On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 14:55:40 +0100, MM wrote:

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 10:51:16 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:37:36 +0100, MM wrote:

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 19:00:36 GMT, "Cicero"
wrote:


"MM" wrote in message
m...
Been away for a few days and the lawn is now covered in long-ish
grasses! When I go over with the hand mower, these foot-long blades of
grass are simply pushed flat, then spring up again after an hour or
so.

I'm thinking of buying a rechargeable (thus cordless) hedgetrimmer and
use it like an Allen scythe to cut these long grasses down to size.

Any other ideas? I could get down on my hands and knees with the
shears, but it would take two days to cover the whole lawn like that.

MM

===============
A pressed steel sickle ( not 1/4" thick steel blade type) works for me. You
can buy one quite cheaply at 'Focus' etc but remember to buy the sharpening
stone as well.

Yes, I had contemplated one of those, too. But my father used one in
the 1950s and I tried it (I was 11 at the time) and it was darned hard
work! Not sure whether I can stoop that low any more. I want to mount
the cordless hedgetrimmer on a wheeled dolly, by the way, then push
the dolly across the 'lawn'.

MM

Get a scythe. Around 30 quid. Then you can od it standing up (fnarr
fnarr!).
But you've got to get the technique right. It is harder than a motor mower,
obviously but not much more than using a strimmer.
It helps if the grass is still slightly damp. If the grass is too dry it
just folds over and bends under the blade. In the morning is a good time,
or late evening.

Use a stone regularly to keep it sharp during use, and hammer the edge
sharp after use or during a break. The edge stays sharper longer that way.
It's a dying art.

But what is wrong with my idea using a battery-charged hedgetrimmer? I
still reckon that would be the best solution, being a scissor cut.

MM

I've tried it, and you'll probably find the grass blades are too soft to be
properly cut. Some stiff stems will cut, but most will just bend and clog
up the trimmer. I've tried it.


--
Tim C.