Riding mower on a suburban lawn?

[DamonH]

My wife is giving me crap about using a riding mower on my lawn, which is pretty much a standard sized yard (85' X 125' - about 1/4 acre). The mower was my Grandmothers, and given to me free after it sat in the shed for many years. The front yard actually takes longer with the riding mower, but I more then make up for it in the back. I still have a nice push mower, and I use it occasionally, but pretty much prefer the riding mower because if nothing else I don't get as hot (due to my tasty beverage and not having to push :D). Should I get ride of the thing, or would you use it too? I must admit I am somewhat embarrassed when people drive by ... I can see them saying, "why does he think he needs a riding lawnmower, now THAT is lazy!". Luckily the good thing about getting older is I don't really care that much. heh

To further my dilemma, I'm in need of a spreader. I'm pretty tempted to buy a this tow-behind for my riding mower.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418ACAB3E1L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Front:
http://www.damonh.net/casa/newhouse/images/DSCF4060.jpg

Portion of the Back:
http://www.damonh.net/casa/newhouse/images/DSCF4066.jpg

What would you do? Keep on truckin & buy the spreader? Put it back in the shed and get the much needed exercise? As a side-note, it seems to actually use less gas then my push mower. :cool:

[bmw2stang]

Keep using the riding mower.

[kobuzz]

First, I'd like to say that house is pimp.
Second, I'd say use the rider if you have it. Work smarter not harder.

[jluv]

Man law states that it's not a matter of whether or not the yard is big enough to require a riding lawn mower, but instead it's a question of whether or not the yard is big enough to allow a riding lawn mower.

If I didn't have a tiny yard that is impossible to mow with a riding mower, I'd have one. Your yard definitely looks big enough. If men laugh at you, it is because they are hiding their jealousy.

[DamonH]

First, I'd like to say that house is pimp.

Thanks! We moved in at the end of last year and are loving it.

Your yard definitely looks big enough. If men laugh at you, it is because they are hiding their jealousy.

I agree! I wouldn't have gone and spent the money to buy one, but since this one was free I figure I might as well use it! No shame in my game. :cool:

Thanks for telling me what I wanted to hear guys!

[jluv]

Thanks! We moved in at the end of last year and are loving it.



I agree! I wouldn't have gone and spent the money to buy one, but since this one was free I figure I might as well use it! No shame in my game. :cool:

Thanks for telling me what I wanted to hear guys!


Another man law says that women don't have any business telling you how to cut your lawn. I mean, WTF?

[JimD]

Hell yea, keep the rider..

[4.0x3.48]

I have a similar setup with a normal front yard and a HUGE backyard. I use a nice push mower in the front and a 20 hp riding mower in the back. The push mower makes a nicer cut, but the rider sure makes short work of the large area in the back that people rarely see.

EDIT: That is a super nice house BTW!

[DamonH]

Another man law says that women don't have any business telling you how to cut your lawn. I mean, WTF?

I think she was just trying to give me a hard time. I told her I really didn't care what she used to clean the house as long as it got done, and she should feel the same about me doing lawn care. :p

[Sgt Beavis]

Another man law says that women don't have any business telling you how to cut your lawn. I mean, WTF?

Absolutely.

Tell the wife to try mowing with the walk behind. If she doesn't try it out, she needs to shut it.

My wife is grateful that I'M the one doing all the yard work. She never tells me how to do it.

[Chopped54]

Keep the rider...
Here is a decent pull behind spreader for only $60
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_743047_743047

[David]

Id get rid of it.

But then again, I mow an acre with a push mower.

[Chopped54]

Id get rid of it.

But then again, I mow an acre with a push mower.
WOW!!!
It takes me about 5 hours to fully mow my 1.5 acres with a ride on, and I push the back...
I can not imagine what pushing an acre would take

[AL P]

Get a new wife to ride.

[lee earley]

I would be careful with the riding mower on that new sod.

[Skidmark]

I'd say keep the riding mower... that's a bigass backyard.

[347Mike]

Give me $30 bucks and ill do the entire thing, without a riding lawn mower.

[Skidmark]

Give me $30 bucks and ill do the entire thing, without a riding lawn mower.

You're going to drive from Euless to Fate, TX for 30 bucks to cut their lawn?

[347Mike]

You're going to drive from Euless to Fate, TX for 30 bucks to cut their lawn?

Didnt see that. Add a $50 dollar fuel charge.

[BP]

1/4 acre lot here and a 42" riding mower does most of it in about 15 minutes.

[wesman]

I'd push the front lawn and ride the back. I need to get my zero turn fixed....pushing my lawn sucks a big one.

--wes

[Vertnut]

Let her cut the sumbitch... ;)

[J&T's 82]

I had the same size lot and used a riding mower. The problem is that it will cut ruts in your yard if the ground is moist, especially with bermuda grass. I also had one of those pull behind Scotts spreaders and I got rid of it after one season because it was a PITA. On that size yard, you can actually spread the fertilizer faster and more evenly with a standard push style.

Also..........Nice house.

[DamonH]

I'd push the front lawn and ride the back. I need to get my zero turn fixed....pushing my lawn sucks a big one.

--wes

That's what I've been doing lately and that seems to actually work the best.

The problem is that it will cut ruts in your yard if the ground is moist, especially with bermuda grass. I also had one of those pull behind Scotts spreaders and I got rid of it after one season because it was a PITA. On that size yard, you can actually spread the fertilizer faster and more evenly with a standard push style.

Yeah, I've noticed that. I'm trying to vary my pattern to keep the ruts from happening too bad. I also just picked up a regular push spreader yesterday thinking like you said, it'd probably take longer dragging that thing around behind the mower.

[01WhiteCobra]

There is a dude in my neighborhood (same deal, 1/4) that has one. Got it for father's day.

He is from Nigeria and it was always his dream to have a riding lawn mower I guess. He moved in in May and had his rider in June.

[line-em-up]

Keep the riding mower or offer to let her mow it with a push mower.

That's a nice house. Who is the builder?

Be glad you got a nice picture of the view, because in a few years, all you will see are houses.

[03trubluGT]

Ride. If your wife doesn't like the way you cut the lawn, make her do it.


Second, whoever built that fence sucks balls. If those are 6' panels, they didn't sink the posts far enough. That shit would drive me crazy seeing the poles extend over the fence. :mad:

I'd rip that shit down and put up a real fence. I used 2x4x16' presure treated lumber for my runners and then used 1"x6"x6' pickets. I HATE cheap ass panels!

[DamonH]

Keep the riding mower or offer to let her mow it with a push mower.

That's a nice house. Who is the builder?

Be glad you got a nice picture of the view, because in a few years, all you will see are houses.

It was built by David Weekly. They have 3 story houses in my neighborhood, and I was really afraid they'd build one of those monsters directly behind me. Lucked out though, and they just finished a one story. I'm sure you are correct though and those hills will one day be covered with houses. :( For a housing slow-down, my hood sure is building out fast.

Second, whoever built that fence sucks balls.

Heh ... the fence wasn't actually finished when I took that picture. They cut the poles and capped them off. That being said, it is a very cheap, basic fence. I'll be replacing this one with a nicer one when it wears out (probably in only 5-6 years!).

[03trubluGT]

Heh ... the fence wasn't actually finished when I took that picture. They cut the poles and capped them off. That being said, it is a very cheap, basic fence. I'll be replacing this one with a nicer one when it wears out (probably in only 5-6 years!).

Why the fkuc would you cut poles? That just meant they were too lazy to sink them the 2.5' they should have been. The fence will not be as strong as it should be, and that is just another shoddy piece of work.

A good galvanized steel pole fence the way I build them should last at least 15 years. I pressure wash and treat my fence every year. The one I built in Ennis in 1996 still looks great, even though I doubt the owner has treated the fence in 5 years..

Oh, and I'm just thankful that you said that someone else built the fence. I would have been embarrassed if you said you had built it :p

[DamonH]

Why the fkuc would you cut poles? That just meant they were too lazy to sink them the 2.5' they should have been. The fence will not be as strong as it should be, and that is just another shoddy piece of work.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but actually all those poles are sunk into a retaining wall. They put up the poles long before they did the fence work due to people riding 4 wheelers in the area and they didn't want someone riding off the ledge and sueing them. So basically, the poles should be sunk to the proper depth. They still could have lined them up better, but they probably had to leave them tall in case I upgraded my fence to 8 feet instead of leaving it at 6'. Here's a pic of the wall:

http://www.damonh.net/casa/newhouse/images/DSCF3924.jpg

[03trubluGT]

Hell, you don't need a 8' fence when you have a 5-6' retaining wall. Who is gonna see over that???


Nice house. I'm glad I'm not paying your electric bill. Mine is bad enough for 3,000 sq ft.... :mad:

[mikeb]

I don't see the problem, unless the mower does not have a cupholder :D

My wife (bless her heart) mowed our yard recently (push mower) when I was getting way behind on things to help me out. She had genuine blisters on her hands from doing that :(

[DamonH]

Hell, you don't need a 8' fence when you have a 5-6' retaining wall. Who is gonna see over that???


Nice house. I'm glad I'm not paying your electric bill. Mine is bad enough for 3,000 sq ft.... :mad:

Actually my electric bill isn't bad at all. Highest I've had was $234. We did pay for extra inwall insulation & radiant barrier though. My house is around the same size as yours, 3100 sq ft or so.

[03trubluGT]

Actually my electric bill isn't bad at all. Highest I've had was $234. We did pay for extra inwall insulation & radiant barrier though. My house is around the same size as yours, 3100 sq ft or so.

I wish I had done that now. My highest bill that wasn't screwed up due to a meter misread was $430.

It averages about $175 in the winter and $300 in the summer. At least it used to until energy prices went outta control... :rolleyes:

[94StangFiveO]

You living in Woodcreek? I'm in Barringer over here.

[Yale]

Damon - Tell my buddy Ryan you'll give him OT to come out and mow it. I bet he says no.

[mustang87]

Keep using the riding mower.
2x ride on bother

[FATHERFORD]

I live on about 1/3 acre and pushed during the 100 degree days....It sucks.

Keep on riding.

Or hire Mexicans like I did. Best thing I have ever done.

[Nate]

Actually my electric bill isn't bad at all. Highest I've had was $234. We did pay for extra inwall insulation & radiant barrier though. My house is around the same size as yours, 3100 sq ft or so.
You must have some side of inside hookup on your electric... :p

[fordcobra82]

My Yard Is Smaller Than Yours And I Use A 50" Zero Turn
"work Smarter Not Harder"

[DamonH]

You living in Woodcreek? I'm in Barringer over here.

Yep, over on the Lafayette side. You are the second DFWStanger I've heard lives in the neighborhood. I know Mach1Nut lives here as well.

You must have some side of inside hookup on your electric...

Funny you mention that, Steph was suppose to give me the hookup but it never happened. You guys can't do new installs apparently, so I had to get setup first. I'm with Reliant now, turned in my paperwork like 7 months ago and the change to Stream never happened. :confused:

[Nate]

Funny you mention that, Steph was suppose to give me the hookup but it never happened. You guys can't do new installs apparently, so I had to get setup first. I'm with Reliant now, turned in my paperwork like 7 months ago and the change to Stream never happened. :confused:
LOL well you should have went through me...I could have made it happen...I'm the guy that actually sends the orders to make things happen. ;)

[Mach1Nut]

Yep, over on the Lafayette side. You are the second DFWStanger I've heard lives in the neighborhood. I know Mach1Nut lives here as well.

Woodcreek in tha house! :D

I say you keep it Damon. Just use the push mower for the front yard and if the backyard is soggy, push it as well. Soon enough your son will want to ride along with you!

My backyard takes me about 20 minutes to push. It takes me even longer to edge back there now with the fort!

Still haven't painted it yet.

http://www.yougotdrug.com/images/BackYard.jpg

[DamonH]

My backyard takes me about 20 minutes to push. It takes me even longer to edge back there now with the fort!

You can do it that fast dodging the dinosaur bones? :D I almost brought some cow bones home for you last time I was at the farm. We need to have you guys over soon ... we're on a pretty good schedule now, just gotta find the time!

[5111]

I have 1/5 acre and I have a riding lawn mower as well (although it is only an $800 one from Lowe's). The wife likes to use it so I figure that it is worth every penny!