You know when you can't get your lawn mowed because you're working and, when you're not working, it rains?
Then you get a clear day but you look at the lawn and it's so bad you're like "oh no I can't do this."
Yeah........
Been there before. Pattern of rain went so long I eventually got a nasty-gram from the city taped to my door threatening to fine me $1000 or put me in jail for 3 weeks. Seems a little harsh. I just hired a landscaping company to mow each week after that. Let them worry about the rain.
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ShadowfireVermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered Userregular
You know when you can't get your lawn mowed because you're working and, when you're not working, it rains?
Then you get a clear day but you look at the lawn and it's so bad you're like "oh no I can't do this."
Yeah........
Been there before. Pattern of rain went so long I eventually got a nasty-gram from the city taped to my door threatening to fine me $1000 or put me in jail for 3 weeks. Seems a little harsh. I just hired a landscaping company to mow each week after that. Let them worry about the rain.
Probably going to try and hire someone to get it under control. It's not like the lawn is big, but the rain has made it out of control.
In related news, my mower won't start. I weed whacked the front so it looks like hell but less so?
That_GuyI don't wanna be that guyRegistered Userregular
Robot lawn mowers have come a long way in the last few years. If you've got a big enough yard it might be worth it. The equipment rental place up the road from me has one. I see it out there almost every day quietly puttering along keeping the lawn immaculately manicured.
Robot lawn mowers have come a long way in the last few years. If you've got a big enough yard it might be worth it. The equipment rental place up the road from me has one. I see it out there almost every day quietly puttering along keeping the lawn immaculately manicured.
The problem is that they are usually meant to maintain a properly cut lawn - not tame one left to the wilds.
Robot lawn mowers have come a long way in the last few years. If you've got a big enough yard it might be worth it. The equipment rental place up the road from me has one. I see it out there almost every day quietly puttering along keeping the lawn immaculately manicured.
The problem is that they are usually meant to maintain a properly cut lawn - not tame one left to the wilds.
I thought the problem was that when robots rise up and overthrow us, the lawn mower ones will kill the most in the initial onslaught.
"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it" - Dr Horrible
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That_GuyI don't wanna be that guyRegistered Userregular
Robot lawn mowers have come a long way in the last few years. If you've got a big enough yard it might be worth it. The equipment rental place up the road from me has one. I see it out there almost every day quietly puttering along keeping the lawn immaculately manicured.
The problem is that they are usually meant to maintain a properly cut lawn - not tame one left to the wilds.
Tame is a relative term. You can get out there with a weed wacker or even a sickle to cut it back than let the robot do the rest.
Man two weeks. Early summer like now I go to war twice a week or the garden takes over. Last week i mowed the lawn on friday afternoon and when my mum visited on sunday afternoon she asked if I hadnt had time to mow the lawn :bigfrown:
Lind on
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DaimarA Million Feet Tall of AwesomeRegistered Userregular
Man two weeks. Early summer like now I go to war twice a week or the garden takes over. Last week i mowed the lawn on friday afternoon and when my mum visited on sunday afternoon she asked if I hadnt had time to mow the lawn :bigfrown:
You should have asked her to stand outside since she likes throwing shade so much.
I can sometimes get away with letting the back yard go two weeks now that I have a fence, but South Louisiana generally requires weekly mowing. My adjacent neighbor does his twice a week because he's not a fan of shaggy grass.
I can’t wait to move to SoCal where people won’t think me a weirdo for eschewing the lawn for hardscaping or xeriscaping
I don't think I knew either of these words before today, and now I want to employ both on my next lawn...desperately.
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MichaelLCIn what furnace was thy brain?ChicagoRegistered Userregular
We're pretty much every week here in Chicago.
Need to get a new mower, though; batteries are just making it through the backyard and previously could easily do both.
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AbsoluteZeroThe new film by Quentin KoopantinoRegistered Userregular
The amount of money I spend each year on paying someone to mow my lawn makes me think I really ought to just buy a nice riding mower. But then I'd still have to find time to actually get out there and do it and that's what got me in trouble in the first place. Stupid lawn.
Meanwhile on the east coast, it's near the end of May and yet nobody's lawn has fully rejuvenated yet. Ours has mostly greened up but it's still a bit patchy in places. Though I just poked my head out the window to look at it, and I guess it looks long enough that it might need a trim in about a week.
We just have a low powered electric mower. It does the job perfectly well enough. But I also learned to never mow wet or damp grass, not unless you want to gum up the blades right quick.
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
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MichaelLCIn what furnace was thy brain?ChicagoRegistered Userregular
The amount of money I spend each year on paying someone to mow my lawn makes me think I really ought to just buy a nice riding mower. But then I'd still have to find time to actually get out there and do it and that's what got me in trouble in the first place. Stupid lawn.
It's the time, money for the equipment and consumables, storing the equipment, and dealing with the mulch.
Which, now on the third summer, the luster is starting to wear for me. Like some people really dig it, and that's cool. In theory I do too but it's finding the time.
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ShadowfireVermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered Userregular
The amount of money I spend each year on paying someone to mow my lawn makes me think I really ought to just buy a nice riding mower. But then I'd still have to find time to actually get out there and do it and that's what got me in trouble in the first place. Stupid lawn.
It's the time, money for the equipment and consumables, storing the equipment, and dealing with the mulch.
Which, now on the third summer, the luster is starting to wear for me. Like some people really dig it, and that's cool. In theory I do too but it's finding the time.
I don't mind doing it but yeah, it's the time. When I'm not working I'm with my daughter, and she's a bit too young to leave alone inside while I mow. I'm off on Thursdays alone, but it's been raining every week.
Going to be way worse when she switches to part time preschool in a couple weeks.
I think I said this in the last Homeowner thread. I generally value my time at $40/hr at home. It would take me at least an hour to mow my front and back lawns together. I pay my guy $42 per week this year.
Next year I'm planning to recompete bids to keep the price low. Also the guys who mow have now twice cut the lawn too soon after rain and left ruts in the grass. This past time the dirt was still spongy with water(!) and then it rained again the day after.
This is year 7 at this house and I have yet to cut the lawn myself. Worth it.
Mugsley on
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Donovan PuppyfuckerA dagger in the dark isworth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered Userregular
I think I said this in the last Homeowner thread. I generally value my time at $40/hr at home. It would take me at least an hour to mow my front and back lawns together. I pay my guy $42 per week this year.
Next year I'm planning to recompete bids to keep the price low. Also the guys who mow have now twice cut the lawn too soon after rain and left ruts in the grass. This past time the dirt was still spongy with water(!) and then it rained again the day after.
This is year 7 at this house and I have yet to cut the lawn myself. Worth it.
I charge $40/hr for mowing and gardening here in 'Straya, or $30 for family and friends.
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KetarCome on upstairswe're having a partyRegistered Userregular
I think I said this in the last Homeowner thread. I generally value my time at $40/hr at home. It would take me at least an hour to mow my front and back lawns together. I pay my guy $42 per week this year.
Next year I'm planning to recompete bids to keep the price low. Also the guys who mow have now twice cut the lawn too soon after rain and left ruts in the grass. This past time the dirt was still spongy with water(!) and then it rained again the day after.
This is year 7 at this house and I have yet to cut the lawn myself. Worth it.
I charge $40/hr for mowing and gardening here in 'Straya, or $30 for family and friends.
Damn. I pay $25 per mow to the service we use. Actually down to $23 since they do the next 2 houses too and a volume discount was negotiated. That covers a crew of 3 that usually end up operating 2 mowers and 1 blower.
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Donovan PuppyfuckerA dagger in the dark isworth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered Userregular
I mean, I've got a lot of bills and I don't book out nearly as many hours as I'd like to, I still barely manage to cover all my own expenses month to month. My prices are competitive with local competitors, and I definitely care a great deal more about the quality of my work than anybody else whose work I have had to fix or redo in the area.
Protip: Jims Mowing franchisees generally do not give a shit about anything, it would seem.
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SummaryJudgmentGrab the hottest iron you can find, stride in the Tower’s front doorRegistered Userregular
edited May 2019
Can anyone recommend a weed killer for dandelions that have overtaken a yard (i.e. too many to remove by hand over a quarter-acre) while not damaging grass?
So after you treat the lawn, the best way to defeat the dandelions is to turn your grass into a monster:
Water deeper and infrequently to encourage deep roots
Let it grow longer, especially in the hottest months - stronger grass and living mulch to keep new dandelion seeds from germinating
Mow with a sharp blade
Mow as late in the day as you can - grass loses water when cut, and in the heat of the day the moisture loss is more damaging
Fertilize when the grass starts growing - early spring and late summer
Decompacting/aerating/thatching needs will vary based on soil and grass type.
A lot of people break at least a few of these best practices and produce real sick grass that gets bullied by weeds
I think I said this in the last Homeowner thread. I generally value my time at $40/hr at home. It would take me at least an hour to mow my front and back lawns together. I pay my guy $42 per week this year.
Next year I'm planning to recompete bids to keep the price low. Also the guys who mow have now twice cut the lawn too soon after rain and left ruts in the grass. This past time the dirt was still spongy with water(!) and then it rained again the day after.
This is year 7 at this house and I have yet to cut the lawn myself. Worth it.
I charge $40/hr for mowing and gardening here in 'Straya, or $30 for family and friends.
Damn. I pay $25 per mow to the service we use. Actually down to $23 since they do the next 2 houses too and a volume discount was negotiated. That covers a crew of 3 that usually end up operating 2 mowers and 1 blower.
For what it’s worth in Portland the cheapest deal we could find through a company was like $80 per month, but they came out twice a month, so $40 per visit. And our yard is tiny. For just mowing, edging, and blowing leaves, which is what they would do, it would probably take 30 minutes.
Ended up going with a more full service gardener for $120/month.
We’re now on our third gardener because the last two were dicks and not good at their job. One pulled up several plants that we planted because they apparently thought they were weeds? But they refused to acknowledge they fucked up or give us any kind of money back. Good gardeners are hard to find.
"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it" - Dr Horrible
Once the floors are in and a little painting is done, it'll be basically ready to close. Goodbye house!
Yeah, but now that the floors are redone, the walls are repainted, and everything is clean, the house is actually pretty nice. Are you sure you don’t want to just stay in your newly refurbished house?
"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it" - Dr Horrible
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You could hire a goat - nature's Roomba.
Been there before. Pattern of rain went so long I eventually got a nasty-gram from the city taped to my door threatening to fine me $1000 or put me in jail for 3 weeks. Seems a little harsh. I just hired a landscaping company to mow each week after that. Let them worry about the rain.
Probably going to try and hire someone to get it under control. It's not like the lawn is big, but the rain has made it out of control.
In related news, my mower won't start. I weed whacked the front so it looks like hell but less so?
The problem is that they are usually meant to maintain a properly cut lawn - not tame one left to the wilds.
I thought the problem was that when robots rise up and overthrow us, the lawn mower ones will kill the most in the initial onslaught.
Tame is a relative term. You can get out there with a weed wacker or even a sickle to cut it back than let the robot do the rest.
Jesus fuck, is your lawn on steroids?
Something like this:
Nah, in New England it gets incredibly shaggy if you let it go more than a week. Rich soil+ample moisture+sun = way too happy grass
Yeah even in NY I can barely scrape by on 2 weeks per mow if I crank it to the lowest setting on my mower.
You should have asked her to stand outside since she likes throwing shade so much.
wish list
Steam wishlist
Etsy wishlist
I don't think I knew either of these words before today, and now I want to employ both on my next lawn...desperately.
Need to get a new mower, though; batteries are just making it through the backyard and previously could easily do both.
We just have a low powered electric mower. It does the job perfectly well enough. But I also learned to never mow wet or damp grass, not unless you want to gum up the blades right quick.
It's the time, money for the equipment and consumables, storing the equipment, and dealing with the mulch.
Which, now on the third summer, the luster is starting to wear for me. Like some people really dig it, and that's cool. In theory I do too but it's finding the time.
I don't mind doing it but yeah, it's the time. When I'm not working I'm with my daughter, and she's a bit too young to leave alone inside while I mow. I'm off on Thursdays alone, but it's been raining every week.
Going to be way worse when she switches to part time preschool in a couple weeks.
Next year I'm planning to recompete bids to keep the price low. Also the guys who mow have now twice cut the lawn too soon after rain and left ruts in the grass. This past time the dirt was still spongy with water(!) and then it rained again the day after.
This is year 7 at this house and I have yet to cut the lawn myself. Worth it.
I charge $40/hr for mowing and gardening here in 'Straya, or $30 for family and friends.
Damn. I pay $25 per mow to the service we use. Actually down to $23 since they do the next 2 houses too and a volume discount was negotiated. That covers a crew of 3 that usually end up operating 2 mowers and 1 blower.
Protip: Jims Mowing franchisees generally do not give a shit about anything, it would seem.
Spray, or fertilizer? I was considering https://www.amazon.com/GreenView-Fairway-Fertilizer-Crabgrass-Preventer/dp/B00HVAXKUO?th=1#customerReviews but there's some funny review manipulation going on with these 5star/1star reviews.
Or Scott's is pretty standard https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XJM8KMQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=backyardboss-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00XJM8KMQ&linkId=cf89531482291cafc3f763be95a913fa&th=1
I've never used Scott's so no idea
:biggrin: It's more dandelions than lawn. No go.
Costco had 12k sqft of the Scotts for $50, so I went with that.
Water deeper and infrequently to encourage deep roots
Let it grow longer, especially in the hottest months - stronger grass and living mulch to keep new dandelion seeds from germinating
Mow with a sharp blade
Mow as late in the day as you can - grass loses water when cut, and in the heat of the day the moisture loss is more damaging
Fertilize when the grass starts growing - early spring and late summer
Decompacting/aerating/thatching needs will vary based on soil and grass type.
A lot of people break at least a few of these best practices and produce real sick grass that gets bullied by weeds
Yeah forgot that one
Midday watering evaporates and is no use
Evening/night watering just water logs the lawn
I neglected to mark where exactly I planted my seeds so I’m not sure if I’m growing peppers or an extremely healthy weed.
I thought I planted those on the left
I really should mark these spots
For what it’s worth in Portland the cheapest deal we could find through a company was like $80 per month, but they came out twice a month, so $40 per visit. And our yard is tiny. For just mowing, edging, and blowing leaves, which is what they would do, it would probably take 30 minutes.
Ended up going with a more full service gardener for $120/month.
We’re now on our third gardener because the last two were dicks and not good at their job. One pulled up several plants that we planted because they apparently thought they were weeds? But they refused to acknowledge they fucked up or give us any kind of money back. Good gardeners are hard to find.
Once the floors are in and a little painting is done, it'll be basically ready to close. Goodbye house!
Yeah, but now that the floors are redone, the walls are repainted, and everything is clean, the house is actually pretty nice. Are you sure you don’t want to just stay in your newly refurbished house?