Mowing the grass....am I terrible, or the mower??

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 12:32 PM

Went to mow the new grass in the backyard the other day despite it being wet....it was very high and would be a problem either way. So I mowed, and the mower probably spit out as much cut grass as what went into the catcher bag. At the end of the process, the yard had grass bits all over, clumps of grass all over, and big ruts from the mower wheels. In short, the yard looks horrible.

I know a big problem was wet grass...but it seems like even when the grass is dry I have similar issues with the mower (I've cleaned the inside of it, empty the bag, etc). So I am stumped...either I am just "challenged" in this process, or my mower is terrible (has a brand new blade on it). Any ideas before I just sign up for a service to take care of it for me??

Hogmaster · 11-10-2005, 12:57 PM

Must be all those blackberries.

:grin: :grin: :grin:

FastActionRodTip · 11-10-2005, 01:00 PM

did you start off with the wheels adjusted to the highest point? Tall, wet grass is a challenge no matter what....might be underpowered too...try dropping a small block chev in it

ICHTHYDEMON · 11-10-2005, 01:17 PM

You don't have a mulching plug in place do you?

When I worked at Home Depot you wouldn't believe the number of guys that brought mowers back complaining of the same thing. Most of the time they had bought a mulching capable mower and either forgot to take the plug out or didn't know it was a mulching mower.

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 01:22 PM

Ok....I'll hesitate to ask, but...plug? Yes, it is a mulching mower and I have a bag attachment on the back of it (yes, the flap doohickey is up so grass can go in). So what is the "plug" you speak of?

FastActionRodTip · 11-10-2005, 01:27 PM

it is a plastic piece that inserts into the cavity that allows grass to be shot into the bag...it blocks this process

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 01:31 PM

Mine is spring loaded flap...and yeah, its flipped up so the bag can work. Just doesnt work all that well.

Reel_Big_Fish · 11-10-2005, 01:38 PM

My Toro mower had a black plastic insert where the grass goes into the bag. Pull that out and things should work.

Although...in your original post you said that grass is going into the bag?

Quote:

So I mowed, and the mower probably spit out as much cut grass as what went into the catcher bag.

So I don't know if this response will help or not

FastActionRodTip · 11-10-2005, 01:38 PM

my mulcher has a spring loaded flap as well to be in the up position when set to bag...but there is still a plastic insert/plug that must be inserted..as long as you have the flap up and the bag on with a clear passage then the plug issue is irrelevant

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 01:40 PM

Anyone want to buy a mower? Works great!

Hogmaster · 11-10-2005, 01:44 PM

Nah, it has too many blackberry vines in it.

:grin: :grin: :grin:

TheKing · 11-10-2005, 01:45 PM

You can just change the blade to a non mulching blade. Find a blade that give you more lift. It will pick up the grass better. Also sharpen your blade more than once in your life time.

Hogmaster · 11-10-2005, 01:51 PM

Seriously now,

Welcome to Oregon.

Mowing the lawn in November is akin to calling a cough when you have pnuemonia "productive." Might move a lot of crud around, but there will be more.

Setting the blade to the top setting is a start. As far as the tracks making it look like you did a lawn job with a big wheel, give them a few days or a week or so and they will go away. You have a fresh new lawn and it is growing lush.

Yeah, more horsepower would make a difference. So would a couple goats. The good news is the lawn is about to go dormant anyway, so if you try one more time (quick! This afternoon, before it starts raining again!) going a different pattern than you did the first time, you should be basically done until February. Just wear your knee boots cause it'll be muddy. All that grass, unfortunately when tall and wet, doesn't go into the bag real well no matter the mower. Just man up and get out the rake. Then it will look like half-hell for a few weeks.

Or get 25 cubic yards of brown pee gravel, and it will be just like home!

Herring Problem · 11-10-2005, 01:56 PM

Maybe you should have rented some goats!

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 01:58 PM

Or maybe I should just build a 2 foot wall over all the grass!! Ha.

I've actually wondered if the mower was a tad weak on H.P. I went the more inexpensive route when I bought it. Hmmmmm.... And I've seen some lately that say they have more suction power, which is a first for me, but what the heck...might be time for a change.

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Maybe you should have rented some goats!

Nah, I already have one nag at home...and fortunately she doesnt read iFish (that I know of). :shocked:

Hogmaster · 11-10-2005, 02:07 PM

Now THAT is dangerous!

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

TheKing · 11-10-2005, 02:54 PM

Lawnmowers are like bras you want one that will lift and separate the biggest load.

Mr. Carp · 11-10-2005, 03:58 PM

Just break down and buy a Honda mower. The old saying of "you get what you pay for" holds true with these mowers. They are great.

northriver1 · 11-10-2005, 04:01 PM

TheKing - Would that be a hand start or electric?

Cool Texan · 11-10-2005, 04:04 PM

Who sells them? The Honda's, not the bras. :grin:

uhmw · 11-10-2005, 04:10 PM

I have had that problem cause Im lazy procastinate and let the lawn get out of controll. I found that once the lawn is at the point of no return and the wifes getting embarassed, I just use the weed wacker to take it down then mow over the hack job. "Be lazy and cut corners", thats my motto or was it" work smarter not harder", I cant remember. You can mow wet grass like this too.

BCF · 11-10-2005, 04:14 PM

Well I'll say that you do come up with the darnest topics.

You might want to really consider that going to law school option. Because it sounds like you could use a gardener. And you are going to have to pay for them to come and work on your place. I haven't met a lawyer or an accountant worth his salt when it came to manual labor.

I am just teasing you Texan. Go get a reel mower, and do it like Pearl.

Get your wife to mow the lawn and you can go fishing.

Silver Hilton · 11-10-2005, 05:12 PM

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BCF · 11-10-2005, 06:26 PM

I also have a Honda. It is a walk behind with the adjustable speed. Plastic deck and it is also around ten years old. Starts like a champ.

BCF out

Gus Orviston · 11-11-2005, 03:02 AM

Not suppose to cut more than a 1/3 of the length of the grass blade, and your grass depending on type should be kept about 2-3".. so worst case you should only be taking off 1" a shot.. more than that and most mowers will have issues unless you got bookoos HP..

gus

KChookem · 11-11-2005, 03:05 AM

Before you purchase a new mower, I suggest you wait until Spring and reevaluate how your "old" mower is performing. Try it with frequent mowings, and in mid Spring, that may be twice a week.

Re: Ruts - In the Spring, when you can walk on your lawn without leaving footprints in the soil, you should rent a lawn roller (barrel that you partially fill with water) to flatten and smooth rough spots, worm holes, etc..

Woody · 11-11-2005, 05:28 AM

Wait, wait, waitaminnit............let me get this straight. You're supposed to cut the grass in your lawn???

We just let it grow out and call it a "pasture"

bassfishingnw · 11-11-2005, 06:07 AM

Hey COOL TEXAN!!!

I had the same problem with my mower...its was only a 5 horse and I had to mow the yard twice to get all the grass picked up and everything mowed. If I just mowed it once...it left MOWHAWK lines!

I end up buying a 6.5 horse TORO mower!! BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT!! I don't think the brand matters...just HORSEPOWER (=suction)!!

DM finally has our foundation poured!!!

CHEERS!!!

CATCH AND EAT · 11-11-2005, 07:39 AM

This is too easy. Have the wife mow the lawn. Problem solved.

MacFish · 11-11-2005, 09:41 AM

If you mow more often, taking less grass each time the problem should go away, unfortunately that's pretty hard this time of year. I haven't used a bag in years and and never will again. After Snappers, Hondas and Lawn Boys I'm just as satisfied with the entry level Home Depot made by John Deere.

RogueFishr · 11-11-2005, 08:56 PM

If you let the grass grow tall enough, it will eventually "lay over" and appear shorter from a distance. Also it seems to go to seed, which I figure is good for it.

RF

mandinga · 11-11-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

either I am just "challenged" in this process, or my mower is terrible

Hey CT, I think your mower is fine!

Musicman · 11-13-2005, 02:10 AM

Wet grass that is tall is hard to get a nice cut anyway but you said it's a new blade??? Did you install it correctly, I installed mine upside down and it cut but it looked like doodoo.....just wondering.

Also, if you are bagging you should use a non-mulching blade to get a better throw on the clippings that are meant to be shot out of thw mower and into the bag.

Just some food for thought!

2LEYS · 11-13-2005, 07:36 AM

Since you are from Texas and probably didn't even know what grass was until you were about 20, I would have to say it is probably just you.

So how old are you? 28? So let's say you moved here when you were 20 and you are 28 now. Then lived in an apartment until you were 24-25. That gives you only 3 years of lawn mowing experience. I started mowing lawns at 12. So it sounds like you are about the equivelent of a 15 year old lawn mower. You just need practice. Give me a PM and I will let you mow my lawn.

Cool Texan · 11-13-2005, 11:25 AM

2Leys....you're joking, right??

2LEYS · 11-13-2005, 01:17 PM

No. You can come mow my lawn. I will let you.

wade · 11-13-2005, 03:47 PM

You should listen to Gus. Forget about making a mountain out of a mole hill, if you wanna wait until your grass is 8" high and wet then either go over it twice or get a farm tractor with a brush hog. Other wise cut it every week or two during the growing season.

Kevin

Cool Texan · 11-13-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Since you are from Texas and probably didn't even know what grass was until you were about 20

I dont even know what that means....either you're saying Texas has no grass, which means you've never been to Texas, or you're saying that I never had to mow the lawn growing up, or... I dont know. Wrong on all counts though.

Quote:

So how old are you? 28? So let's say you moved here when you were 20 and you are 28 now. Then lived in an apartment until you were 24-25. That gives you only 3 years of lawn mowing experience. I started mowing lawns at 12. So it sounds like you are about the equivelent of a 15 year old lawn mower. You just need practice.

Wrong on all counts....never lived in an apartment, older than you think, been mowing longer than you think, and moved here more recently than you think.

:grin:

2LEYS · 11-13-2005, 08:37 PM

All's good. So you are saying that Texas has grass?

Cool Texan · 11-13-2005, 08:39 PM

Only where the cattle and pump-jacks dont kill it.

2LEYS · 11-14-2005, 12:57 AM

I need photographic proof.

k9jeff · 11-14-2005, 09:31 AM

Your gonna get the wheel marks in the wet grass.
bought an ariens mower and love it!! Mows wet without an issue and makes the lawn look great. I would check into them if your gonna replace your current unit.
Keep the bag empty and mow slowly in tall wet grass.

Good luck!

Cool Texan · 11-14-2005, 10:03 AM

Quote:

I need photographic proof.

You want proof?? Here's your proof sucker...

See?? LOTS of grass in Texas!

TheKing · 11-14-2005, 12:31 PM

They put in a new devlopment near the town I live in. 24 houses all about $750k to $1.5 mil. They installed top of the line Astro Turf in all of the yards. Apparently mowing the lawn is a real hassle for some.

Mr. Carp · 11-14-2005, 03:16 PM

CT, we picked our new Honda up from Beaverton Honda-Yamaha off of 217. My dad bought our old one from St. John's Honda, but they didn't have the selection as Beaverton for the new purchase.

Mr. Fisherman · 11-14-2005, 07:50 PM

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