It does take longer to mow the yard with reel mowers compared with a mechanical mower but there are just so many benefits to using this style of mower. I don’t think there is anyone in the world who enjoys having a power mower throw up bits of grass, leaves and sticks into their face and eyes.

Not to mention the heat and smell that comes from the mower as you operate it. These are probably the main reasons why so many people put off mowing their lawns indefinitely: they simply don’t want to deal with the noise, heat and smell from their lawn mower. Reel lawn mowers on the other hand provide a refreshing change in your lawn mowing experience and it can actually turn into something that you truly enjoy doing.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your reel lawn mower:

1. Mow regularly

Reel mowers can struggle with long grass and they are harder to push too. Mowing weekly will let you avoid any troubles.

2. Mow early in the day

Many people put mowing off as it’s simply too hot during the day. But if you mow early in the morning, your neighbors won’t be disturbed by your reel lawn mower.

3. Perfect your pace

Remember that you are the driver of the reel mower so you need to work out at what speed it performs best. Too slow and the mower can skid but too fast and you’ll miss patches. A steady pace gives the best results.

4. Test cutting height

Try various cutting heights each time according to your grass type and mower model. Most models are easily adjustable so it only takes a second to customize your motor for your particular grass type.

The mowed lawn aesthetic originated in the late 18th century from aristocratic France and England. Landscape architect Andre LeNotre designed small lawn areas for the palace of Versailles. This aesthetic was rapidly adopted by the rich of England, because turf grass grew easily in the English climate of moderate temperatures and frequent rain. The U.S. colonists also adopted the lawn aesthetic in an attempt to transform the wilderness of the new country into the sophistication of the old world. The middle class did not copy the wealthy look until after the civil war, with the stimulus of the new landscape architects leading the way. Soon, in the early 20th century we were being bombarded by advertising to have that “look” and in many cases shamed into submission by what the Joneses had next door.

If you happen to be installing a new lawn, make sure you spray all the weeds and thick bladed grasses before you start. Once you have the lawn installed, you sure don’t want to go through all the trouble of killing areas of your lawn and reseeding. If you make sure that all of these undesirables have been killed before you start, you’ll be way ahead of the game. Of course, when selecting grass seed, you should always use a blend that is recommended for your area.

But if you are planning on reseeding your lawn yourself, you can probably remember one of the most popular Hollywood movies of the 90s titled, “Honey I shrunk the Kids.” If you can recall the part where the kids are walking through the lawn and the blades of grass are huge compared to them, this is what it is like to be a grass seed under a mulch of straw. Those little tiny grass seeds are lost under the straw, and that’s exactly what you want to protect them from the intense rays of the sun. As the sun works its way across the sky the grass seeds actually receive filtered sunlight. Your lawn should receive enough sun to warm the seeds so they grow, but also enough shade to protect the tender young grass plants. As the grass plants grow, they also raise the mulch with them to a degree, providing additional shade for the seeds that haven’t germinated yet. The shade that straw mulch provides also helps to retain the moisture around the seeds. Grass seeds will never get this kind of protection from hydro mulch.

One of the most important markets in the gardening or landscaping industry today, is that of lawn maintenance. According to Wildones Natural Landscapers, Ltd this industry uses 67 million pounds of synthetic pesticides only in the US for lawns, 580 millions gallons of gasoline are used in lawnmowers, $25 billions is spent for the lawn care industry alone, 700 millions is spent for pesticides on US lawns and more than 20 million acres are planned in residential lawns every year.