First post!
Backstory: All lawn photos before October 2021 were mowed with an old 19" Snapper Rotary mower. I kept the blade very sharp all season and varied mowing direction with every mow. Keep in mind, this is NOT my own lawn. We rent a townhouse with about 3,000 sq. ft. of Bermuda - of which has never, never been cared for correctly for about 5 years since installed new. Hence, "RentalLawn" - Minimal input for maximum results!
In late September 2021, I acquired a 2002 20" McLane with a 7-blade reel. It was recently refurbished and just needed some TLC and an oil change. So, there I was at the end of the growing season with a new-to-me reel mower. At least, I got to cut 4 or 5 times with it and have already learned so many new facets to reel mowing. Definitely looking forward to 2022!
The 2021 Lawn:
Signs of life! The green haze begins! March 9, 2021
Scalp Day 2021 - March 21, 2021 - Did a ~0.5" scalp with the rotary mower. Didn't bag as I thought I could rake the clippings. LOL! WRONG! Boy, was I in for a dusty mess!
March 30, 2021 - The green returns.
April happened, but I had a busy month. Didn't take many lawn photos at all...The lawn had a hard time recovering due to my lack of bagging the scalped clippings/dust. I did raise HOC to 1.50" due to FOC randomness.
May 7, 2021 - Lumpy lawn! In retrospect, I let it grow up too much to about 1.50" with infrequent cuts. Here's what that looks like...
May 10, 2021
May 21, 2021
June 8, 2021 - Looking smooth! Lowered HOC to 1.25"
June 12, 2021
July 26, 2021
August 14, 2021 - Why not do a late summer scalp? ...This is why we can't have nice things... Too low and too late in the year. Lesson learned.
September 21, 2021
The McLane has landed! September 28, 2021
September 30, 2021 - First reel cut. Notice the hop spots and general n00b cut quality. Also, the dude in the suit on the motorcycle is me.
October 1, 2021 - That sharp reel cut up close, after first reel cut. Notice maybe 60% of blades cut are reel-cut. The other 40% moved and got sucked up in the last rotary cut...
October 8, 2021
Post Reel Hard Cut - October 13, 2021 - Dropped HOC to 1" because dormancy was around the corner - Why not?! - hence all the brown at 0.25" less HOC. See next photo of greened up 1" Tifway in November. Because Georgia...
Samhain Smashing Pumpkins! November 14, 2021 - The Holidays are coming...Good night! See you in March 2022!
Backstory: All lawn photos before October 2021 were mowed with an old 19" Snapper Rotary mower. I kept the blade very sharp all season and varied mowing direction with every mow. Keep in mind, this is NOT my own lawn. We rent a townhouse with about 3,000 sq. ft. of Bermuda - of which has never, never been cared for correctly for about 5 years since installed new. Hence, "RentalLawn" - Minimal input for maximum results!
In late September 2021, I acquired a 2002 20" McLane with a 7-blade reel. It was recently refurbished and just needed some TLC and an oil change. So, there I was at the end of the growing season with a new-to-me reel mower. At least, I got to cut 4 or 5 times with it and have already learned so many new facets to reel mowing. Definitely looking forward to 2022!
The 2021 Lawn:
Signs of life! The green haze begins! March 9, 2021
Scalp Day 2021 - March 21, 2021 - Did a ~0.5" scalp with the rotary mower. Didn't bag as I thought I could rake the clippings. LOL! WRONG! Boy, was I in for a dusty mess!
March 30, 2021 - The green returns.
April happened, but I had a busy month. Didn't take many lawn photos at all...The lawn had a hard time recovering due to my lack of bagging the scalped clippings/dust. I did raise HOC to 1.50" due to FOC randomness.
May 7, 2021 - Lumpy lawn! In retrospect, I let it grow up too much to about 1.50" with infrequent cuts. Here's what that looks like...
May 10, 2021
May 21, 2021
June 8, 2021 - Looking smooth! Lowered HOC to 1.25"
June 12, 2021
July 26, 2021
August 14, 2021 - Why not do a late summer scalp? ...This is why we can't have nice things... Too low and too late in the year. Lesson learned.
September 21, 2021
The McLane has landed! September 28, 2021
September 30, 2021 - First reel cut. Notice the hop spots and general n00b cut quality. Also, the dude in the suit on the motorcycle is me.
October 1, 2021 - That sharp reel cut up close, after first reel cut. Notice maybe 60% of blades cut are reel-cut. The other 40% moved and got sucked up in the last rotary cut...
October 8, 2021
Post Reel Hard Cut - October 13, 2021 - Dropped HOC to 1" because dormancy was around the corner - Why not?! - hence all the brown at 0.25" less HOC. See next photo of greened up 1" Tifway in November. Because Georgia...
Samhain Smashing Pumpkins! November 14, 2021 - The Holidays are coming...Good night! See you in March 2022!