Mow or Weed Eat First

[cyphoon]

In the country, the correct answer is it depends. If there is junk hiding in the weeds, like a garden hose, extension cord, wire fencing, or a tool you forgot to put away, then it is better to weedeat first to avoid hitting that stuff with the mower.

Otherwise, mow first so the weedeating is minimized.

H

 

[CycloneVet]

I believe weed eating first is just plain old fashioned communism

 

[enisthemenace]

I get it if it has been raining and you can't get to it until it is out of control, but if it isn't more than you should cut in one pass I just don't see it.

It results in a more even cut. Certainly not something I do every time, but I do do it a few times a year.

 

[1100011CS]

I am not. 9-5 with a 45 min commute on either end. Walking mower. Time well spent.

Just my opinion but I disagree. Life is too short to spend that much time on grass unless you're smoking it.

 

[isucyfan]

Put me in the "don't care to have a manicured lawn" camp. In my opinion, it would be great if the whole concept went away...monocultures are terrible environments for insects and other pollinators. Gas mowers are one of the worst polluters around and blowers and trimmers are loud as hell, too.

I'm trying to reduce our grass area by planting natives and am adding clover to the grassy areas that I still have.

Lawns only came about by aristocrats wanting to show off by having an expanse of grass that they didn't need to have livestock on...basically bragging that they were so rich and had so much land that they could leave nonproductive spaces on their property. We don't need that now, but we desperately need more pollinators.

I know that this is kind of a "get off my lawn" kind of post, but hopefully in the future I don't have a lawn anyway!
.

 

[flycy]

I only occasionally weed eat and only do it at all because I have an electric weed eater. Have a 3/4 acre yard and don't really care if a few spots get higher, also hate small 2 cycle engines or more specifically carbs.

 

[LarryISU]

I suspect there are several on here who do weed first, and then just don't care about mowing.

 

[enisthemenace]

I suspect there are several on here who do weed first, and then just don't care about mowing.

Doing weed first doesn’t stop me from mowing, but it certainly affects my thoughts on trimming. “Yeah. I’ll do that next time. Maybe”.

 

[exCYtable]

Mow first is the correct answer.

Exactly.. Mow as close as you can to everything, then weedeat whatever is left.

 

[Bestaluckcy]

First I usually pick up the driftwood and trash. Doesn’t matter which is first, so many times I mix doing them together. The Corps will be flooding it again in the near future, so don’t bother with a mower or trimmer. In the spring the wood anemone is one of the most spectacular sites to see. Enjoy when the vetch covers a sandy area. Have good luck with purple cones but brown eyed susans not so much.

Try to be mindful of using chemicals close to the lake. In late summer or fall have a hand sprayer I use to spray some diesel on the noxious weeds then set them on fire before they go to seed. A driftwood fire, properly gathered and piled will clean an area spotless. My only complaint is you blankety blanks that throw your trash in the lake. Anybody need a ball for your dog to play fetch? How about some used tires? Why do farmers vaccinate livestock then throw bottles and syringes in the lake? Don’t get me started on bottled water.

 

[FerShizzle]

FerShizzle’s Pro Tip of the Day

Mow as close to the edges as you prefer, then come back and hit the tall standing grass with a little vegetation killer from a pump sprayer. This isn’t for everywhere, but is great for fence lines or an inside radius or corner that always leaves a little. Future you will appreciate it.

 

[Cloneon]

Who mows first? That makes zero sense to me.

The logical answer is, it depends on how long between mowing. If the grass gets too long, weed eating is not only more difficult, but it's harder on the eater. On the other hand, mowing after, mulches the already chewed up weed eater remains. I have my mower set on its highest setting and mow approximately every 1 1/2 weeks (weather dependent of course). I, therefore, weed eat first. But, again, if the grass is too long, I switch it up. My two cents for what it's worth.
That aside, when I purchase a property, the first thing I do is re-landscape to effectively reduce mowing time and make weed eating less necessary. In the long run, it saves a ton of time.

 

[Rural]

Weed first and neither gets done.

 

[cydnote]

First I usually pick up the driftwood and trash. Doesn’t matter which is first, so many times I mix doing them together. The Corps will be flooding it again in the near future, so don’t bother with a mower or trimmer. In the spring the wood anemone is one of the most spectacular sites to see. Enjoy when the vetch covers a sandy area. Have good luck with purple cones but brown eyed susans not so much.

Try to be mindful of using chemicals close to the lake. In late summer or fall have a hand sprayer I use to spray some diesel on the noxious weeds then set them on fire before they go to seed. A driftwood fire, properly gathered and piled will clean an area spotless. My only complaint is you blankety blanks that throw your trash in the lake. Anybody need a ball for your dog to play fetch? How about some used tires? Why do farmers vaccinate livestock then throw bottles and syringes in the lake? Don’t get me started on bottled water.

Calling out others for their pollution of lakes/waters then admitting that you spray weeds with diesel fuel, especially near a lake, seems like an odd take. In all my training for pesticide application, I've never heard of this method being addressed, so I'm guessing it is not a recommended practice. In any sector (farmers included) there are always those that skirt the "rules" or push the envelope, but untrained pesticide applicating home owners have to bear their fair share of blame for contamination of our water when several of these products are available in many box stores, especially when the untrained adapt a "more is better, quicker attitude". Not only pesticides but fertilizer applications. Some of this has been curbed in the farming sector due to economics (rather than stewardship) but it still has a positive result. Not so much in the residential setting for those wanting that perfect lawn achieved by multiple applications of pesticide/fertilizations throughout the year.

End rant

 

[cycloner29]

Trim everything a tad lower than mower height that way I don't have to trim after every mow. Damn neighbor's crabgrass though is making me trim after ever mow as that crap never seems to stop growing.

 

[Bestaluckcy]

Calling out others for their pollution of lakes/waters then admitting that you spray weeds with diesel fuel, especially near a lake, seems like an odd take. In all my training for pesticide application, I've never heard of this method being addressed, so I'm guessing it is not a recommended practice. In any sector (farmers included) there are always those that skirt the "rules" or push the envelope, but untrained pesticide applicating home owners have to bear their fair share of blame for contamination of our water when several of these products are available in many box stores, especially when the untrained adapt a "more is better, quicker attitude". Not only pesticides but fertilizer applications. Some of this has been curbed in the farming sector due to economics (rather than stewardship) but it still has a positive result. Not so much in the residential setting for those wanting that perfect lawn achieved by multiple applications of pesticide/fertilizations throughout the year.

End rant

The diesel is not used to kill the weeds. It aids to start the fire that burns the weeds. There isn’t any diesel residual after I burn, as I use it sparingly as I am very stingy about spending the money to purchase it. Other times I do not use fire but will cover the area with a tarp for 10 days to smother some vegetation. Didn’t mean to infer that diesel fuel could be used as a chemical substitute. My post was originally meant as much in humor as anything.

 

[Cyan]

I'm always mow first and then trimming.

 

[CyCrazy]

70 people are wrong on this thread.

 

[houjix]

Used to trim second, but switched to trimming first. Been happier with the results ever since.

 

[jcf817]

Put me in the "don't care to have a manicured lawn" camp. In my opinion, it would be great if the whole concept went away...monocultures are terrible environments for insects and other pollinators. Gas mowers are one of the worst polluters around and blowers and trimmers are loud as hell, too.

I'm trying to reduce our grass area by planting natives and am adding clover to the grassy areas that I still have.

Lawns only came about by aristocrats wanting to show off by having an expanse of grass that they didn't need to have livestock on...basically bragging that they were so rich and had so much land that they could leave nonproductive spaces on their property. We don't need that now, but we desperately need more pollinators.

I know that this is kind of a "get off my lawn" kind of post, but hopefully in the future I don't have a lawn anyway!
.

Love this. Have you checked out Benjamin Vogt's Prairie Up. He's great! VERY opinionated, too, which I love.

I stopped mowing the back 20-30 feet of my yard last summer after I noticed a few fireflies. I also blow all of my leaves into that area. I have hundreds of fireflies this year.