Work Out With Human-Powered Lawn Tools, Part 2

How do you use human-powered lawn tools? And do they work?

In Part 1 of this article, I described my human-powered lawn tools and explained the problems with gas and electrical power tools. In this article, Part 2, I'll show you my first stab at an overgrown section of yard.

What a Mess!

As I said in Part 1, I used to pay a neighbor to mow my lawn. Well, he moved, and I'm lazy. So I let the lawn go for a while – during the rains of spring, no less! – and you can see the results: overgrown Bermuda grass, broadleaf "weeds" (including some with woody stems) and clumps of Johnson grass. Some areas have grown to 1.5 ft. (0.5 m) high!

Plan of Attack

Step 1 – Weed Cutter Whacking

The first thing I did Monday evening was take my Truper Tru Tough Weed Cutter to the mess. It's basically the modern version of a scythe. You just swing it low and parallel to the ground, in my case from right to left. (I'm right handed). It cuts the weeds down quickly, even the tough stuff – low enough for the reel mower to attack later.

It took me about 30 minutes of cardio to cut through a 270 sq. ft. (25 sq. m) section of lawn. If I were in better shape and didn't have to catch my breath, I think it would have taken about 20 minutes.

Step 2 – Raking Up the Dead

I woke up fresh and early Tuesday morning to rake up the cut weeds and grass. I got good-size mound to start my compost pile! I did have to trim a few clumps I'd missed with the Truper Tru Tough Weed Cutter. It took me about 15 minutes.

Step 3 – Lawn Mower Laceration

OK, it wasn't a fight. Actually, the mowing and trimming went along pretty well! The only problem I ran into was sticks from my old mesquite. Sticks will stop a rotary mower, and you have to pick them out.

It took me about 30 minutes to mow the grass with my Great States 16-Inch Specialty Push Reel Lawn Mower, edge the concrete with the Truper Tru Tough Rotary Lawn Edger, and trim the grass and weeds along the fence with the Fiskars Long-handle Swivel Grass Shears.

This section of too-long neglected lawn doesn't look great. But I've read in several places that when you use a reel mower, you have to mow about twice a week and train the grass to stop scattering sideways, which it is now, and grow up. Hopefully, too, the last broadleaf "weeds" will die out in a few weeks. Also, following the reel mower advice of the good people at People Powered Machines, I'll start using my mower at a lower height. That will help the grass grow better and kill the weeds more quickly.

Coming Soon ...

In Part 3 of this article, I'll show pictures of what the patch looks like after regular trimming and TLC. I'll also post photos of the front yard, which is St. Augustine grass, and report how well my tools work on that more-challenging grass species.

#permaculture #lawn #yard #tools