Mowing Issues

[Eve]

Is there a ruddy knack to it, I think it has escaped me! :)

Just been mowing out front and I always seem to get a load of cut grass all round the edge of the lawn which looks really untidy (though hopefully I might get some leeway with the near neighbours as I'm sure the sheer sight of me trying to mow the lawn provides plenty of amusement value!).

I do things bit by bit as my arthritis isn't very gardening friendly and trying to gather up the cut grass after just adds to the work and involves a lot of me bending over (more amusement for the neighbourhood I'm sure!) so my back tends to seize up. I don't have a rake or anything like that and trying to brush it into a pickupable pile to put it in the recycling bin is like fighting a losing battle.

Aren't mowers meant to collect the cut grass? My mower (flymo) has a collector thing but it doesn't collect much - it just gets blown it all over the lawn and beyond. I don't see it after other people mow their lawn, they always look so much neater.

Should it collect grass and is there something I can fix to save the extra work so I can get more other jobs done (don't get me started in the weeding!)?

[AlBags]

Helps with Flymos to keep underside cleaned off.
Wet and dried grass lower it's ability to collect it up into the box.

[saxy_jag]

It might look messy, but grass cuttings provide an ideal natural mulch. When they mow the field next to us they leave the cuttings down. Doesn't matter how little rain we get over the summer, the grass always grows strong.

[arwyn]

jenna mine picked up better if I only went forwards, I used to push it with my tummy ha ha (cant do it at all now) as it was easier.

[RAV1D]

Flymo mowers are designed to spin like a fan allowing the air to lift the mower to make it hover in a way that it is easy to move around your lawn, The problem with this is that they don't pick up 100% of the grass cuttings as the blade that spins round cutting the grass is also lifting the mower allowing a gap to throw some grass outwards with the air. They are not the best mowers to fully collect grass they just have adapted a collection box over the years to sell better and keep up with other brands of new mowers. The flymo gets its name from the fact it flys (lifts off the ground) To make it easyer to push around your lawn. They would have to loose this flying motion to collect all the grass but They won't do that as thats what a flymo is. A hovering mower. If you want best results on a lawn with all the grass collected you would be better with a cylinder lawnmower with removable box. Not a rotary mower which are best suited to rough grass. Cricket pitches,bowling lawns all use top quality cylinder mowers with boxes to get the stripe effect and looking professional.

[Eve]

I'll give it a good clean before I use it next time, maybe take a dustpan brush out as am worried about going near the blades, see if it helps.

It's less noticable when it's not so dry, the last lot went all dry like hay and looked awful! I need to buy a rake really.

Will try just forwards as well, I tend to do it all kinds of ways to just get it done, should probably be a bit more structured! Next door is for sale and it doesn't help the agents have secured a sign in the lawn which is unshiftable so have to mow round it (and not very well!). Need to sharpen my shear things to cut the "clump" around it by hand and do round the edges.

Getting the lawnmower out of the shed is enough of an ordeal as a big bush has grown over from next door and I have to fight the shed door open and lawnmover out (and back in) as it's all scratchy and got thorny bits on it and usually end up with scratches all over.

The neighbour was found dead in the house by the police a few months back so obviously can't ask him to do anything about it and I'm worried about not cutting it properly and damaging the whole bush but it's making getting to the shed really difficult. No idea what the bush is, might post again to see how best to deal with it.

[AlBags]

I'll come over and trim your bush if you like Jenna ; )

[Eve]

Hahaha, thanks Albags ;)

[starone]

You can cut the hedge if it is on your side of the fence. I believe the correct procedure is to give the cuttings back to the person who owns the hedge, but personally I would just get rid of them. They might not appreciate a pile of cuttings suddenly appearing in their garden. I must admit to paying a local lad £5 to cut my lawn and he makes a very good job of it.

[arwyn]

jenna it's best to do things to the next door garden when the house is empty, I'v done a few things, the main was putting weed killer on all the nettles also cutting back anything that was over grown on to my side.

[Eve]

I think I would just disgard the cuttings in the circumstances, the whole garden is just so overgrown, only small and a load of small trees/large bushes have just overtaken it though I imagine they must have been planted as it was a newly built estate which didn't have any trees/bushes etc... in them originally from what I can see.

My issue is more cutting it without damaging it (it's quite tough) and making it look awful - I only have a old pair of garden shears too which had very little effect when I tried a few bits as I was so fed up of being shredding getting in and out of the shed.

I've got a photo but having problems uploading it to ask a question as tinypic isn't playing tonight.

I am seriously tempted to do the same once I get back on track (bloody recession) Starbuck :) Just need to find a non-intimidating looking local one! Can't think of any on the estate (kids that is, not just not intimidating looking ones).