What's the best piece (or pieces) of equipment to buy to make my garden useable? Will a lawnmower do, or should I be looking at getting something else (e.g. a strimmer)?
I also realise that I have horse/mares tail in the planters, but that's for another day 😅
by collin_ola
14 Comments
Strimmer and a lawnmower
Regarding the horsetail in the planters, get them dumped out, compost and all, into the bin before it sends root out through the drainage holes if it already hasn’t.
You can get a strimmer and a lawnmower as a set pretty cheaply. I have a set of cordless ones which run on worx batteries. They’re alright and could manage this, perhaps with a recharge or two at first. Strim most of it down and shove it in the bin (compost or otherwise) then run over with the lawnmower on its highest setting.
I’m not a fan of strimmers, a decent quality Bosch mower and hand tools
For hand tool, look into a hori-hori – very versatile tool that’s great for planting and weeding, especially things with taproots
I’m fine with just a lawn mower + shears
I’m just here for all the “it looks perfectly fine, great for pollinators!” comments haha
Shears and mower
Strimmer will sort the long stuff out but you probably don’t need it long-term so might be worth trying to borrow oneñ.
You might get away with a push lawnmower rather than a petrol/electric one if the grass that comes through isn’t too tough. The more you mow grass the finer it gets so don’t be surprised if it’s quite thick to begin with
Get a cow. Pasture raised organic meat is all the rage now!
You need a couple of goats!
Would it be a UK Joke if i said get a machete?
Couple of goes with a medium priced lawnmower on a dry day. I think Aldi has them in at the minute, although I try to avoid the middle aisle – too much tempting crap!
And yes, get that planter with mares tail bagged, soil and all. Hopefully it will have been contained.
I think that’s a great size for a garden.
Firstly, I would make sure there are no hidden large stones in amongst the grass then put a strimmer and slowly trim the long grass down a section at a time.
Then using a lawnmower, raise it up to its highest ground clearance and go over it. The lower the mower and go over and repeat.
I would not cut it down to the lowest setting on the mower just yet though. Cut it back then leave for a few days and then cut it lower.
Although there is an argument that says don’t mow it too short in the summer in case we do actually get a summer as slightly longer grass is better than really short grass in hot weather.
first pass with a brush cutter / strimmer, then mow, then see how it looks