slower in those spots to see how it does!
The mower cuts the grass at a constant interval no matter how fast you walk. The only way to minimize the washboarding/rifling with a manual reel mower is to get one with more blades that spins at the same rate or faster.
My land is very uneven but my reel mower makes it look level, it is cutting the grass all at the same level so it's cheating a bit. I turned to a reel this summer and never looking back. Love my 16 incher Great States but thinking of going larger with lever adjusting. I am just not sure since the 18 inch reel is 24.7 inches wide. Is it too big? Hard to know and don't want to make a purchase mistake.
Part of me wonders if excavating the low spot, and then lining it with clay and ash, and then planting flooding-tolerant grasses along the edge, would be a thing of interest for you, or if ponds are forbidden in your district.
They scraped all the good top soil off our land when they developed our neighborhood. Doing some grading and adding in some good organic matter to help with drainage would be good to do. It's on my list to get to eventually !
The hose around the tree might girdle it. Also check that the tree hasn't grown adventitious roots into that mulch volcano. You need to amplify your voice dramatically in the editing programme; I can't hear anything unless I turn my client up so loud it is deafening when the music comes in.
"Bluemuda"? I intend to get a reel mower for the express purpose of scalping my lawn (because I want to plant something else there). Would it work for that?
A push reel wouldn't be good for scalping. You need something to go lower and ideally something with power to really cut thru the grass. I use my gas powered Toro to scalp and then the push reel to maintain
Check out my Scotts Reel Mower:
Scotts Outdoor Power Tools 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower
@t
Enjoyed the video. I was looking to see the 18 inch vs. 16 inch. I have the 16 inch and it is easy to take around the garden but unsure what the 18 inch would do with the same turns.
Thanks. You answered my question regarding the first few cuts to the new grass. The only downside is that I would most likely only use it for these first few cuts and never use it again. We have a Northern Cool Grass blend.
Bought a reel mower at Lowe's yesterday for my bermuda. Looking forward to using it this summer.
Great video and spot on. The only thing I would add is you can add a cylinder mower but unless you have a really small yard you will need a rotary mower for yard clean up and the inevitable overgrown grass. So, if you have a large yard < 1/3 acre, and only want a single mower, go rotary.
Thank you for the comment!! This is a good tip, I appreciate you sharing it!
How are you doing with the washboarding? I just started mowing with a manual reel this week (southern Bermuda with a Fiskars 18" reel). I had significant washboarding on the first mow. I did some Googling and found that a lot of times it's the number and speed of your spinning blades vs. your walking speed. Best I can tell is that with fewer blades spinning more slowly, you have to walk more slowly to minimize washboarding.
Motorized reels spin faster and have more blades than most manuals. The frequency of cut is faster and can be adjusted too. It sounds like ground speed (either walking or self propelled) is less of an issue with motorized reels. At any rate, the motorized reel guys can dial in both their reel speed and ground speed easier than those of us with manual reels. I've done several test cuts on my yard over the last few days and found that by taking less grass off at once and slowing my pace, I am able to either minimize, or in some places eliminate the washboarding. I still have a couple of areas where the grass is very thick that it gets the washboard effect to some degree. But I've found experimenting with different walking paces has really paid off quickly.
Hey there thanks for watching!! That is really good info. I have a couple places where I get the washboarding. Typically I'll go over it in multiple directions but it doesn't completely get rid of it. Next mow I am going to try going slower in those spots to see how it does!
The mower cuts the grass at a constant interval no matter how fast you walk. The only way to minimize the washboarding/rifling with a manual reel mower is to get one with more blades that spins at the same rate or faster.
Great video Mike. I always enjoy following my fellow Diy guys and fellow UA-cam channel creators. Looking forward to your channel growth.
Thank you, I really appreciate the support!!
@@mikeshomeandgarden No problem. Where you located?
@@LawnNOrder just outside of Charlotte, NC
My land is very uneven but my reel mower makes it look level, it is cutting the grass all at the same level so it's cheating a bit. I turned to a reel this summer and never looking back. Love my 16 incher Great States but thinking of going larger with lever adjusting. I am just not sure since the 18 inch reel is 24.7 inches wide. Is it too big? Hard to know and don't want to make a purchase mistake.
Part of me wonders if excavating the low spot, and then lining it with clay and ash, and then planting flooding-tolerant grasses along the edge, would be a thing of interest for you, or if ponds are forbidden in your district.
They scraped all the good top soil off our land when they developed our neighborhood. Doing some grading and adding in some good organic matter to help with drainage would be good to do. It's on my list to get to eventually !
The hose around the tree might girdle it. Also check that the tree hasn't grown adventitious roots into that mulch volcano.
You need to amplify your voice dramatically in the editing programme; I can't hear anything unless I turn my client up so loud it is deafening when the music comes in.
Sorry about the audio! I think a few videos, my mic wasn't on and I didn't realize it!
Your yard looks great! Cool vid. We just made one as well. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for watching!
"Bluemuda"?
I intend to get a reel mower for the express purpose of scalping my lawn (because I want to plant something else there). Would it work for that?
A push reel wouldn't be good for scalping. You need something to go lower and ideally something with power to really cut thru the grass. I use my gas powered Toro to scalp and then the push reel to maintain
Can’t go wrong with that little reel, especially for the price
Its addicting!