April Showers Bring Grass to Mow

Many Americans like to have a green space around their homes.  Often, that green space is a sea of grass.  While that green space is pleasant to view, walk on, and play in; it usually requires mowing.  A simple thing that homeowners can do is to mow their yards with a reel mower.  If you are not a homeowner, encourage your landlord to use one or hire a landscaping company that does.  Even offer to use the reel mower if necessary.

Using a reel mower provides great benefits.  Because there is no gasoline or electricity being used, you are not generating any additional carbon dioxide.  The up front cost of a reel mower is usually less than a powered mower as well.  Everytime I use the mower,  I am saving money by not consuming fossil fuels or electricity.

Pushing a reel mower is a great form of exercise and is sure to raise your heart rate.  Having a reel mower also means you have fewer working parts that may need to be replaced, saving you time and money as well as reducing the amount of garbage in the landfill.  Speaking of reducing waste, using a reel mower means no more gas cans, oil cans, and cleaning up gasoline spills from when you filled up.

When I use my reel mower, I enjoy how quiet it is.  I can mow the grass at 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning and my neighbors do not mind.  I've even had lengthy conversations on the phone while mowing the lawn.  How many of us can do that while riding on or pushing a powered lawn mower?

While reel mowers are great for your health, the environment, and your wallet, there are downsides to using a reel mower.  Before you mow, it is important to pick up any sticks in the yard since a stick can stop a reel mower cold.  You will also need to keep the blades sharp and oiled.  Before I mow, I place a small amount of vegetable oil on a paper towel and wipe the sharp edges of the blades as well as the cutting bar.  Finally, you may need to make adjustments to the cutting bar to be sure the mower cuts well.  The owners manual should explain how to do this.  A lawn mower repair shop can help you as well.

Good luck with your mowing and enjoy the quiet, fresh air, exercise, and saving when you mow.