How old to start mowing yard? Do you mow or hire someone? (1 Viewer)

[SHIZNITTTT]

I was wondering when a good age is to start mowing your own yard. When I was 10 I was mowing not only my yard, and several other yards in my neighborhood for a few bucks. I noticed that most people in my current neighborhood don't mow and hire landscaping crews for this task. Seems expensive to hire someone to do a task that doesn't take more than 1 hour a week. Upside would be no upkeep on mowers and equipment plus not having to store mower, gas, weedeater, edger and whatever else.

whatever ramblings

 

[zamboni]

Guess it depends on the size of your property. I don't have a huge lawn, so it's a waste to pay someone to do it. And now my teenager does it, so it's a no-brainer for me.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Plant jasmine. YWIA.

 

[Otis]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

 

[NCCommish]

I started cutting lawns,including my own, at ten. I don't currently have a lawn but when I did I cut it myself. Kind of enjoy it.

 

[Quez]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

Outside doing yard work > inside with wife

 

[bigmarc27]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

I've done it myself the past few years, but we're going to start pricing crews soon. I actually enjoy cutting the grass, but I hate edging the sidewalks with a passion. We're a corner lot with a walkway that runs the neighborhood which means probably 300ft of edging at least x3 separate lines (inside walkway, outside walkway, street) not to mention the driveway as well. I despise it.

 

[Kal El]

I started mowing my parent's and grandma's lawns when I was about 9, I think, and I would help with a neighbor's lawn for some cash if they were away or didn't want to do it. My family's lawn was about an acre, which is a pain in the ### with a push mower, but easier with a riding mower.

Currently I mow my own lawn to save on money, and it's still satisfying to have the job done myself.

 

[Quez]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

I've done it myself the past few years, but we're going to start pricing crews soon. I actually enjoy cutting the grass, but I hate edging the sidewalks with a passion. We're a corner lot with a walkway that runs the neighborhood which means probably 300ft of edging at least x3 separate lines (inside walkway, outside walkway, street) not to mention the driveway as well. I despise it.

What kind of edger do you have?

 

[FUBAR]

My 12 yo will soon start mowing with our riding mower.

I started around the same age.

I was wondering when a good age is to start mowing your own yard. When I was 10 I was mowing not only my yard, and several other yards in my neighborhood for a few bucks. I noticed that most people in my current neighborhood don't mow and hire landscaping crews for this task. Seems expensive to hire someone to do a task that doesn't take more than 1 hour a week. Upside would be no upkeep on mowers and equipment plus not having to store mower, gas, weedeater, edger and whatever else.

whatever ramblings

1 hour per week? My last house would take 2 hours if I did a decent job including edging and weed whacking. This one took my over 3 without weed whacking the back, half of that was on the riding mower. If the crew would do it cheaply I'd probably pay but I mostly enjoy it.

 

[bigmarc27]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

I've done it myself the past few years, but we're going to start pricing crews soon. I actually enjoy cutting the grass, but I hate edging the sidewalks with a passion. We're a corner lot with a walkway that runs the neighborhood which means probably 300ft of edging at least x3 separate lines (inside walkway, outside walkway, street) not to mention the driveway as well. I despise it.

What kind of edger do you have?

I had a nice metal bladed one but it broke. We then bought one that uses string/cord and it makes things much more difficult.

 

[FUBAR]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

I've done it myself the past few years, but we're going to start pricing crews soon. I actually enjoy cutting the grass, but I hate edging the sidewalks with a passion. We're a corner lot with a walkway that runs the neighborhood which means probably 300ft of edging at least x3 separate lines (inside walkway, outside walkway, street) not to mention the driveway as well. I despise it.

agreed on the edging. But that was with one of the manual edging wheels. (don't know the real name but not power) with a power edger it's not so bad.

 

[Jayrod]

My son is nine and I wouldn't trust him to mow it anytime soon.

But we have a lot of trees in our lawn and use a riding mower because of the size of the lot. They're just too many spots to get into trouble with the mower right now.

 

[Pipes]

Mow my own. Takes about 45 minutes after mowing, trimming and blowing off the driveway. It's one chore that I actually enjoy doing. Plus it makes me look good with the wife since I'm doing all that "difficult" yardwork.

 

[NCCommish]

My son is nine and I wouldn't trust him to mow it anytime soon.

But we have a lot of trees in our lawn and use a riding mower because of the size of the lot. They're just too many spots to get into trouble with the mower right now.

When I was 9 I was driving a full size tractor on my uncle's corn farm.

 

[Poke_4_Life]

My yard takes 1-2 hours. I only edge and weed-eat every other time so that's the time difference.

No son in my house but my daughter started helping some to earn more allowance around 13. I don't let her do it on her own because she kinda sucks at the trim work and I still have to point out places that she missed in the yard, but I figure its good for her to be out there doing it and earning some $.

It did take a little of the wife's appreciation of the yardwork away when the 13yo daughter started doing half the work. Oh well I still use the power tools enough to be considered manly.

 

[belljr]

My wife suggested hiring someone. It's about 35 a week. I told her no way. But it's been about 8 days and is way overgrown. That's when I start to hate it

 

[AAABatteries]

Around 10 seems reasonable for most kids/most yards.

 

[Quez]

Landscaping crew FTW. I work a lot and don't want to waste my limited down time at home out on the lawn. Yard looks great year round, I don't have a bunch of equipment sitting in my garage, and I don't have to do a thing.

I've done it myself the past few years, but we're going to start pricing crews soon. I actually enjoy cutting the grass, but I hate edging the sidewalks with a passion. We're a corner lot with a walkway that runs the neighborhood which means probably 300ft of edging at least x3 separate lines (inside walkway, outside walkway, street) not to mention the driveway as well. I despise it.

What kind of edger do you have?

I had a nice metal bladed one but it broke. We then bought one that uses string/cord and it makes things much more difficult.

Yeah, doing your entire edging with a string trimmer would definitely suck. Get an actual edger & keep a good blade on it.

I have an Echo with 1 wheel that is awesome, but the 3 wheel ones may be better if you have a lot to do. I like the portability of the single wheel for planters.

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

JFC I have this model mower and the drive handle just broke today. http://www.troybilt.com/equipment/troybilt/tb360-triaction-21-rear-wheel-self-propelled-mower-tb360

Apparently this is a problem with this model. http://troy-bilt.pissedconsumer.com/mower-tb360-20140812521026.html

I really need to have this hired out. No more worries about upkeep on the equipment.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

I started mowing at age 6. I was too light to activate the automatic cutoff under the seat so I sat on a cinder block. Couldn't reach the clutch anyway. Dad would put the mower in 2nd gear (had 3 gears) and let me go. I would disengage the blades (lever by steering wheel) and turn off the mower with the key while still in gear. When I was 9 I was gassing up the mower and going by myself. Then backing the mower into the shed and grabbing the weedeater.

My son is 9 and there is no way in hell he is mowing this year. Then again I have a Z-turn with a 60" deck that hits a top speed of around 18mph. Long way from that old Wheel Horse riding mower that I used as a kid.

 

[Quez]

JFC I have this model mower and the drive handle just broke today. http://www.troybilt.com/equipment/troybilt/tb360-triaction-21-rear-wheel-self-propelled-mower-tb360

Apparently this is a problem with this model. http://troy-bilt.pissedconsumer.com/mower-tb360-20140812521026.html

I really need to have this hired out. No more worries about upkeep on the equipment.

More time to scout 12yo athletes.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Push mower-10

Riding mower- 13

 

[kentric]

Use a manual push mower I bought a few years ago. I let my 8 y.o. push it downhill. She can't use it on the lawn otherwise as it is too difficult to push.

 

[NutterButter]

I have no problem cutting. I have the time and any reason to get outside is fine with me. What I hate is dealing with all the different types of weeds, fertilizing, grub control, lime, etc. Keep in mind, I'm looking for a pretty pristine lawn. I'm considering hiring someone for that so I can just concentrate on the cutting, edging and watering.

 

[Bull Dozier]

My yard takes 1-2 hours. I only edge and weed-eat every other time so that's the time difference.

No son in my house but my daughter started helping some to earn more allowance around 13. I don't let her do it on her own because she kinda sucks at the trim work and I still have to point out places that she missed in the yard, but I figure its good for her to be out there doing it and earning some $.

It did take a little of the wife's appreciation of the yardwork away when the 13yo daughter started doing half the work. Oh well I still use the power tools enough to be considered manly.

Similar issue with my son. He started mowing it this year at 13. He misses long strips that I have to point out. We have a self propelled so he goes as fast as he can to get it done, which results in the mower bouncing, and the grass being uneven. He generally doesn't give a #### so he doesn't take the time to do a good job. I now edge while he mows, so I can keep on him. It'd be easier just to do it myself, but I feel like letting him off would be rewarding him for his lack of effort, which isn't going to happen.

 

[Kal El]

I used to have a Briggs and Stratton mower I got from Lowe's for about 4.5 years. This thing stank on ice. It cut the lawn, but that's about all it did right. Guzzled gas like it was going out of style (a quarter acre needed two fills of the tank), no self-propulsion, the muffler fell off half the time. Finally, it seized up, and I went and got a Toro push mower. Easily the best push mower I've owned. Cuts my lawn on less than a tank, has front-wheel drive that's easily engaged and disengaged, and no priming of the mower beforehand.

 

[NREC34]

I started mowing at age 6. I was too light to activate the automatic cutoff under the seat so I sat on a cinder block. Couldn't reach the clutch anyway. Dad would put the mower in 2nd gear (had 3 gears) and let me go. I would disengage the blades (lever by steering wheel) and turn off the mower with the key while still in gear. When I was 9 I was gassing up the mower and going by myself. Then backing the mower into the shed and grabbing the weedeater.

My son is 9 and there is no way in hell he is mowing this year. Then again I have a Z-turn with a 60" deck that hits a top speed of around 18mph. Long way from that old Wheel Horse riding mower that I used as a kid.

I was still in diapers when I started.

 

[Nugget]

My wife mows the lawn. She is 38.

 

[FUBAR]

My wife mows the lawn. She is 38.

how old was she when you taught her to do it?

 

[Jobber]

Even the cheapest of messicans can't beat the $10 I pay my 12 year old to do it.

 

[IC FBGCav]

I was wondering when a good age is to start mowing your own yard. When I was 10 I was mowing not only my yard, and several other yards in my neighborhood for a few bucks. I noticed that most people in my current neighborhood don't mow and hire landscaping crews for this task. Seems expensive to hire someone to do a task that doesn't take more than 1 hour a week. Upside would be no upkeep on mowers and equipment plus not having to store mower, gas, weedeater, edger and whatever else.

whatever ramblings

I cut my yard from 12 years old on, I also cut my grandmothers which was about an acre for 7 bucks, when she had 7 bucks. Now I have an acre and pay someone 45 dollars to cut.

Edit to add: Cutting it took a half hour. Weed eating the parts that can't be cut(front yard has a huge hill) took an hour. Don't miss cutting it one bit.

 

[lod01]

Even the cheapest of messicans can't beat the $10 I pay my 12 year old to do it.

You need to bump that up to $15.

 

[Jobber]

Even the cheapest of messicans can't beat the $10 I pay my 12 year old to do it.

You need to bump that up to $15.

Yeah, I think I'm paying 1990 prices.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Fairly small yard overall but a ton of edging and mulch beds. Son mows/edges and does the heavy weeding. I spray for weeds and get the 11 yr. old daughter to do some dead weed pulling and crepe myrtle flower sweeping around the back patio/pool. I try to as little as possible - did a lot of yard work as a kid and hated it.

 

[Nugget]

My wife mows the lawn. She is 38.

how old was she when you taught her to do it?

37

 

[kentric]

My yard takes 1-2 hours. I only edge and weed-eat every other time so that's the time difference.

No son in my house but my daughter started helping some to earn more allowance around 13. I don't let her do it on her own because she kinda sucks at the trim work and I still have to point out places that she missed in the yard, but I figure its good for her to be out there doing it and earning some $.

It did take a little of the wife's appreciation of the yardwork away when the 13yo daughter started doing half the work. Oh well I still use the power tools enough to be considered manly.

Similar issue with my son. He started mowing it this year at 13. He misses long strips that I have to point out. We have a self propelled so he goes as fast as he can to get it done, which results in the mower bouncing, and the grass being uneven. He generally doesn't give a #### so he doesn't take the time to do a good job. I now edge while he mows, so I can keep on him. It'd be easier just to do it myself, but I feel like letting him off would be rewarding him for his lack of effort, which isn't going to happen.

I had similar issues with my dog.

https://www.google.com/search?q=far+side+dog+mowing+lawn&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=939&tbm=isch&imgil=Xs69fZZ5tQPByM%253A%253BZFLOJqIuYnRrLM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fmngboxers.com%25252Fhome-new%25252Fresources-2%25252F182-2%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=Xs69fZZ5tQPByM%253A%252CZFLOJqIuYnRrLM%252C_&usg=__zR-vKgKAvq4bcmI7kMxdTU9igYg%3D&ved=0CC0QyjdqFQoTCJnruOz38cYCFU_0gAode_8FVw&ei=oDmxVZmbEs_ogwT7_pe4BQ#imgrc=ww5ZOXJ8O3fSPM%3A&usg=__zR-vKgKAvq4bcmI7kMxdTU9igYg%3D

 

[Scoresman]

Nine seems a little young, especially if you like to keep a landing strip.

 

[B Maverick]

I had to mom my parents lawn growing up. Learned to hate it.

To do the front and back of my house took 4+ hours 1-2 times a month. Hated it too. $35/ mo for a crew to do it in 7mins a visit is well worth it.

 

[Kal El]

My yard takes 1-2 hours. I only edge and weed-eat every other time so that's the time difference.

No son in my house but my daughter started helping some to earn more allowance around 13. I don't let her do it on her own because she kinda sucks at the trim work and I still have to point out places that she missed in the yard, but I figure its good for her to be out there doing it and earning some $.

It did take a little of the wife's appreciation of the yardwork away when the 13yo daughter started doing half the work. Oh well I still use the power tools enough to be considered manly.

Similar issue with my son. He started mowing it this year at 13. He misses long strips that I have to point out. We have a self propelled so he goes as fast as he can to get it done, which results in the mower bouncing, and the grass being uneven. He generally doesn't give a #### so he doesn't take the time to do a good job. I now edge while he mows, so I can keep on him. It'd be easier just to do it myself, but I feel like letting him off would be rewarding him for his lack of effort, which isn't going to happen.

There's probably a way to disconnect the propulsion so he has to work harder and do it right. If nothing else, he'll have to figure out how to reconnect it if he wants to get it done faster.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

I had to mom my parents lawn growing up. Learned to hate it.

To do the front and back of my house took 4+ hours 1-2 times a month. Hated it too. $35/ mo for a crew to do it in 7mins a visit is well worth it.

It took you 4 hours and a crew only 7 minutes? How many extended breaks did you take?

 

[Bull Dozier]

My yard takes 1-2 hours. I only edge and weed-eat every other time so that's the time difference.

No son in my house but my daughter started helping some to earn more allowance around 13. I don't let her do it on her own because she kinda sucks at the trim work and I still have to point out places that she missed in the yard, but I figure its good for her to be out there doing it and earning some $.

It did take a little of the wife's appreciation of the yardwork away when the 13yo daughter started doing half the work. Oh well I still use the power tools enough to be considered manly.

Similar issue with my son. He started mowing it this year at 13. He misses long strips that I have to point out. We have a self propelled so he goes as fast as he can to get it done, which results in the mower bouncing, and the grass being uneven. He generally doesn't give a #### so he doesn't take the time to do a good job. I now edge while he mows, so I can keep on him. It'd be easier just to do it myself, but I feel like letting him off would be rewarding him for his lack of effort, which isn't going to happen.

There's probably a way to disconnect the propulsion so he has to work harder and do it right. If nothing else, he'll have to figure out how to reconnect it if he wants to get it done faster.

I cut in the back yard. It has six or seven trees around the outside, as well as a chain link fence by one neighbor. I do that so I don't have to worry about him doing it so poorly. Not going to disengage that when I use it to that extent.

 

[Fat Nick]

I started mowing the family lawn as a kid at around 7. We had 4 acres in VA. When I first started mowing, My dad would edge out all the trees, and he'd do the hills and the more wooded area in the back, so I cut maybe 2 acres of open grass. That was on an old Sears rider. I was too light to reliably trigger the seat switch, so we taped a phone book onto the seat. We eventually got a nice Hydrostatic Deere, and I used that to mow, gradually assuming full-yard responsibility.

Now I have a 2.5 acre yard out here in NJ, and I cut it myself. I kind of enjoy it. I edge, trim, and mow. I'll mow 1x per week, and edge/trim once every other. It takes me about an hour and a half to mow, and about 30 min to trim it all up. I've considered getting a service, but I'm already in over $7K for my mower, so it'd be silly to not use it. Plus, I kind of like the alone time.

My son is 1 now...I'm going to get him cutting as soon as I can.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

I started mowing the family lawn as a kid at around 7. We had 4 acres in VA. When I first started mowing, My dad would edge out all the trees, and he'd do the hills and the more wooded area in the back, so I cut maybe 2 acres of open grass. That was on an old Sears rider. I was too light to reliably trigger the seat switch, so we taped a phone book onto the seat. We eventually got a nice Hydrostatic Deere, and I used that to mow, gradually assuming full-yard responsibility.

Now I have a 2.5 acre yard out here in NJ, and I cut it myself. I kind of enjoy it. I edge, trim, and mow. I'll mow 1x per week, and edge/trim once every other. It takes me about an hour and a half to mow, and about 30 min to trim it all up. I've considered getting a service, but I'm already in over $7K for my mower, so it'd be silly to not use it. Plus, I kind of like the alone time.

My son is 1 now...I'm going to get him cutting as soon as I can.

So next weekish?

 

[Fat Nick]

I started mowing the family lawn as a kid at around 7. We had 4 acres in VA. When I first started mowing, My dad would edge out all the trees, and he'd do the hills and the more wooded area in the back, so I cut maybe 2 acres of open grass. That was on an old Sears rider. I was too light to reliably trigger the seat switch, so we taped a phone book onto the seat. We eventually got a nice Hydrostatic Deere, and I used that to mow, gradually assuming full-yard responsibility.

Now I have a 2.5 acre yard out here in NJ, and I cut it myself. I kind of enjoy it. I edge, trim, and mow. I'll mow 1x per week, and edge/trim once every other. It takes me about an hour and a half to mow, and about 30 min to trim it all up. I've considered getting a service, but I'm already in over $7K for my mower, so it'd be silly to not use it. Plus, I kind of like the alone time.

My son is 1 now...I'm going to get him cutting as soon as I can.

So next weekish?

Add a couple phone books to the seat and he'd be good. There's even a seat belt and a roll-bar. What's the worst that could happen?

 

[ghostguy123]

No age. 100% depends on the kid. I could see 6, or I could see not trusting some 17 year olds to do it.

Definitely mowing my own lawn though. 300 bucks for a nice self propelled mower that doesnt even take an hour for a half acre. It would cost me 300 for a crew for like 3 months. No thanks. Chalk it up as exercise and just go do it yourself.

To me the only people it would make sense to have someone do it is rich people where time is money. When you make 200 bucks an hour at your job then yeah, pay someone 30 bucks to do what would take you an hour.

 

[JohnnyU]

I did my own lawn until last year. My granddaughter lives with us and she now cuts the lawn and it was her idea, she liked doing it initially She is 15. When she leaves I'll hire it done because I no longer want to do that job.

 

[ghostguy123]

I did my own lawn until last year. My granddaughter lives with us and she now cuts the lawn and it was her idea, she liked doing it initially She is 15. When she leaves I'll hire it done because I no longer want to do that job.

The mower does the work. You are just walking. Get out there and get a little light exercise old man

 

[B Maverick]

I had to mom my parents lawn growing up. Learned to hate it.

To do the front and back of my house took 4+ hours 1-2 times a month. Hated it too. $35/ mo for a crew to do it in 7mins a visit is well worth it.

It took you 4 hours and a crew only 7 minutes? How many extended breaks did you take?

Having a small mower and having to empty the basket a few times takes time. Then to edge and trim and clean up. Front and back took 4 hours. And yes I took my time.

Their 3-4 man crew with large gas powered equipment, 1 mower, 1 edger, 1 blower... surprised the hell out of me when they did it in 7 mins. And it looks GOOD.

 

[ghostguy123]

It's amazing what 3-4 guys and 60 grand worth of equipment can accomplish.