I need some grass cutting tips

[Mom to Hot Rod]

First of all, at least you are making an effort. They should be appreciative of that. Don't let them dictate to you how you should take care of your lawn. Now if your grass was a foot tall and weeds even higher that may be one thing but it sounds as though you are making the attempt to keep your yard in decent shape-good for you. It's their problem if they don't like it.

Sure it would be nice to have perfect lawns. We have tru-green come in and treat our lawn, but the neighbor across from us doesn't not and they have plenty of dandelions so no matter how much I treat, their weed seeds just blow into our lawn.

[shodanusmc]

Just to really pi$$ your neighbor off, I would not cut the law until the grass was real high, or I would rent a goat a tie it to a spike in the front lawn.

I used a mulching mower, sometimes bagged, sometimes did not. I blew the grass on the sidewalk and driveway back into the lawn, and I used Weed-be-gone and round-up. Now I just pay a landscaper to come ones a week and get er done.

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

Just to really pi$$ your neighbor off, I would not cut the law until the grass was real high, or I would rent a goat a tie it to a spike in the front lawn.

I used a mulching mower, sometimes bagged, sometimes did not. I blew the grass on the sidewalk and driveway back into the lawn, and I used Weed-be-gone and round-up. Now I just pay a landscaper to come ones a week and get er done.

That's what I should have done! But I felt really, really strongly that my son should learn to cut the grass.

We moved to a house with a much smaller yard ~ so should be doable for him. We just have to get the hang of it!

I didn't want him to be 22 and not know how to do it ~ like me!

[rrobinsonil]

I mow my own lawn, front and back. I cut the front in a diamond pattern. For me, it's my own private therapy haha. I like my lawn to look a certain way but I don't care what my neighbors do. If your neighbors are sooooo concerned about your lawn and have soooooo much free time to obsess over it, you could invite them to mow your lawn themselves. Then, it would be absolutely perfect in their eyes.

[kjc]

Seriously though, I've been told if you mow one direction one week, the next week mow in the opposite direction, and don't mow too short about 3 inches is more healthy for the lawn. And only mow when the lawn is dry, not wet from rain or dew.

I have a compost pile for lawn clippings and leaves, alternate layers and stir it once or twice a week and it turns back into dirt you can use in flowerbeds. Once you get a healthy compost pile going, don't empty it completely, save a bucketful full of old compost to innoculate the new additions. To start one, get a bucketful of compost from a neighbor with a healthy pile.

If you add worms, the worm poo is like growth hormones for plants, and you can start a worm farm and sell them to fishermen/women!

[chachi]

We got rid of all our grass in the back and some in the front so we dont have that much to mow so we just take a weed eater to it. We are going to get rid of all the grass in the front also

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by kjc

Seriously though, I've been told if you mow one direction one week, the next week mow in the opposite direction, and don't mow too short about 3 inches is more healthy for the lawn. And only mow when the lawn is dry, not wet from rain or dew.

I have a compost pile for lawn clippings and leaves, alternate layers and stir it once or twice a week and it turns back into dirt you can use in flowerbeds. Once you get a healthy compost pile going, don't empty it completely, save a bucketful full of old compost to innoculate the new additions. To start one, get a bucketful of compost from a neighbor with a healthy pile.

If you add worms, the worm poo is like growth hormones for plants, and you can start a worm farm and sell them to fishermen/women!

Oh my. I'd have to go over and give them CPR if I did that!

In my old house - I had started a 'lasagne garden' where you layer grass clippings, coffee grounds; newspaper; any kind of paper; fruit skins; (no meat); etc. and let it 'sit' over the winter. You keep adding to it all winter long - your discarded paper; shreddings and so on and so forth and keep it moist. Snow helps.

In the spring ~ you have a wonderful 'dirt' to plant in and full of earthworms.

Doesn't look so HOT over the winter though! Ha! My neighbors here would have a fit. I had a six foot privacy fence back home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PS: I JUST paid a guy to come and hang my son's sign over my driveway. If you letter in a sport - your kid can hang little sign on the house with the name of his school on a plaque and HIS name hanging down below - with the type of sport. It goes over your garage and I'm so proud of him and now my neighbors can be proud of him too!

[yorkieusa]

Very cool way to show your pride in your son! I have never heard of that before.

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by kjc

Seriously though, I've been told if you mow one direction one week, the next week mow in the opposite direction, and don't mow too short about 3 inches is more healthy for the lawn. And only mow when the lawn is dry, not wet from rain or dew.

LOL, This is what my dh always tells me. I don't have to mow too much because my lines are not straight enough when I do.....how bad is that? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I'd help more if he were not so particular, but that's his loss.... In his defense, he is only this way about his lawn. Our neighbors all ask him for lawn advice.

Ringo1 congrats to your son. That's an awesome way to share with the community his accomplishments.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Very cool way to show your pride in your son! I have never heard of that before.

Ditto!

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

LOL, This is what my dh always tells me. I don't have to mow too much because my lines are not straight enough when I do.....how bad is that? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I'd help more if he were not so particular, but that's his loss.... In his defense, he is only this way about his lawn. Our neighbors all ask him for lawn advice.

Ringo1 congrats to your son. That's an awesome way to share with the community his accomplishments.

Haha! If he's that particular, I'm surprised he even allows you to mow!

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

LOL, This is what my dh always tells me. I don't have to mow too much because my lines are not straight enough when I do.....how bad is that? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I'd help more if he were not so particular, but that's his loss.... In his defense, he is only this way about his lawn. Our neighbors all ask him for lawn advice.

Ringo1 congrats to your son. That's an awesome way to share with the community his accomplishments.

Thanks. I think it shows pride in your school too and I see lots of them around our neighborhood. I'm so glad I finally got it up and hope Matt is surprised to see it when he gets home from school!

Now off to get that leaf blower . . .

[gaijingirl]

Originally Posted by kjc

Got Goats?

Haha! When my neighbors irk me I buy invasive plants and plant them along the fenceline! My neighbor still has bamboo growing over there after I pulled my up 7 years ago. Everytime I see it I just smile..

Mints are great in iced tea and spread like wildfire...

Ohhhh...I SO badly want to grow some of the invasive types of Bamboo...haven't yet only because the neighbors might not be to happy.