I live on the side of a mountain in New Hampshire. Mowing the lawn with a standard power mover is a real pain. A ride on lawn mower will not work because it will overturn. Is there an easier way to mow the lawn like a self propelled lawn mower or a one of those mowers that the pro's use which you stand on or will they not work on steep terrain?
Thank you,
Howard Epstein
On 10/2/2005 12:57 PM US(ET), Howard Epstein took fingers to keyboard, and typed the following:
Plant a ground cover so you don't have to mow it at all. Depending upon the sun or shade in the area, there a number of ground covers available.
Buy a goat....
Not to be a wise guy or anything, but living on the side of a mountain in Western Pennsylvania with 2.2 acres to mow, I have found they only safe way to get the job done was to hire somebody. The company I use uses a combination of equipment: everything from a big 4WD John Deere to weed whackers, including push mowers, and giant self-propelled walk behinds. They also have at least one zero turn machine that shows up on occasion.
One ride from the garage to the front door with my antique Wheelhorse and a cart load of books when we moved in let me know that is not something I wanted to do on any regular basis. My safety is worth the cost of having a service come in every two weeks. Granted, it is not a manicured lawn, but rather looks like a park with many trees and its rolling hillside as well as some slopes that I cannot or would not attempt to climb.
The previous owner left me his 14.5HP Craftsman tractor which he had rolled three times. I have given it away. Although I am no longer hauling books up and over the one hill anymore, I have bought an ATV to do the hauling around the yard that I must do.
BTW, The guy with the 4WD Deere has even lost it at least once. Fortunately, that was before my time and he did not roll over, just came crashing down from the yard into the driveway. Even now, on occasion, I will see skid marks along one of the hillsides that really does not look that steep. But, looks can be deceiving. ____________________ Bill Waller New Eagle, PA
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If it's too steep to mow, then it's too steep to use as a lawn. What are you trying to accomplish by keeping it mowed? If you're just trying to clear a view, plant some trees that either don't grow high enough to block the view, or that you can trim enough branches off to see through. If you're after a fire-break, I think you need a retaining wall and terracing.
--Goedjn
There are varieties of no-mow grasses too. Usually they grow a few inches and fall over without growing stalks. Not sure what grows well in NH though. You should have access to plenty of pine straw in the woods if you want free mulch though.
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