Lawn Mower: Rotary (standard) or Reel (Push Cut)?

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Con

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#72138 21-Nov-2010 17:58

Have just finished growing a great lawn.
Hydroseeded a fine lawn and just given first rotary cut.

This lawn is only a flat 10 to 15 minute job. But want a great a looking lawn...

Any opinions appreciated as there is a opinion that a reel lawn mower gives : Great cut,lush lawn , better growth and slight workout.

But : Not good in long and/or wet grass.

Cheers

timmmay

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#407399 21-Nov-2010 19:47

Maybe ask the hydroseeding people? They seem to know all about grass. I use a mains electric mower recommended by consumer, i've had it a few years and it works well. I got a mains weed eater recently too, it puts the battery one to shame. The cord isn't a problem, and it's relatively quiet.

I'm going to get someone in Welly to do hydroseeding once my landscaping's done, good to hear it worked well for you :)

Regs

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Snowflake

#407423 21-Nov-2010 21:03

interested to know how long it took to grow, and how much it cost? i've prepped my yard but havent yet seeded it..

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Con

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#407436 21-Nov-2010 21:27

Hi there again,

Hope you are enjoying the Brivis-it can be a summer fan too !

Preperation is the key:

I let the lawn sit fallow for at least three weeks and applied weed killer eeach week.
I hoed up the topsoil, about top one foot. Then mixed with Living Earth lawn mix top soil.About 2 cubic metres per 50 sqm.
Then rolled the finish until happy with the level. Rented this from hirepool overnight.
Then Rapid lawn hydrodseeded the finish- DONE.

Rapid Lawn charge $3 per sqm and $1 per sqm if soil preperation is required.
Get Living Earth mix as it was said to be most weed free.

After seeding the seeds must be kept moist for three weeks.
I maintained this on a lawn irrigatrion spray for 10 minutes three times daily. Took one week to germinate and four weeks till first cut - 9 cm of good growth, some weeding needed prior.

The plan is to water once daily for 10 minutes, then in a few weeks soak once to twice weekly, to establish DEEP root growth. But dry out before.

You need to do asap as summer is too dry...

Cheers

insane

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#407445 21-Nov-2010 22:19

When we had a large property I cut the 1200 square meter section with one of these cylinder mowers, took around an hour every week to create a bowling lawn style finish.

mower

Best part is that they actually drive themselves and you just have to walk behind it and make sure its going straight, awesome if you happen to have a slope in your lawn :) ,

I believe the shearing action is what makes the nice clean cut grass, as opposed to conventional rotary mower which leaves grass with split ends after its been battered into submission.

downside : its slower and slightly narrower than a standard mower so expect to do a few more passes up and down.

timmmay

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#407451 21-Nov-2010 22:36

That thing's a beast! Mine's a Victa Lawnkeeper Electric ESP360A, as recommended by consumer in the electric category. I got it because it was cheap and quiet, and kept it because it kept working.

bazzer

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#407466 21-Nov-2010 23:45

Reel mowers definitely give a nice cut, but once things get out of control (and mine always does) they are pretty useless. If you're good at mowing your lawn (I'm too lazy)I would go with one.

k14

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#407499 22-Nov-2010 08:13

I used to have to use a Reel for mowing the neighbours lawn (got paid $10 for it though :)), and they are heavy and very cumbersome things to use. I'd take a rotary mower every time, but I am not worried if my front lawn doesn't look like a golf green.

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Regs

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Snowflake

#407860 22-Nov-2010 20:55

Con: Hi there again,

Hope you are enjoying the Brivis-it can be a summer fan too !

Yep, going well - and turned on the fan the last couple of humid days too.

Con:
Preperation is the key:

I let the lawn sit fallow for at least three weeks and applied weed killer eeach week.
I hoed up the topsoil, about top one foot. Then mixed with Living Earth lawn mix top soil.About 2 cubic metres per 50 sqm.
Then rolled the finish until happy with the level. Rented this from hirepool overnight.

check, check, check. living earth soil mix check.

Con:
Then Rapid lawn hydrodseeded the finish- DONE.

Rapid Lawn charge $3 per sqm and $1 per sqm if soil preperation is required.

might have to consider that then. probably not much different cost-wise to buying seed and dropping it myself.

Con:
After seeding the seeds must be kept moist for three weeks.
I maintained this on a lawn irrigatrion spray for 10 minutes three times daily. Took one week to germinate and four weeks till first cut - 9 cm of good growth, some weeding needed prior.

The plan is to water once daily for 10 minutes, then in a few weeks soak once to twice weekly, to establish DEEP root growth. But dry out before.

You need to do asap as summer is too dry...

as part of the prep, i installed pop-up sprinklers so hopefullu the watering will be easy too. my water pressure was crap but metrowater came and replaced my meter and i can run them now :)

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Con

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#407879 22-Nov-2010 21:15

Nice,

Which pop up sprinkler system did you use ?

timmmay

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#407882 22-Nov-2010 21:19

www.hydroseedingnz.co.nz is $2.50 + GST per square meter. For my lawn (average size) they do a $350 maintenance contract that does everything required up to the first mow - supplying sprinklers, hoses, fertilisation, etc. Timers would cost $120, and it just sounds like a hassle. It'd be $350 well spent IMHO.

Regs

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Snowflake

#407887 22-Nov-2010 21:30

Con: Nice,

Which pop up sprinkler system did you use ?

i got some pope low pressure pop-up sprinkler heads from bunnings - returned the non-low-pressure ones when i couldnt get them to work. now that the water meter has been upgraded i could probably run the cheaper non-low-pressure ones again.

i also bought a bunch of 20mm poly tube from the nylex receivership sale so saved a few $$ there.

as for the mowing, you could always use a nice and sharp hand mower - reel type. i used one on my new grass last time, until it was safe to use a rotary. if i had a reel mower i would use it, but they tend to be expensive..

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timmmay

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#407888 22-Nov-2010 21:33

I had a hand mower for about an hour. Horrible, horrible thing. Don't buy one.

Regs

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Snowflake

#407919 22-Nov-2010 22:39

they're pretty awful if they are not sharp, or smooth rolling. and i wouldnt mow a rugby field with one... but for a small lawn they arent too bad.

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bazzer

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#407971 23-Nov-2010 08:19

Regs: they're pretty awful if they are not sharp, or smooth rolling. and i wouldnt mow a rugby field with one... but for a small lawn they arent too bad.

I'd go so far as to say for a small lawn they are great!

Con

49 posts

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#415950 11-Dec-2010 19:27

Purchased a American Lawn Mower
14 14 16

Sixteen inch wide.Only model still made in america. Expensive.
Finished first cut... great. Required two passes. Nice finish.

Cheap and quality cut !
Happy and recommend for small lawn, I can see no petrol is good - am I am NO greenie !
Was a tall cut too !