BERMUDA GRASS. Can I use my regular mower.
I have an opportunity to get a good account with a customer who has bermuda grass, he says it is his mom’s pride and joy. When I saw the grass I can see why, after looking at fescue 99% of the time this is a nice change of looks. I have been told however, that I SHOULD get a reel mower and that regular mowers leave tire marks and a swirl mark.
My alternative is to get a used reel mower, McClain for about 125. Do I spend the money for it?
greendoctor
Yes you do. Bermuda looks great when it is cut at less than 1″ with a reel mower. Lawns in my location are almost all bermuda or zoysia. They look good when they are cut with a reel and horrible if they are cut with a rotary mower.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin 1775
Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power. Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard’s Almanac1738
fl-landscapes
Bermuda also tends to show depressions from tires if you use a heavy mower and run the same direction each time. Reel mower is king on bermuda but I get good results with my Honda 21″ Also the smaller the mower deck the less likely you will scalp when you hit an uneven spot in the lawn. Marathon, are you cutting with reel or rotary mowers?
“there’s nothing more permanent than a temporary government program” Ronald Reagan
“When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on Paul’s vote”
unkownfl
3-5 inch will not look good. Needs to be cut at 1 to 1.5 for the desire results she is looking for. Get a reel mower and she will never complain, or use your rotary finish and hear her
I mow my neighbors lawn 100% burmuda, and It’s impossible to cut it any lower than 3″ The yard is way to bumpy/rough to do it any lower. We do the best we can and never look back. Always remember. “Ya can’t make chicken salad out of chicken #!t”
Big Wes Owner/Operator Neighborhood Lawn Care. Since 1990 “Satisfaction Guaranteed or Double Your Clippings Back”
Are Reel Mowers Really Worth It? Learn Pros, Cons, Cost, and
If you have a small yard to mow and would prefer not to use a bulky, gas-guzzling mower to get the job done, a reel lawn mower might be the better option. These old-fashioned push mowers are quiet and easy to operate, and they produce zero emissions.
They also provide a clean, precise cut, which is better for the overall health of your lawn and grass. Read on to find out more about the benefits of a reel mower.
What Is a Reel Lawn Mower?
A reel lawn mower essentially snips your grass like a pair of scissors would. It doesn’t have a built-in power source; by pushing it, you cause the blades to spin. (Most push reel mowers are manual, although you can also find gas- or battery-powered ones.) Compact, quiet, and easy to maneuver, this type of mower is best for those with small lawns.
Most reel mowers have a long handle and two wheels on a single axle, with either four, five, or seven blades (keep in mind that more blades lead to a cleaner cut). They use these blades to pull grass into the mower so that the cutter bar can snip it. The blades spin vertically, rather than horizontally, using a scissoring action that cleanly slices grass.
The average cost for a new lawn mower is between 80 and 3,200, depending on its type and special features
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Reel Mower?
There are a few key pros and cons to consider when trying to decide if a reel mower is right for you. The biggest advantage of a reel mower is that it provides a cleaner cut, but if you have a massive yard, it might not make sense to use a push mower.
Carefully weigh the following pros and cons before making your decision:
Pros
There’s no denying the benefits of a reel mower. Most notably, reel mowers are better for your lawn’s health. They provide a clean, scissor-like cut, which helps your grass heal faster (and also makes for a tidier look).
In comparison, power rotary mowers rip and shred your grass, which can leave your lawn vulnerable to insect attacks and disease.
Reel mowers are also quiet in operation, resulting in a more peaceful user experience. They produce zero emissions, so they don’t degrade air quality like gas-powered mowers do. And, they’re easy to operate, easy to maintain, and affordable.
Cons
However, if your grass is too tall and/or dense before mowing, it’ll likely be impossible to cut it with a manual reel mower. In this case, a reel mower will just push the grass down and ineffectively roll over it.
You’ll also need to clean up any debris (twigs, leaves, etc.) from your yard before mowing since reel mowers can’t go over anything that’s not grass. In addition, since most reel mowers are manual, they do require some physical effort to operate, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
How Should I Care for My Reel Mower?
It’s important to know what goes into caring for and maintaining your mower, whether you’re focused on regular upkeep or trying to decide whether you should repair or replace your mower altogether.
Luckily, reel mowers require very little maintenance, especially when compared to gas mowers, which require regular upkeep in the form of oil changes, tune-ups, and more.
A little mower maintenance will keep your grass green, short, and healthy
Is a Reel Mower Worth the Price?
Reel mowers generally range in price from 80 to 200, which is more affordable than other types of mowers. You also don’t have to pay for oil or gas like you do with gas-powered mowers.
Considering the many benefits of a reel lawn mower, if you have a small lawn and don’t mind the physical act of pushing your mower around the yard, a reel mower is very much worth the price.
That said, if you have a super-spacious lawn, it may not be worth it to purchase a reel mower since this type of mower is designed for small, flat lawns. Also, you have to put more time and effort into cutting your grass than you would with a gas-powered mower.
If you don’t have a ton of extra time to devote to your lawn, a reel mower might not be worth the price—in which case, you may want to hire a local landscaping company to take care of your lawn, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Important Notes
There are 2 ways to read this guide, below is the full text, and the new EASY READ subject by subject version is located → HERE. You can also adjust the font size and background color for easier reading by clicking the wheelchair icon.
Recommended Products
We have worked for years to help bring YOU, the average homeowner professional grade products that have NOT been available before and NOT found in the average “big box store”. See them → HERE
Anyone Can Transform a Lawn
ANYONE… can have a great Bermuda lawn… even if your lawn is more than 70% weeds. I have transformed some of the worst. (Watch this video) Bermuda is a VERY forgiving grass.
Trust me… it’s not rocket science. It’s more of a “problem / solution” thing, understanding WHAT… to do WHEN… and WHAT to use for best results.
Bermuda grass is a VERY (the most aggressive) spreading grass type in the US. If you learn how to make the plant and your soil healthy it will spread like CRAZY and often in one full season, you can start to see a great looking lawn.
22 Lawn Care Calendar
Make sure you read and try the new JUMP START program that will give your lawn the jump start on all your neighbors.
Learn how to use GREEN SHOCKER …
Green Shocker is THE ONLY fertilizer / supplement of its kind on the market today. It goes to work instantly and can be applied to any lawn, anytime during the growing season.
DIY Lawn treatments or Hire a Lawn Service?
The majority of “lawn chemical companies” do 3 things.
When and how to mow Bermuda Grass
January through April
Cut the lawn a little shorter than the usual summer trimming stature. The mower should be set to a height of about 1 inch. Be careful not to set the lawnmower too short, as it may scalp the lawn. This should be accomplished just before lawn green-up, which generally occurs during late April or in the early hours of May. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to gather the clippings and eliminate deceased material left from winter inactivity. Otherwise, the lawn can be hand collected to remove the unnecessary dead leaves.
A strong mower blade will neatly cut the grass knife blade and assist in removing the leaves. Dull mower blades pull rather than cut the grass blades. The resultant ragged ends on the blades make the grass more vulnerable to illnesses. Refine the mower blade each year or as necessary during the expanding season.
May Through August
Bermuda grass’s best mowing length is from 1 to 2 inches varying on the site and managing system, and is verified by the lawn’s circumstances. At the start of the season, you should cut the grass at the height of 1¼ to 1½ inches to create a bench point. This would be the calculated detachment from the mower blade to a tough surface and can be decided by using a small ruler. Mowing heights below 1 inch will necessitate a reel-type mower to attain relevant results. Over the next few mowings, steadily decrease the mowing height in as small an increment as possible. Examine the lawn after each mowing. Once at a height where the grass does not look nice, or it seems too slender or scalped, then increase the mowing height back to the prior setting. However, cultivars of Bermuda grass that are modified to tolerable growth in preferential shade may be best cut at a 2-inch height.
During cycles of environmental pressure due to high temperatures or a lack of rainfall, increase the mowing height until the stress is reduced. Always mow the grass with a razor-sharp mower blade using an insulating-type mower, which allows the clippings to decay on the turf. The mower blade demands to be refined regularly. In most cases, about once a month, or at least before the growing season starts. If you notice that the bag picks up soil, like sand, mowing, check if the blades are still sharp. This can be needed more than once a month. Change the blades when they can not be sharpened anymore.
September through December
Continue to mow the Bermuda grass lawn at the typical mowing height until the weather begins to cool. Once evening temperatures fall below 70 °F, marginally raise the mower to let more leaves surface. This will permit the turf to become adopted by the time it gets even colder or get the first frost.