This makes me glad I live in an apartment!
I was perfectly fine with our gas mower- it's only four years old and runs well, but Michele is concerned that if something happens to me, she won't be able to operate it, especially the starting part.That's unfortunate. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that batteries aren't better for the environment. The human and environment cost to source the lithium for them is just as bad if not worse than gas?
This one takes two 40 volt batteries, and on our small lot, it only drains one of them by 50%, and this was heavy, wet grass that I was cutting. Still, when you consider that something like 80% of the cost is wrapped up in the batteries..........I have a small snowblower that operates on two 24V batteries. It does okay but lighter snows but struggles with heavier. I have considered a battery lawnmower but my yard is pretty big. I wouldn’t want to have to buy another set just to get the whole lawn done.
Glad you're feeling human again!lolI was feeling better- or at least more human- today, and it wasn't raining, and the grass needed cutting, so I decided to give our new lawn mower it's first real workout. Michele decided to 'go green' with a battery-powered one, so after checking the ratings, we got a Greenworks 21" self propelled model from Lowe's, because they give a 10% veteran's discount. I got the thing home, unpacked it, read the instructions, went to charge the batteries......... and neither would accept a charge. Several phone calls, and several days, later, I had 2 functioning batteries- but lousy weather. So, to sum up: yes it's quieter than gas; it seems to cut well enough; there is enough charge to do the whole lawn with power to spare; the only downside is that since I compost the clippings, the dinky little catch bag needs to be emptied more often that the one on the gas mower. And the batteries? $308 each when and if they need replacement. Ouch.
I have a bunch of Ryobi 18v tools. The reciprocal saw is one of the best of those - wonderful for doing pruning and branch trimming as well as other sawing. And I bought an awesome 21V battery operated leaf blower this spring. Came with an extra battery for $85 and it is super powerful.Prior to this mower, my exposure to cordless tools has been with a couple of Milwaukee 18 volt drill/drivers. The only difference between them is that one has a hammer drill feature for drilling concrete or stone, but the same battery works in both of them. My trimmer/edger/tiller/leaf blower powerhead, though is a Stihl gas unit. It's only 2 years old, and I ain't getting rid of that any time soon. Same with my chainsaw- another Stihl product.
I hired someone to mow my lawn last year but they drove me crazy because I never knew when they would show up, never on the same day so the lawn was either too long or didn’t need mowing yet. Doing it myself this year and we will see how it goes.Someday, if PCH comes to my door, or I win some obscenely large lottery, I'll be buying a home, and either looking at hiring someone to do my lawn, OR buying one of those robot mowers. Kinda like a big Roomba, but with blades. You program them pretty much the same way, I'm told.
I just had to comment, robot mowers work great if you don't have anything abnormal in your lawn, like the odd sprinkler head that is a tag too high or where the raccoons were digging for grubs. Maybe the new ones have better sensors, but the one I saw had the owner turning the air blue after each use. Maybe it was his tension release for the day....Someday, if PCH comes to my door, or I win some obscenely large lottery, I'll be buying a home, and either looking at hiring someone to do my lawn, OR buying one of those robot mowers. Kinda like a big Roomba, but with blades. You program them pretty much the same way, I'm told.
So true for me with corded yard tools. Not just a matter of needing longer cords but also not having an outlet nearby to plug them into. And then there are cutting cords. I think I have cut thru an extension cord at least three times while trimming hedges. Now it’s pretty much all cordless and I have a half a dozen batteries so I can always have one I can pop in if I run low.Most of my tools are cordless as well, but I remember the days of corded tools since I still have mine but don't regret losing the cord. I can't tell you how many times I have been in some tight spot, under a car, in a crawl space, in an attic only to find I need 6 more inches of cord. I know its out there I just have to pull a little only to find it unplugged at the connector (even though I tied a knot in it). I am glad my minister wasn't around that day! Cordless tools, let me at them. Off course I have been in the situation where I have one more hole to drill, everything is lined up perfectly and no battery power. Sometimes you just have to laugh.
I just stopped laughing after I "saw" your reply. Many years ago I had just bought my first lighted extension. I could finally tell if I had power. I am out with my power saw making a cat house for the stray in the neighbourhood that sleeps on my deck in the winter (Covered deck with a box full of work rags in the corner) and as soon as I start to cut through the first 2X4 my saw abruptly stops. I check it nothing wrong, check the cord, no its ok, check back further at my lighted cord and its no longer lit. So I pull on the cord and about the middle of the brand new cord its cut neatly in half. It got lost in all the wood I had out that day and a piece of cord was right under the 2X4 I was cutting to make the cat house. After all it was 0 that day and I was working rather quickly in the cold.So true for me with corded yard tools. Not just a matter of needing longer cords but also not having an outlet nearby to plug them into. And then there are cutting cords. I think I have cut thru an extension cord at least three times while trimming hedges. Now it’s pretty much all cordless and I have a half a dozen batteries so I can always have one I can pop in if I run low.
One of our neighbors has a lawn service do hers, and she also has the lawn sprayed once a month. The downside is that I have noticed a significant dropoff in the number of butterflies since that was started. Whether the two are connected, I can't say for sure. I used to have lots of Monarchs and Swallowtails come to the gardens, but never saw either last year; only a couple of Red Admirals and Cabbage Whites.DH has had a variety of tools; inside and out. Sometimes the cords just get in the way too much. I figure make him as happy as possible while he’s doing his projects!
If I came into some extra regular money I would for sure get a lawn service. And regular pedicures. Maybe someone to deep clean bathrooms and cabinets every month pr two.
I've also noticed something similar in several different areas I've been in where that is the case (very attentive lawn maintenance). If the lawn is treated and cut very often, I hardly see any butterflies in those places.One of our neighbors has a lawn service do hers, and she also has the lawn sprayed once a month. The downside is that I have noticed a significant dropoff in the number of butterflies since that was started. Whether the two are connected, I can't say for sure. I used to have lots of Monarchs and Swallowtails come to the gardens, but never saw either last year; only a couple of Red Admirals and Cabbage Whites.
A few years ago DH put something on the grass and the ground feeding birds like robins stopped coming. They are back this year finally. We get some gnarly weeds but id rather have my birds than a perfect lawn. I just want someone to come through and cut it and do the weed-eating so DH doesn’t have to. One of his friends has a lawn service but not in our area. And probably not in our price range. I never feel good about friend discounts like that.One of our neighbors has a lawn service do hers, and she also has the lawn sprayed once a month. The downside is that I have noticed a significant dropoff in the number of butterflies since that was started. Whether the two are connected, I can't say for sure. I used to have lots of Monarchs and Swallowtails come to the gardens, but never saw either last year; only a couple of Red Admirals and Cabbage Whites.