I don't want to spend the money to buy a lawn mower. What else can I use?

Question

I remember seeing a gardener using a tool once to cut the grass in our backyard because he didn't want to deal with hauling the lawn mower back there. Maybe it was a weed wacker? What equipment do you recommend I use instead of dealing with a big lawn mower to cut grass?

Answer 1

How about one of those old fashioned push mowers. They use no gas, just your energy. They are lightweight, and work fine for a small yard. I got mine for about $85 at Home Depot last year. I use it for very small grassy areas in the yard. Good luck!

Answer 2

You could try a pair of pygmy goats. They make great pets, keep the grass trimmed, and can provide fresh milk, and, later, fresh meat.

Alternately there are grass scythes that can be purchased, depending upon where you live, for about $20 to $30.

Weed whackers/weed-eaters, either electric or gas-powered, will also work for small areas. The strain from carrying/holding them, however, can cause some pain.

There are the old type of push mowers, with the helical blades, that can be bought new for between $80 and $100.

Then there are the nieghbor kids that you might be able to pay $10 every week to mow for you.

Just remember, a top end model of weed whacker can cost as much as a low end lawn mower. You can always try your local freecycle or craigslist and see if you can get a free weed wacker or lawn mower.

Good luck.

Answer 3

An apartment or condo! Just kidding. I fully support the simple old fashioned push mower concept. Check craigslist and hoobly and other sales sites for used, inexpensive versions. You may even get lucky by finding someone on Freecycle who will be willing to lend you one or give you an old one they no longer use for free. Another solution is to pay someone else to do the mowing. You can find someone or a service to do this work. The thing is, by the time you pay someone to do lawncare once or twice, you could have afforded to purchase the lawnmower which will pay for itself very quickly. It's really a personal choice for you. You've got to decide whether saving the expense is more valuable to you, or if you put greater value on not having to personally be the one to do the yardwork. I hope this helps.

It may sound silly, but it's true that having a goat or sheep will control grass to an extent. However, it sounds like you are not particularly enthusiastic about outside chores or extra expenses, and bringing an animal's life into yours will be both. It adds a ton of responsibility and work, plus other costs for feed, vet bills, and time for personal care and grooming. I think you will be happiest with a very basic, lightweight push mower, or hiring a local teen to do yardwork for you at an hourly rate. There is just no way to entirely get around yardwork, but if it's just not your cup of tea there is always someone else who will do the work for you in exchange for pay.

Answer 4

You can use the hand mower, the old way of doing it. You just push it along and the blades spin and cut. This is also an environmentally conscience way of doing it. Takes a little more umphf in pushing, but think of it as a free workout.

Answer 5

What? A scythe? No, that's not what you want to use. Weed whackers are hard on your back, noisey and dangerous plus polluting. Get a push lawn mower. They are light weight, one hand pick up, non polluting, and around $100.

Answer 6

Just say no, then tell them hey I will rent it to you for so much an hour though so that way I can buy another mower when you wear my mower out. I always say if you break it you buy it and usually lets them know its YOUR mower

Answer 7

Weed wacker

Answer 8

Get a goat, after he is finished doing the lawn for the summer, you can have a BBQ and eat the goat.

Answer 9

kill your grass and plant a garden, flower bed, etc. It sounds like you don't really need a lawn to maintain.

Answer 10

If your lawn is small enough, you can get your lawn perfectly manicured with hand-held clippers. You can also use them to edge when you're done.