Greenworks reel mower - amzn.to/4b27mLr Earthwise 7 blade manual reel mower - amzn.to/3JnRqr1 Elite Grass Seed - ryanknorrlawncare.com/product-category/grass-seed/ryan-knorr-lawn-care-grass-seed/ Ryan Knorr Lawn Care is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs below. An affiliate advertising program is designed to provide a means for sites and creators to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com or other product sites. I receive a small commission through these links.

As a veteran of using manual reel mowers on 419 Bermuda hybrids, I’d like to offer s few observations from my experiences: 1) when getting very low (1” and below) the lighter, less expensive reel mowers (such as the otherwise excellent Scott’s 20”) just don’t work well. Once your grass thickens up from the low cut, the mower (even the Scotts at its lowest setting of 1”) will bounce off the grass, making it necessary to go over areas repeatedly and from various angles. 2) heavier manual reel mowers add much needed momentum to the job, making hangups due to surface irregularities or super-dense areas a breeze to push through 3) the over all time to manual reel mow often vs using a typical 21” rotary less often will be about the same, the key difference is you can not afford to miss a manual mow by more than a day or two, making a rotary mower as a backup essential. With a higher quality, heavy manual reel mower, you can mow FAST. I typically sprint across the yard, and my mower never bounces, it just shreds through (it gets cuttings hitting my neck, but whatever) 4) the Fiskars is a great mower for the price but it will not get you down to 419 Bermuda low low levels 5) the $300+ 21” Mascot Silent Cut does sub-1/2” cuts with ease. It’ll eventually level your yard for you (by shaving off high spots). After one pass with it I realized it was worth the money (which is dirt cheap by rotary standards but around 3x the cost of the Scotts). It’s low scissor like cut changed the nature of my grass and had both neighbors and their lawn care professionals claiming that I had replaced my grass with something new. I can’t praise it enough. Takes me 30 min to do a very complex 4000 sq ft front yard and 20 min to do a 5000 sq ft simpler backyard (I sprint on the runs, like an offensive lineman hitting the practice skids). I’m 56 years old, fwiw.

@ryanknorrlawncare

4 жыл бұрын

I'd like to try out that Mascot

@suzum.9713

10 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@soulja617

2 ай бұрын

Is there Any heavy duty Manuel reel mower under $200? I just need it for some spots that I can’t get on with my stand on mower because of the angle I would fall of my mower so I don’t need a big one a 14”-17” would do. I don’t need the 21” that’s too wide for the spot I need the reeler for

@astroid99

2 ай бұрын

Awesome, i hope your 60s treats you well!

@koomo801

2 ай бұрын

@@astroid99 Ha! TY! I have to take care of too many lawns now to use the manual reel and still have the time and energy to lift/ride/etc. I am thinking maybe of just doing it on my front yard (4000)..... But if anyone has smaller area to mow and doesn't mind the clippings getting all over them (keep some reel-mowing-only junk pants and socks and shoes around) it can't be beat. Everyone should exercise, but this way you get to admire the results of your exercise.

I feel like having a great lawn is low key one of those super addictive things that goes under the radar.

@mrsully8333

4 жыл бұрын

I'm obsessed now lol

@johnakridge2916

3 жыл бұрын

Yup lol. I didn't even realize but your Right

@chines68

3 жыл бұрын

But I always notice lawns! I don't want to be one of those people with the Tru-Green or Chem-Lawn sign in the front! I want to do it myself, with the fewest chemicals possible to achieve the look. I'm willing to put in the time.

@SiegePerilousEsauMaltomite

3 жыл бұрын

I’m hooked now

@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885

3 жыл бұрын

don't worry the East Siberian Arctic Shelf Methane Bomb has been triggered. Abrupt global warming will be doubling soon. The Fungi are definitely gonna take over the lawns. haha. arctic-news.blogspot.com

I’ve been watching everything you put out. I’m about one year behind you but benefiting from it all, keep It coming

I’m so glad you made this video. This is what initially got me in trouble with my lawn many years ago. Having tall fescue and not aware of its proper cut height, I initially purchased a reel mower with a battery assist (Brill). I was trying to be more environmentally conscious, and I heard reel blades gave a better cut. Plus I thought the battery power was great. For a while I could cut it with this mower, but as time went on, it became increasingly difficult. Over time the lawn turned into a weed salad. I’m so grateful for this lawn care community. I have been watching your videos since the beginning of this year, and thanks to your advice, I’ve been able to turn this lawn around. 👍🏻

@TT-eo5xj

2 жыл бұрын

or just stop being anal about lawns n fill your lawn w garfens that produce foods instead of chemicals

I cannot thank you enough for all the great content. My yard is looking a hundred times better than it used to and I tell everyone about your channel when they ask about my lawn

“If you mow infrequently like once a week.” *laughs in Utah during a drought*

Thanks for the tip Ryan. I’ve been cutting at 1.5” -1.75” on the same hrx you have. Tonight I went down on a test strip to ~1” and that’s when I realized I can’t go that low without leveling. I’m encourage to try but that maybe a project for next year. Enjoy all your videos..thanks!

Underrated video. For the novice, you presented great information between the different types of walk-behind mowers as well as their pros and cons. Great job as always Ryan!

Great video, Ryan! I learned a lot and you answered a lot of questions I had! Love your channel, and I never miss a video. Keep up the great work!

The dethatching/power raking step is crucial. I had the same experience taking my front yard down. Made it so much easier. Feels much softer and more enjoyable to walk on after as well!

@ryanknorrlawncare

4 жыл бұрын

Completely agree

@SFXD24

4 жыл бұрын

Dethatching Bermuda is not good

But how do you keep the golfers off your lawn?

@nooshoff

4 жыл бұрын

Lol

@adventuresofwillandshelby6013

4 жыл бұрын

You don’t... We will find your yard... And we will golf it!

@ve5psl

4 жыл бұрын

Hire a grumpy old man to sit on your step and yell at people

@adventuresofwillandshelby6013

4 жыл бұрын

Paddywhacker93 we are the grumpy old men

@jakeford9073

4 жыл бұрын

The rodenator! Literally fills their burrows up with explosive gas and blows them away search on KZread it's epic!

Dethatching is key! That dead stuff, if thick enough, will big down any mower. Awesome video!

@NicholasLittlejohn

2 жыл бұрын

👏

Thank you Ryan. I bought a manual mower and it worked just fine. . . I had to run over a few more passes and the outcome was excellent. . . I have saved myself of the running cost of these machines. . .

Great video again. 2 things: Frequency of fertilizer app at low mow can be still kept in check with an FMS fert (Fast, Medium Slow). Prill size also matters when mowing low. It improves distribution a lot. I personally will be using SGN 145 of FMS 21-4-12, 2% Fe and micros as probably a single late spring app at 1lbN/M.

Love the video! I got into reel mowing when I bought a townhouse. Front lawn is 270 sqft. House had a reel mower in the basement. I didn't want to store oil and gas and a rotary mower because space is at a premium. Reel it is and I love it!

Your lawn is pristine I enjoy your video's and the way I see my lawn

quality information Ryan - the worst thing for a new lawn person is the sight of browning - knowing the reason behind it definitely helps

Very interesting and educational video, Ryan! In 1953, my father bought our first self-propelled reel-style lawn mower, manufactured by REO, a division of the car/truck manufacturer, at the time. Years later, we replaced it with a rotary mower. It seems like our experience with the reel mower was that it seemed to cut the grass, instead of tearing it, as our rotary mower did. Maybe it was because my dad sharpened our reel mower blades regularly? Either way, it was an interesting experience. Thank you!

So inspiring to watch - I get addicted to these vids. Initially I bought a Gardena Sileno Smart 500 - but just borrowed a AL-KO Gudenaa GU 400 from one of my friends - and what a cut! Dont think Im gonna keep my Gardena Sileno Smart 500, might as well gonna sell it again. Cheers from Denmark!

Just started following your channel three weeks ago, wanting to get a better lawn. 10 days ago I dethatched, topsoiled and prepared the (now extremely bare) lawn. 8 days ago I sowed (with some RPR I got from the greenkeeper at my golf club), and today the first few leaves of grass has shown. Now I just need to convince my wife that a Swardman is essential. P.S. Temperatures are hovering around 15 C (60 F) at the moment.

@charadremur333

4 жыл бұрын

Nice

i like my reel mower. great channel by the way. anyway im not into a short grass look yet and the reel mower cuts extremely well. after using it i am amazed as to how even it cuts and takes the same amount of time if i had used a rotor mower. my opinion the rotor cant compete with the reel mower if you stay on top of your lawn mowing. i think i even hear my grass applaud and breath a sigh of relief when i use it.

Very informative video, thanks! Learned things about grass height. For my asthmatic family and some neighbors, air quality trumps cut quality so I've always used a push reel mower, which for me is the traditional mower dating back to the 1800s. Although I suppose scythes and livestock date back even further.

I just finished the second mow on the front with the reel. Such a huge difference in quality of cut and the grass is responding better.

@trevormuggeridge4560

4 жыл бұрын

👍

@ReelLowDad

4 жыл бұрын

@@trevormuggeridge4560 Trevor!!!

I've watched many of your videos, but this is your best one to date. I've had a successful 2019 kbg renovation but fell victim to many o fthe things you touched upon on this video, grass crowns upon low cutting and dethatching, and fungus issues this late summer early fall. thanks again for the content

@soulja617

2 ай бұрын

So it’s good to cut the grass really short ? I thought that was the cause of my grass eventually dying and becoming mostly dirty brown grass

Ryan I enjoy watching all your videos. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into it.

A very well-done informational video. A beautiful lawn that obviously is perfectly maintained. It`s a real art to manage a healthy lawn like this one. Much appreciated from up here in Canada! Thanks for this video.

Very informative Ryan. I last used a reel mower many decades ago, and as nostalgic as it could be for me, I'm probably not going back there....... Thanks and Blessings Ryan!

I have just started to get interested in having a great looking lawn mind you I am 51, at your age it was really low on the priority list. But videos like yours contain invaluable knowledge and experience. Thankyou! Your lawn looks great.

I'm so happy that I grabbed my fiskars 18 inch off marketplace. My fella was a little annoyed cuz I just bought a toro super recycled last year BUT I still use that on the backyard, and now I get to mow every day 💛💛💛

Fantastic information! I'm loving the manual reel mow on my bermuda.

Amazing grass! I hope that my yard starts looking that good. I am working on it. I clicked on because I wanted to compare a Reel Mower to a gas powered mower.

@albertoromero214

4 жыл бұрын

gas powered reels are also available.

That was a great video explaining what dedication it takes to mow low! It’s definitely not for everyone.

Once the crappy weather is on it’s way out and the grass starts to finally grow,. I get into the mindset of mowing as I feel it’s getting too long, this in turn helps with my mindset and depression a lot. After watching thing I’m looking forward to seeing some more sunshine and a nicely cut lawn. Thanks for your show, you pass on tips and trick that I would have gotten from my grandfather who was a greens man for a local outside bowling club. Keep up the great work and I will keep looking forward to seeing some of your new videos...Phil in the UK 🇬🇧

@ryanknorrlawncare

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Probably your most informative video to date, imo. Thanks so much!

If you love your lawn, have the time and money then a powered reel mower with a cartridge system is what you want, if not then the rotary is for you. If you have steep hills then a rotary probably works best. Btw, Ryan, you should do a video on how to backlap your reels mowers.

Plus, I am Zone 8B (plants), so I typically cut my lawn at 2 1/2"-3 1/4". As these Northern Grasses are healthier at "longer lenghths". Any suggestions are WELCOME!😎 Thank you for sharing your video series! Take care, 🤓 -Thomas Western Washington State

This is a good reference video for the future on compare/contrast the different mowers. Question and apologies if I missed the answer: how level does the land need to be to benefit from a reel mower?

I've got a 900 square foot putting green and a 200 square foot "fairway" in my backyard. I sodded it last spring with 007 bentgrass and it's a hell of a project. I spoon feed nitrogen roughly every two months but the fungus and keeping bluegrass at bay are my most expensive efforts. I cut at least 5 days a week and use a Toro Eclipse reel mower. I keep the green at 1/10th of an inch during the spring and fall and 1/8th of an inch during the summer. The fairway is easier at 1/4th of an inch. People have a tendency to use too much fertilizer and burn out lawns cut low so glad you mentioned the light fertilizing part. I expect it to be another year or so before the green really hits it's stride but it's a lot of fun in the meantime.

Try a UK cylinder (reel) mower with 16 or 20 blades, the finish is amazing. We use them for cricket squares, bowling greens and tennis courts, they make them look like velvet.

What a Brilliant channel! Frequency is the key👍

Very good video. I've gone back to a reel mower. I don't want to use gas and oil anymore and I need and want the exercise using a reel mower.

I haven’t fired up my Honda rotary in over a month now. Manual reel mowing 11,000 sq ft twice a week I’ve gone full lawn crazy now. Sissy ryegrass! 😜

@timborski1210

4 жыл бұрын

here in TX and i do my 7500 sq ft 2 times a week maybe 3 for my Bermuda. Its a workout, my goal is to get one of those Swardsman mowers.

@ucdan5

4 жыл бұрын

tim borski curse you for bringing this mower to my attention! Thing looks freaking amazing!

@SiegePerilousEsauMaltomite

3 жыл бұрын

Lmao we are losing it, I’m with y’all now

My family is planning on getting the reel mower which I’m happy with🤗

Always great information!

Just ordered my first reel mower, only a small 30cm width for my front lawn. Looking forward to seeing the results

@MarcFun

3 жыл бұрын

How did it go? any regrets? I got electric one for my front lawn , reel one is definitely easier to use though ...

I love the Gladiator Garageworks in the background!

As a greens keeper I feel you covered alot of good points. Consistency is key.

As always, you hit this one out of the park. I cant to seem to get enough of your videos. For me personally, i have some health issue with being overweight and need to get out and exercise more. Mowing every other day or every day is a big deal for me. I'm almost as old as Conner and Alan but they seem to put in the time to stay fit. hahahaha :)

Amen brother, great vlog to fill in the old school people

You are definitely one of those "Get off my lawn!" guys. :-)

@forward876

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, mowing once a week is not often enuff...wow!

Good sample video Ryan and information very helpful for those that don't know. I think👍

I am glad that you talked about how it is a bit more work to keep up with a shorter cut lawn. You definitely have to be dedicated to it.

@MrSavage77

4 жыл бұрын

Or you get a robot mower ;)

@koomo801

4 жыл бұрын

Every other day for me, but I can do it just before dawn and begin the day with a nice warmup! Much faster than how long it takes me to mow with my 21” Toro, too.

@DIYDad1

4 жыл бұрын

Dude I’m mowing 2x sometimes 3x a week right now at 1 1/4” lol. It’s a lot of work.

@YardGuy

4 жыл бұрын

@@DIYDad1 I'm at 2 now. Not sure I can go much lower.

@DIYDad1

4 жыл бұрын

Jason G yeah that’s about as low as I can go with my Honda. Don’t get me wrong it still looks fantastic at that height with a rotary!

Any suggestions on how to keep grass clippings out of mulch and gravel when using a push reel mower? I am unable to use a gas mower so my only option is reel. Thanks.

Hi Ryan. Great video's!! Thank you for your help. Is there a better time of the year to begin the process of shortening your lawn? Is spring better than summer or fall? I live in New Jersey. Thanks.

Would a real mower be good for the type of grass that grows here in South Carolina? And do you have a particular reel mower recommendation?

What's the lowest height you would recommend with a rotary mower? (when keeping all of the other components of a healthy lawn under control)

Sweet! Awesome info!

Can you go over which types of grass you have around your yard? KBG, Rye, monostands, mixes, I can't keep up.

Much appreciate the in-depth info on the lawn mower pros and cons.

You are a God send for Joe six pack trying to keep up....Thanks Buddy!

Nice placement of the SLS!!! I just received my Ryan Knorr Lawn Care sticker!!!

I enjoy mowing, but not enough time doing it every day or every other day....therefore I’ve tried a robot mower which is mowing every day. I’ve started with the highest setting, and week by week I went down to 1”. The lawn looks really great and thick....no thatch built up so far.

you forgot to talk about the use of PGR and its importance with low cut turf. good video! thank you.

Great videos, Thanks Ryan!

that fiskar reel mower at 4 inches is awesome, I switch to that fiskar reelmower for that reason ( I love 3-4 inch cuts)

Another great video Ryan. You have quickly become one of my favorite KZread channels.

@ryanknorrlawncare

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@losangelesrams8141

4 жыл бұрын

@@ryanknorrlawncare You ever consider providing lawn care tips based on user submitted photos?

Which regards to rotary mowers, the speed that you walk has an affect on the cut quality. If you walk more slowly the blades rotate more times over a given area and the suction has more time to lift the grass.

Thank you for this video!! Awesome!!

Great video I needed this info thanks Ryan

You're lawn looks great! You're the only one I know in KZread that explained it that made total sense. Good job! I do have a question. Does it matter what kind of grass you have to go as low as you did. I have Florida's famous centipede grass. I don't see that type of grass works the way you did. But maybe you can enlighten me a little bit. Thanks!

As always great information

Thanks Ryan for the great info. I have an invasive weed. I believe it's called Henbit, it has little purple flowers on it. Any tips to get rid of this,

I've been wondering how you kept a cool season grass so short, had no idea it could be trained to leaf out at lower heights.

Hey Ryan, greetings from Poland, Europe! :) Do you hav any experience with microclover lawn? I'll be doing one shortly and I'm wondering which kind of mower will be the best for it. Cheers!

Thank you very much for the great informations.

Is it best to begin mowing low in the spring vs changing mid season? I am just North of you in Ames and don’t have the time to reel mow but want to mow lower with a rotary mower. I know a dethatch is needed but not until spring due to an overseer trying to get more kgb in my yard.

Hello i use a roller rotary mower that cuts to 3/8 of an inch it has a disc with blade tips,you can tell the difference between the cut if the rotary and the reel mower

Thank you for being so helpful and all the information.

what type of hose are you using. I have two older goodyear hoses - lasted me 10 years but they are done.

Great video. I'll need to level my lawn before getting into reel mowing. A project for spring! For now, it's a bumpy ride on the rotary.

@ryanknorrlawncare

4 жыл бұрын

The backyard is the same story for me but the manual reel still works fine on the bumps

@dthedad7330

4 жыл бұрын

@@ryanknorrlawncare good to know. I might give it a go early!

I have sod at my home in Minneapolis. Am I still able to go short with a reel mover? Are there specific types of sod that can be cut shorter than others?

Reel all the way. No need to worry about gas, oil, tire replacement, belts, battery replacement..

@mdanielp2

3 ай бұрын

Sure do that with 2 acres 😂

@AChi__

Ай бұрын

​@@mdanielp2I can, with my remote controlled reel lawn mower 😎

@rickjames7576

Ай бұрын

​@@mdanielp2Good exercise !

I have a VERY small yard. I got rid of my lawn mower and getting a reel mower. I'm excited 🤗

@ryanknorrlawncare

3 жыл бұрын

It's fun!

Makita makes a cordless scarifier marketed in UK, I would love to get my hands on it. I would dethatch the power cable with my luck if I had a GreenWorks or SunJoe 😉

I may have missed something but is the point to low mowing just a "Look" benefit or is it better for health reasons than taller cuts? Is fungus worse for taller grass than short or vice-versa? thanks.

Thanks for the truth! I’m going to continue keeping a taller height and using my rotary mower for the time being. Would you still recommend a perennial ryegrass for a taller lawn? (central Indiana- very hot summers, bitter cold winters, and a humidity level hovering around 100%)

Is there a reel mower you could recommend? I've looked online and there are many brands and types, and not sure which to possibly buy

@jacobweaver5691

3 жыл бұрын

If you want a manual push mower, the CL Clipper is the way to go. You can find them anywhere there is Amish people usually. They use them a lot.

Thanks for the video. Just got a 16" scotts elite and my bermuda is loving it

Hi ryan I have a question about how long should I wait before mowing my newly seeded Kentucky bluegrass I overseeded it 2 weeks ago the new grass is about 3/4" long but the existing grass is overshadowing it thanks for the help

@ryanknorrlawncare

4 жыл бұрын

You can mow it but just be as careful as possible

where i live it's just not feasible to mow that often due to rain. would these steps still be beneficial to kind of "reset" the lawn in a way?

This makes me so glad I'm not a suburbanite. I'm out in the woods and the vast majority of my lawn is moss. So it is basically no maintenance outside of leaf raking season other than the semi-sunny area down at the bottom of the front lawn where the septic drain field is located, that is basically the only spot that gets any sustainable grass growth. Thinking about getting a manual reel mower just to deal with that area, so I don't have to mess with all the expenses that come with maintaining and fueling the old rotary mower. There is a big row of shrubs blocking the view of the yard from the road, so no one but us living here see that grass anyhow, so I don't particularly care if things end up a bit uneven when just doing it once every week or two the way we already do. Still would be worth the savings. And besides, we don't go crazy with the sort of fast growth regiments you put your lawn through, so the grass growth is naturally slower, meaning we don't have to do it every other day just to keep it at bay, heh. Whatever nutrients the septic drain field is providing is the only fertilizer this lawn ever sees, lol.

It's fairly dry in my area and I never water the lawn so I cut it at 4" about once every week on 10 days so it doesn't dry out and burn.

Hi Ryan, What's your take on the robot mawers? Will I be able to achieve a great looking lawn that is cut low with them or I deifnetly need to get a reel mawer?

Next topic, bagging versus recycling clippings, please. Thank you

@NicholasLittlejohn

2 жыл бұрын

Mulching grass is far better for the lawn and environment.

Your yard is beautiful! Thanks for putting this up!

Just bought an 18in American push reel mower after watching this!

I got a small yard and use a rotary. I do it every other day when I get home from work to unwind a bit and get some fresh air for 10-15 minutes. It's much more gentle on the yard but does not look anywhere as nice as Ryan's, dang his lawn is beutiful.

I bought a manual 16" reel mower. I figured that it is better at mowing tight corners and against fences. Give me your professional opinions. Thanks for your educational videos.

Hello, new to the hobby. I bought an ego lawn mower. Love it as I can choose mulch, side shoot, or bagging. But now I’m wondering if I made a mistake not getting a reel mower. Do you notice the difference aesthetically between the two? If it matters I have KBG, new sod from 10/22. Thanks!