Lawn Mower Advice - Wildlife Gardeners

dapjwy · 04-27-2015, 08:54 PM

We need a new mower...and after doing a search, I found out there is an electric one which caught my eye (and the idea of not buying/using gas is appealing)...although, I'd hate to spend money on something that won't work for my purposes.

Does anyone have any experience with: Ryobi 20 in. 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Walk-Behind Electric Lawn Mower with 2 Batteries?

(Just an FYI, if my vision for the property comes true, eventually I'll have much less to mow...and what I do have will be a mix of low-growing native wildflowers, grasses, rushes, and sedges that hopefully require few mowing througout the growing season.)

rockerBOO · 04-28-2015, 10:26 AM

What about a Reel mower?

kchd · 04-28-2015, 08:36 PM

Hahaha! My thoughts exactly, rockerBOO. And a reel mower will be all the more incentive to reduce that lawn!

Omg! Dap, you changed your signature line! (yes, I have been MIA, but for good reason)

dapjwy · 04-28-2015, 09:10 PM

I bought a reel mower last year, and it isn't feasible for the weedy areas that I need to mow--or the size of our property. Honestly, I had to mow the front yard twice (in two different directions) and it still looked ragged.

I definitley want to reduce the lawn...but the meadow will be seeded in stages, so that is at least 3 years or more before it is finished. Then, I will have to create a seed mix appropriate for the paths...and then the main "lawn" mix which still will need an occasional mowing.

dapjwy · 04-28-2015, 09:19 PM

Yes, kchd, I did change my signature line.

Glad you are back...and that you had a good reason. Care to share? (....only if you want to.)

I have been sporadic in my visits here...and I'm trying to gre more involved again.

kchd · 04-28-2015, 09:27 PM

I've been busy building!

EllenW · 04-29-2015, 08:58 AM

Go wild dap. Stop mowing. I know you won't do that. 4.5 acres here and I haven't done any mowing yet this year. I have several battery powered tools. If you have tough weeds you are mowing I think you are better off with a gas mower. The battery powered tools aren't as powerful. You could read reviews of what you are looking for on the internet. I have found that helpful.

havalotta · 04-29-2015, 01:58 PM

WOW Kchd. Very nice addition!

dapjwy · 04-30-2015, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kchd

I've been busy building!
Attachment 42431

Yay!

<opening pic>.

Wow! Very nice!

Great excuse. I can't wait to see what you plant!

dapjwy · 04-30-2015, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllenW

Go wild dap. Stop mowing. I know you won't do that. 4.5 acres here and I haven't done any mowing yet this year. I have several battery powered tools. If you have tough weeds you are mowing I think you are better off with a gas mower. The battery powered tools aren't as powerful. You could read reviews of what you are looking for on the internet. I have found that helpful.

Ellen, I did stop mowing in the second acre...and then some (aside from paths)...however, since very little of the vegetation that grows up is native, spots became a horrible mess of crownvetch or mugwort...most of the grasses that grow are European, so, just simply not mowing will not give me the meadow I desire.

Even if I do come up with a low-growing mix of natives to replace the currently mowed areas, I'll likely mow it a couple times per season. I need open areas for the bluebirds, and I must admit, I like low clearings.

My goal is to have woodland areas which won't require mowing, large sections of meadow cut with paths, pond and wetland areas (again, no mowing), and then low growing areas that replace the areas of lawn around the house--think, path rush, short native grasses, pussytoes, potentilla, blue-eyed grass, two-flowered Cynthia, birdsfoot violet (if I can get it to grow), bluets, moss phlox, etc. At least that is my fuzzy vision so far.

After having someone who assessed the property for the WHIP program pointed out that leaving the alien grasses in the paths would cause it to infiltrate the meadow, I decided I needed to find some kind of "step-able" natives or some that can handle mowing. (By the way, my application for the WHIP program didn't go through. They are supposed to resubmit it this year...I guess I should do a follow-up call.)

Oh...and I did read reviews before posting...many positive ones, but I was hoping to discuss with someone who here who tried it...or another electric mower.

04-27-2015, 08:54 PM	#1
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	Lawn Mower Advice We need a new mower...and after doing a search, I found out there is an electric one which caught my eye (and the idea of not buying/using gas is appealing)...although, I'd hate to spend money on something that won't work for my purposes. Does anyone have any experience with: Ryobi 20 in. 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Walk-Behind Electric Lawn Mower with 2 Batteries? (Just an FYI, if my vision for the property comes true, eventually I'll have much less to mow...and what I do have will be a mix of low-growing native wildflowers, grasses, rushes, and sedges that hopefully require few mowing througout the growing season.) __________________ "If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~

04-28-2015, 10:26 AM	#2
rockerBOO Heron Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Lower Pioneer Valley	What about a Reel mower? __________________ Rebuilt Backyard - Photoblog of progress in my backyard. Flickr Photo Group - Share your photos with us on Flickr Ecogarden Design - Design your garden right in the browser

04-28-2015, 08:36 PM	#3
kchd Heron Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: c. Mississippi	Hahaha! My thoughts exactly, rockerBOO. And a reel mower will be all the more incentive to reduce that lawn! Omg! Dap, you changed your signature line! (yes, I have been MIA, but for good reason) __________________ "That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics." — Aldo Leopold

04-28-2015, 09:10 PM	#4
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	I bought a reel mower last year, and it isn't feasible for the weedy areas that I need to mow--or the size of our property. Honestly, I had to mow the front yard twice (in two different directions) and it still looked ragged. I definitley want to reduce the lawn...but the meadow will be seeded in stages, so that is at least 3 years or more before it is finished. Then, I will have to create a seed mix appropriate for the paths...and then the main "lawn" mix which still will need an occasional mowing. __________________ "If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~

04-28-2015, 09:19 PM	#5
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	Yes, kchd, I did change my signature line. Glad you are back...and that you had a good reason. Care to share? (....only if you want to.) I have been sporadic in my visits here...and I'm trying to gre more involved again. __________________ "If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~

04-28-2015, 09:27 PM	#6
kchd Heron Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: c. Mississippi	I've been busy building! __________________ "That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics." — Aldo Leopold

04-29-2015, 08:58 AM	#7
EllenW Alternate POM Judge Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Maryland	Go wild dap. Stop mowing. I know you won't do that. 4.5 acres here and I haven't done any mowing yet this year. I have several battery powered tools. If you have tough weeds you are mowing I think you are better off with a gas mower. The battery powered tools aren't as powerful. You could read reviews of what you are looking for on the internet. I have found that helpful. __________________ In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle

04-29-2015, 01:58 PM	#8
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	WOW Kchd. Very nice addition! __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

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