Scalping the Lawn and Beating the Bushes

I made the big mistake of fertilizing the back lawn this spring.

And nature being what it is, the fertilizer is doing a bang up job and I have had to mow the lawn at least once a week. Lawn care is not my favorite thing. Especially when the grass is growing like crazy. Last week in my eagerness to simplify the process, I decided to change the level of the mower to the second stop up… which cuts the blades of green to a crisp 1″ length. Perfecto. Except the first push through the high grass made it look as if I had scalped the lawn. My sister was appalled. However, after zipping around the front lawn cutting up the weeds I returned to the thick blanket of 3″ grass growing in the square behind the house.

Now, before going further, I must explain that we have had quite a lot of rain these last few days here in the northeast, and although the sun was shining, the blades of tall grass were still a bit moist down deep near the ground. Also, one more thing— I am pushing a gas mower that has to be started by me bracing my foot against one of the back wheels and yanking the pull cord as hard as I can. It usually starts after 5 or 6 pulls, but by that time I am exhausted and sweating like a pig. The last thing I want to do is stop mowing before the job is done. I know I’ll have a heck of a time getting the $%!@ mower started again.

I never knew a lawn mower could be so fussy. Sure enough, the tall grass was too tall for the low setting on the mower and after five or six back and forths, the $%^@# mower stalled out, grass caught up around the blade. I used a long stick to clean it out. And tried to restart the mower. Stubborn thing just wouldn’t go. Too hot I guess. You’d think a warm motor would want to just kick right in. But no. Not this one. Had to wait 30 minutes and try again. One, two, three yanks. Nothing. Four, five, six… nothing. Wait another 30 minutes. Finally after waiting a full hour, on the third yank the motor kicked over and I was in business again. Thats when it started to drizzle and that was that. Grass clogged, mower stalled. I had had it.

Now the back lawn has a most peculiar look to it. Most of it shaved to 1″ of its life, the rest is now nearing 4″. What fun. I think I’ll have to do it with the weed wacker.

But hark!!! Summer visitors are due to arrive this very Tuesday. And among them, a tall, strapping nearly 15 year old, eager for a chance to show he loves his dear aunt. Right?

Hooray! I am rescued from the lawn. Yes?