Big yards are over rated. (Full Version)

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RepentanceIsRequired -> Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 9:46:32 AM)

Big yards are over rated because you have to mow them. I mowed our lawn for the first time and we only have a push mower. Three tanks of gas, 20 some bags of clippings and about 5 hours later (had to break for a couple of baby feedings) I finally got my lawn mowed yesterday. However!, I did really enjoy doing it because I love the way the grass looks freshly mowed. I love making the lines in the grass. I am very pleased with my work yesterday.

What are some of your likes/dislikes about yard work?



uncabeeil -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 10:27:00 AM)

Raking leaves in the spring! My father has a huge (30+ ft tall) oak tree that doesn't drop its dead leaves until the new ones start. So at the end of every April, or thereabouts, I have to rake a gazillion dead oak leaves. I prefer the maples and dogwoods he has; they drop their leaves during the "right" season.



meg4 -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 10:37:29 AM)

My yard is way too big, too. It takes about eight hours to mow and weedeat every week. I enjoy doing the work, but since I work 50+ hours a week at my job and have kids to take care of I really don't have that much time to devote to yard work. I am trying to gradually convert some of the yard to garden and orchard instead of lawn.



Kat_D -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 10:52:13 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RepentanceIsRequired

Big yards are over rated because you have to mow them. I mowed our lawn for the first time and we only have a push mower. Three tanks of gas, 20 some bags of clippings and about 5 hours later (had to break for a couple of baby feedings) I finally got my lawn mowed yesterday. However!, I did really enjoy doing it because I love the way the grass looks freshly mowed. I love making the lines in the grass. I am very pleased with my work yesterday.

What are some of your likes/dislikes about yard work?

I'm just not understanding why you needed gas when you have a push mower. I thought THIS was a push mower.

I think big is relative. I have a huge back yard by Southern California standards, but it would probably be considered dinky to someone who lives in the MidWest or a rural area of the U.S.

I used to hate pulling weeds.[:'(] I no longer do yard work though...I have a wonderful gardener who comes bi-weekly to do that job for me. Thank You, Jesus!



stellaluna -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 11:01:40 AM)

I love yard work myself, especially mowing and the instant gratification factor.

My parents' backyard is probably more than half an acre. They're considering a goat. [8|]



meg4 -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 11:04:15 AM)

Kat, that is what I call a reel mower. I consider a push mower to be one that has a motor to turn the cutting blade, but you have to walk behind it and push it to get it to move. The other choice is a riding mower or garden tractor.



stellaluna -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 11:12:05 AM)

Or a self-propelled.



Kat_D -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 11:14:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: meg4

Kat, that is what I call a reel mower. I consider a push mower to be one that has a motor to turn the cutting blade, but you have to walk behind it and push it to get it to move. The other choice is a riding mower or garden tractor.


Oooooooh, O.K.! Thanks. See, you do learn something new every day.[X(]



manda59 -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 11:15:24 AM)

We had two acres where we lived before - here we have just a 30ft garden and I feel so claustrophobic. How I yearn for a large plot of land again....

If grass cutting is stressful, get a goat (or two!) Or geese - they make great lawn mowers.[:)]
(My choice would be a cow, lol, but I guess that might not go down too well in some of your yards!)



fluffmonkey -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 11:16:50 AM)

we have 4 acres that needs to be mowed we have riding ones lol



garsyt -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 12:11:51 PM)

We have just a tad over a quarter of and acre and I LOVE mowing and being out in my yard! I use a push mower too and make the eldest child help a bit on the not so hilly, or flower filled parts. It only takes me about an hour and a half to do both the mowing and run the weedeater. Shorter if my husband is helping and longer if the kids are helping. Just being out there and knowing that this is MY lawn and I can do whatever I please with it is enough reward for me. Typically on a good day I can get our entire lawn mowed on one tank of gas. Of course I'd use more if the grass is extra thick or long - but that's typical.

Blessings,

Garsy



Auben -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 1:14:49 PM)

I think big LAWNS are overrated.

Depending on where you live you could plant it in prairie or other indigenous plants. No mowing required. [;)]

I wish I had a bigger yard. I have lots of trees (including 5 of the oaks uncabeeil mentioned, a few maples, and many ornamental cedar) which make it hard to plan my garden around the sunny spots.

Raking can be quite a chore. Although I don't mind it so much now that my littlest is 3. It was hard when they were all babies and toddlers.



jod78 -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 1:26:09 PM)

I can mow, weedeat, etc my one-half acre in about an hour and fifteen minutes with a 22" "push" mower.

Why do people rake leaves? I don't understand. Waste of time. If they blow and pile up in a corner, I might bag them. Otherwise I blow them into the yard and mulch them up with the mower (which is a mulching mower). Leaves fall for a reason and that reason isn't so you can put them in bags. And why do people bag their grass clippings? Just buy a mulching mower! It's better for your grass, it saves you time, and the clippings are undetectable....as long as you don't let the grass get TOO high before mowing.



zoebob -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 1:30:34 PM)

Actually, we learned in science a year or so ago that the reason the leaves fall off the trees is to keep the trees alive. If the leaves aren't there then the tree doesn't need as much water and nutrients in the winter when the ground freezes. That's why ever greens have needles: they don't require as much water.

However, I agree. I would think that all those decomposing leaves would be good for the yard. I never rake up trimmings.



jodavi -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 2:25:42 PM)

We never had a yard until we moved here in the midwest. We had a small concrete back yard when we were living in So CA. I enjoy mowing and raking. I hate weeds though. 'can't really complain about yard work because come winter....don't have to do a thing in the yard but then I forgot about shoveling snow. Oh well. That's why I love 4 seasons.



uncabeeil -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 2:55:17 PM)

quote:

I would think that all those decomposing leaves would be good for the yard.
They would be if they actually decomposed instead of lying there smothering the grass underneath. It takes a long time for leaves to decompose; way longer than three months of cold weather. I tried turning them into my garden one fall only to have them resurface when I broke the ground up in the spring. So the only choices are dead spots in the lawn or rake.



Auben -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 4:08:22 PM)

But if you leave them the grass comes up by the time they actually do decompose. [;)]

I rake (in the front anyway) because there are ordinances about raking and such. We already get in trouble for silly things like not driving the car in our drive way enough or kids leaving bikes in the yard.



RepentanceIsRequired -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/14/2008 8:46:34 PM)

quote:

Just being out there and knowing that this is MY lawn and I can do whatever I please with it is enough reward for me.


YES!! This is why I am so excited about my house. I grew up on a farm (we are living here right now until we can move into our house in town) and I loved the big yard. Then we moved to Orlando (lived there for about 7 years) where all we had was just a dead end street on one side of the townhouse and a three square foot piece of dirt where we could attempt to grow something. Which by the way I planted four pineapple plants which I got from my MIL in Ft. Lauderdale. Anyway, I am tickled pink to finally have a yard with enough space for a garden and play area for the kids.

quote:

And why do people bag their grass clippings?


We put our grass clippings into a trailer and take feed them to the calves that dad is fattening up for butchering.

quote:

'can't really complain about yard work because come winter....don't have to do a thing in the yard but then I forgot about shoveling snow. Oh well. That's why I love 4 seasons.


Indeed!! I agree! [:D]



sunshine4God -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/15/2008 12:54:39 AM)

We have a big yard and I hate having to rake leaves.



Harvie -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/15/2008 2:11:16 AM)

We have a gardener. [:D]



uncabeeil -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/15/2008 9:36:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Harvie

We have a gardener. [:D]

[sm=nosestuckup.gif]

Actually, so does my dad. Me. [:D]



dianetavegia -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/15/2008 12:12:43 PM)

I LOVE big yards. I don't like our red clay, tho. We have close to 100 trees on our almost an acre of land. Most are in our backyard and there's no grass under them.

If I had plenty of money, I'd have a gorgeous yard instead of a 'nice' yard. You can never have too many flowers!



woodwind228 -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/15/2008 3:59:21 PM)

I like a big yard. Pain to upkeep, but I like them all the same.



IAMJulie -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/16/2008 1:16:00 AM)

I miss my big yard sumpin' fierce! We had an acre before and half was fenced pasture with a barn and we had two goats. Wanted to get chickens and a horse but then DH's employer transfered us to a much more expensive area so now we have .21 acre and had to rehome our goats. :( Makes an OK yard for the kids and dog to at least have a place to play a little but it's not the same.



bford64 -> RE: Big yards are over rated. (5/16/2008 1:52:23 AM)

We moved from an average city sized lot (75' x 120') to an acre about 11 years ago. There have been times that I have wondered why we took on such a large sized lot. But overall we enjoy it because of the feeling of not being cramped. It takes about 2 hours to mow it twice a week. If we keep up with it we don't have to worry about bagging or sweeping. I have used both a riding mower with a 42" deck and a self propelled 22" walk behind. I like the results of the self propelled better. Plus it gives me the exercise I need. I also enjoy the time it takes to mow because I can use it to think. Sort of a self imposed quite time. Now when the temps hit triple digits is when I begin to loath mowing.



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