Xref: kermit rec.gardens:283542

"Patrick Demets" wrote in
news:lKZBc.859851$Ig.371294@pd7tw2no:

I'm considering the purchase of a push reel mower, and I've noticed
that some models have a roller at the back. Is this really necessary?
I understand the basic idea (that patterns can be made), but is there
any purpose other than esthetic?

Also, I've considered and rejected both the Brill and the Gardena
mower, as they do not provide enough height. Here in Alberta, where
the air is dry, grass apparently needs a bit more height to thrive
(some say 3 inches or so, but I'd be OK with a bit less).

I've settled (tell me if I'm making a mistake) on either the Yardworks
[apparently made by Scotts] (either 18 or 20 inch wide) or the Scotts
Classic (20 inch). Both come with rear wheels (is this a good
thing?), but no roller. Also in the running is the Great States
18inch, which comes with a roller, but no rear wheels. It's also my
understanding that most North American reel mowers are actually made
by the American Lawnmower Company (still, some models have to be
better made than others, no?)

And lastly a question that borders on the religious: to bag or not to
bag? And are grass catchers for reel mowers really effective?

Choices, choices. Any suggestions or comments greatly appreciated.
I've read posts in this NG and others dating back several years, but
am still confused.

Thanks (all who answer will receive a free sample of my grass
clippings -- no silly, I mean lawn -- if they so desire!)

Patrick


I finally did get a Scotts 20-2000 Classic. It's not the best thing
since sliced bread, but I do prefer it to my powered mower. I don't know
what a roller is for (the one I got doesn't have one), unless it is to
keep certain types of plants down long enough to cut them (see below ...
but why would the roller be in the back then?). The other things is that
the wheels can leave a visible stripe (which disappear soon enough), so
maybe the roller is to make the non-wheel area look the same.

I don't know if the rear wheels are good for mowing ... never used a 2
wheel model, so I have nothing to compare to. But the extra wheels do
keep the mower from flopping over if you leave (so you don't have to bend
over to pick up the handle, as you might with a two wheeler). The Scotts
20-2000 is made by American Lawn Mower Co. (www.reelin.com). If your box
is missing some nuts (check amazon.com reviews, it's not an isolated
incident but may have been sorted out by now), you will need to get six
1/4" nyloc nuts or complain and wait for them to send them to you.

I don't know why you would want to bag your clippings, unless you have
some weeds flowering ... in which case you'd want to catch them so you
don't reseed yourself.

I will pass on the free sample. :-)

For anyone else interested ... I like the mower a lot ... but like others
have said before, you shouldn't let your grass get above a certain
height. Even so, cutting that high doesn't seem to be a problem for
the mower, except if you have rye going to seed or other plants with
thick cylindrical stalks. With the gas mower, you could just park over
the offending plant and eventually it would get cut, but with the push
reel, you'll knock them down but they get up again (Weeble or Chumbawamba
effect depending on your age) so you have to get creative (time
consuming) or just hit with a weed whacker (makes having a cordless
electric whacker *reel* haha handy). My lawn is fescue with occasional
rye, others have mentioned reels are not good with tougher grasses like
St. Augustine. I've never seen St. Augustine myself, but don't say I
didn't warn you subtropical people. I've been cutting on the lowest
setting, which makes me wonder if the Brill's low clearance is really an
issue. Still it's nice to have the choice. (Height adjustment only
takes a few seconds). Cutting over uneven terrain is dicey, but not much
more than a gas mower. Wiping the blades could be easier or safer. On
the plus side, no gasoline smell on your hands (or wallet) and no small
engine maintenance. Moving the mower is easier, too, you can just pick
it up with one hand and port it, unlike an engined mower (of course you
could also roll both, but not if your garage is full of junk).
Sharpening the blades (which shouldn't be needed for quite some time)
isn't monkey-banana simple, but seems doable.