Almost
every Saturday, I am awakened by the sound of a neighbor's mower.
The sound grates on my nerves and immediately puts me into a bad
mood. Not because the sound is overly loud and obnoxious, but because
it reminds me that I must also rise out of bed and mow my own lawn.
Thankfully,
scientists have been working hard to come up with better alternatives
than letting your lawn grow two feet high. Implementing them could
mean my hands never touch a lawn mower again.
The
first solution, and the easier of the two solutions to carry out,
is the automatic mower. Currently, two major companies have designed
these ingenious creations: Lawnbott and Robomower. Sure, they cost
considerably more than the average mower, anywhere from $1200 to
$2500, but considering the time I would save and that it would cost
me much more to hire a lawn service, it really is not that bad.
The battery-operated mowers are capable of mowing about 1/2 to 1-1/2
acres before needing to be recharged.
Depending
on the model, the mowers even come with adjustable blades, mulching
systems, theft-deterrent systems, rain detectors, manual controllers,
touch-sensitive bumpers, a child guard, or a lift sensor. Some even
have a buzzer that sounds five minutes before automatic departure
warning people to clear the mowing area. The newer versions can
even be programmed to start on its own at the time and day that
you select.
The
second solution would be to replant my lawn with specially designed
"no-mow grass." No-mow grass is a recent development and
is still being fine-tuned. Still, there are already several varieties
of no-mow grass available, although they are usually either fescue,
bent grass, or a mixture of the two. No-mow grass typically grows
better in cooler climates, but some varieties have been showing
promise in warmer climates.
No-mow
grass grows slower than other grasses and will usually only reach
a height of three to five inches. Of course, this means that it
is capable of growing taller than most manicured lawns. However,
this problem can be eliminated simply by mowing the lawn if it gets
too long.
Establishing
no-mow grass can be tricky. Generally, no-mow grass is not good
for wet soils, deep shade, or clay soils that exhibit standing water
after a rain. However, it is perfect for well-draining soils in
full sun or partial shade. It is also great for vacation homes,
around ponds, and in drainage ditches.
One
of the biggest problems early on with no-mow grass is weeds, as
they typically will grow much taller than the grass. Once the weeds
are eliminated however, the lawn is virtually maintenance free because
most no-mow grasses require very little water or fertilization in
comparison to other grasses.
The one major drawback to both of
these solutions is the initial upfront costs--in both time and money.
Yet, the long run savings are definitely worth it. I look forward
to the day when I am able stay in bed when I hear the sound of the
neighbor's mower, content in the knowledge that I am no longer a
slave to my well-manicured lawn. -Darcy Logan
