A few years back, friends from our neighborhood (Stan and Stasia) were relocated to Kansas. Unfortunately, it took over a year to finalize the sale of their house. Stan worked, then commuted when possible. The rest of the family stayed back,attaining normalcy whenever possible. When Spring arrived, another neighbor and I tackled their lawn maintenance. They lived on a sizable corner lot and the lawn was peppered with trees, making it difficult to navigate with a riding mower. Stan was the ultimate dude, handling his lawn in minutes with a push mower. For the average, non-dude, it was more efficient as a two man job – a riding mower for the bulk of the lawn and a push for the hard to reach areas. Stasia would leave water on the porch. The system worked well and we were properly hydrated. The funnest part were the nicknames that evolved – Lawn boy, Mower man, AND Water girl. I, of course, was Lawn boy. Yes, the sidekick. Though, I got top billing because Lawn boy and Mower man flowed better than the reverse. So, … .
Stan and Stasia still live in Kansas. Thankfully, our friendship continues to thrive. However, the memories of Lawn boy, Mower man, and Water girl will always make us laugh.
Since this is July, lawn mowing season is underway. I thought I’d highlight this summer tradition. Some men and women really take this chore seriously. My daughter is one of them. She decided I didn’t do the job adequately, taking it upon herself to complete the weekly task. Good for her. Better yet, good for me. According to her, my lines were never straight and I varied my directions too much. Hell, I got the job done. Okay?
Before I get into full rant mode, let me share some ‘tips’ on proper technique:
Set Your Mower High
Cut only the top 1/3 of the grass blades at any one time. Properly mowed grass can grow and support more roots and develop a deeper root system.
Mow a Dry Lawn
Wait for your lawn to dry before mowing. Cutting wet grass can result in an uneven cut, dumping clumps of grass on your lawn which can smother the grass and result in brown spots.
Vary Your Mowing Pattern
Mow in a different direction every time you mow. By varying the mowing pattern, you help avoid compacting soil. Plus, grass will stand up nice and tall since it typically leans in the direction you mow.
Leave Grass Clipping on your Lawn
Clippings break down quickly, contributing nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil.
Keep Your Mower Blade Sharp
Keep mower blades sharp for the cleanest cut. Dull blades tear up grass, causing a grayish-brown color.
http://www.weekendgardener.net/lawn-care/mowing-tips-040904.htm
When I was younger and a lot more anal retentive than I am now, the above ‘tips’ were guidelines that standardized lawn maintenance. Back then, it was ‘mowing the lawn‘ instead of ‘cutting the grass‘. Eventually, it became ‘get the damn job done‘. Now, it’s ‘my daughter does it‘. And, I’m a happy man.
Two parting thoughts. The first is this video clip –
the ultimate lawn mowing musical experience
The second is a marquee maxim from a lawn mower repair shop that is too fitting to ignore –
we’re sexy and we mow it
