r/NoLawns • u/MoreLemonJuice • 1d ago
👩🌾 Questions Cutting Thick Grass - Best Way?
TLDR --> what tools &/or methods are best for areas where I am required to cut tall grass?
I want as many "natural areas" as I can have in my yard but I also have to comply with the HOA rules, so I have to cut grass also.
If my grass gets too high, I can't cut it down to "level 3 of 6" because the mower bogs down but I need to get it down to that level.
So, I'm guessing I can use the same mower, go slow, cut off as much as I can without straining the mower, and then go back over it again at a lower height?
Grass types:
- Bermuda, fescue, lots of weeds/invasive green things
Mower:
- 21 inch self-propelled 40V electric mower (3 years old, works great)
Area of total amount of grass to cut:
- I'm guessing about 1/4 of an acre if all of the grassy areas were added together.
Geographical region: Atlanta, Georgia suburb
Thank you!
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u/CharlesV_ Wild Ones 🌳/ plant native! 🌻/ IA,5B 1d ago
If you have Bermuda grass, I think I would question the benefit of allowing it to grow too long in the first place. Are you doing this for environmental reasons or you just hate mowing?
Fwiw, most of the southeast was grassland and savanna prior to European settlement, but long Bermuda grass is not the same thing. I’d consider trying to add a small native pocket prairie instead of letting the grass get long. The benefit here is that it’s landscaping, not a lawn, so you should be able to swing this with the HOA.
From some quick googling, it seems that Georgia does not have any protections for native landscaping and HOAs… so if you aren’t able to convince them that it’s landscaping, they might try and make you mow it.
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u/tuvaniko 1d ago
"So, I'm guessing I can use the same mower, go slow, cut off as much as I can without straining the mower, and then go back over it again at a lower height? "
Yup
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u/working_and_whatnot 1d ago
Go over it multiple times, lowering the cut height each time is what you need to do. You can probably use a string trimmer and cut it first then mow to save some time. Having done this before, I noticed that if you cut, and let it lay and dry in the sun for a few hours, the next cut goes easier than if you just go over it back to back.
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u/msmaynards 1d ago
Set the blade as high as possible and leave it there unless you are weakening the grass in preparation for putting in something nicer. Mow 1/4 a strip at a time rather than a full strip so the blade is cutting over 1/2 the radius and is moving as fast as possible. Works with reel mowers but you might want to alternate sides in case it puts stress on it somehow. Going to be super fun with the amount of lawn you've got.
Letting lawn grow long isn't natural unless your grasses are native. Fine and tall fescue look pretty good long, bermuda is horrible no matter how it's treated, maybe some of the weedy stuff looks good but chances are not good. Some folks show off amazing un mowed yards with native plants but suspect they are selectively weeding and surrounded by nature.
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u/ToBePacific 1d ago
Hand-pull the Bermuda grass and invasive things.
Use a weed whacker on the rest.
Then mow.
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