Anyone use a string trimmer for mowing a small lawn?
Question:I have a small yard and I need method to cut the grass. Unfortunately, storage is an issue so I cannot get a gas/electric push mower. I thought of getting a reel mower, but there is some tall grass and some people have told me it will not cut that well. I can only think of using a string/line trimmer to cut the grass, but am afraid that it will not come out level. Does anyone have experience doing this? Or is it even done?
Answers:
I sell mowers and trimmers, I had a customer buy a trimmer to mow his yard. His deal is that he lives on a lake shore lot, and only has very small strips of grass, and they are too small for a mower. You can get a trimmer to mow even, it takes practice and a steady arm.
It's a bad idea. I do it for small parts of my lawn that my mower won't fit into, and those parts always look bad. It's very difficult to get a level cut by hand.
What you could do is nail some of the taller grass with the trimmer, and then use the reel mower.
String trimmers do not cut evenly. I have used mine in small areas when I just can't face getting the mower out; they're suitable for occasional use but I only use it where people can't see what I've done!
Reel mowers (we have one) do not cut tall grass; they also do not cut grass as short as traditional lawnmowers, so your yard may still look "unmowed" when you finish.
If your yard is small, perhaps a neighborhood youngster could cut your grass.
If you own your home, another interesting option is to eliminate your yard! I am replacing my front yard with "monkey" grass, walkways, gravel, boulders, and native plantings. Of course, I still have my 2/3 acre backyard, so I'm keeping my lawnmower.
Speak to a landscaper. Check out http://www.1800topsoil.com to see if they have a local landscaper who can help you. Good luck!
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