Yard Work

[athena53]

My house is built into the side of a hill so mowing is WORK even though I mow from side to side (rather than up/down) on the steep sections. It's about 45 minutes and I don't like it but it's a good workout. I'm leaving for Europe in Monday and it needs mowing again but t rained last night and the next two days look rainy, too. I was sweating over whether I'd be able to mow before I left. Ummm... last time I checked the people I used when I travel charged $50. Maybe I ought to stop sweating.

 

[shridog]

Will be 83 in a couple of days. Bought new riding mower last year. 1.5 acers. Takes about 1 1/2 hours as I am in no hurry. Have edged yard so I can do 98% without any hand trimming. Replacing 2 small rose gardens this year with grass as I'm finding I do not enjoy the roses as I once did. Tried using neighbor kid to mow the yard but never did it to my satisfaction plus I missed seeing things that needed attention around the house. I do have a paid service do fertilizer and weed control.

 

[HFWR]

I prefer a climate controlled rec center for my exercise.

 

[EarlyandLate]

I remember talking about this topic with the guys years ago - One of the guys claimed that any work that needed to be done within 100' of the house was the woman's responsibility.

I didn't share that bit of wisdom with DW. And DW has never mowed in our 43 years together.

I grew up in a semi-rural neighborhood. We had an old country woman neighbor who always mowed their large sloping lot... wearing a dress. She did this until about 10 years ago when she died. She did graduate from a push mower to a riding one at some point. No one ever saw her in pants.

 

[38Chevy454]

Spring here in Cincinnati is mowing every 5 days or so. Grows really fast with all the rain and coming out of winter dormancy. If you don't keep mowing often enough it gets so long it leaves long grass cutting all over, looks like crap. I mow my 2.5 acres, takes about 1.5 hours incl edge trimming and blowing off. I have a 60 inch zero turn which makes quick work. My retired lawn guy is back to busy. Paying it have it done would be approx $100 each time. I don't mind mowing, it is nice to be outside, and the riding mower is not really any work. It's pretty mindless, just pay attention to where you are going. DW will also mow occasionally, but mostly me.

I am also the gardener, with DW. Have about 500 ft of beds along fences, buildings, and in the yard. I'm also the pool boy, although being a salt system is fairly hands off. Most work on pool is just spring opening up and fall closing up.

 

[TickTock]

"As I suspected, someone has been adding soil to my yard.
The plot thickens."

etective picks up a single seed, examines it carefully, drops it in an evidence container:

"It also appears that our suspect has recently been to Bermuda."

"Picks up a different seed, examines it just as carefully, drops it into a second evidence container:

"And also drinks rye."

 

[TickTock]

When DW was alive, she had inside the house for chores and I had outside (grass, anything to do with dirt and paint) including maintaining the cars. When she got really I'll, I did most everything. Now I do everything.

DW and I have some interesting gender role chore inversions. Once she was preparing to go to the garage to sand some doors prior to painting them. She told me that she'd help me prepare dinner first. I pointed emphatically to the garage and said, in no uncertain terms, "Get outta here, kitchen ain't no place for a woman!" She enthusiastically left.

I'd rather cook than sand, she'd rather sand than cook.

 

[aja8888]

DW and I have some interesting gender role chore inversions. Once she was preparing to go to the garage to sand some doors prior to painting them. She told me that she'd help me prepare dinner first. I pointed emphatically to the garage and said, in no uncertain terms, "Get outta here, kitchen ain't no place for a woman!" She enthusiastically left.

I'd rather cook than sand, she'd rather sand than cook.

I'm with her!

 

[TickTock]

Every female I've asked has agreed with this statement: "Food that I don't have to personally prepare tastes better."

On a slightly different note, once I'd started cooking regularly, I went back to my mother and profusely (and much belatedly) thanked her for all she'd done for me growing up.

 

[AudiDudi]

Just finished using the riding mower with attachment to thatch the lawn. 1st time the mower has run since 17Aug24. Likely 2-3 weeks from mowing.

 

[Flyfish1]

Enjoying it less and less, temp shot up to 64 degrees today and I was hot! Thank goodness for the ocean breeze. I never cut my own grass when I was working and we had multiple acres. I just didn't have the time. When I retired to a 1/3 acre lot I bought an electric push mower mainly for some exercise. Now on summer #3 of retirement I am reconsidering. Although there is some concern there about keeping up with the neighbors - the lady across the street is probably ten years older than me and cuts her lawn with a push mower every week. Peer pressure...lol
I think I will punt on the leaf clean up this year, it's monumental from the woods behind us.
All the mulching , pruning, etc.. I hire out. I would hire out sanding if I could!

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I got 10t of gravel coming here tomorrow morning...top coat drive way. I just hope the dump is spread decently. I don't want to rake and shovel in the forecasted heat and rain in E. OH. Take what life deals you for peace of mind...I guess

 

[Koolau]

Fair or not, I notice the same thing - lots of married couples with women doing the mowing. I'm divorced and mowing is fine with me but it does burn me a little when the guys can't do the mowing or even get the trash out on the street - and no, I'm pretty sure they aren't doing the vacuuming or laundry.

I do all those and the dishes as well. We don't have set "tasks" but when we see that something needs done, we just do it. "Love keeps no accounts."

 

[Koolau]

Will be 83 in a couple of days. Bought new riding mower last year. 1.5 acers. Takes about 1 1/2 hours as I am in no hurry. Have edged yard so I can do 98% without any hand trimming. Replacing 2 small rose gardens this year with grass as I'm finding I do not enjoy the roses as I once did. Tried using neighbor kid to mow the yard but never did it to my satisfaction plus I missed seeing things that needed attention around the house. I do have a paid service do fertilizer and weed control.

Early Happy Birthday!

Congratulations on doing your own yard w*rk. I'm happy for you that you are able to do so.

 

[mystang52]

Last time I mowed my lawn was late August 2000. DS had gone to college, so he was no longer available. I remembered how much I hated lawn mowing, and hired a service after that. I've switched services once or twice but regardless it's one payment I am verry happy to make.

 

[folivier]

And I find that any food I prepare is much better than anywhere else.

 

[misanman]

At 79, we still do our own yard work (1 acre). It's something I actually enjoy doing and then there is the "Use it or lose it" incentive.

 

[folivier]

I traded cutting grass for cutting firewood. But I don't have to do it every week like grass.

 

[Cassius King]

I don't have much of a lawn anymore. I have a German Shepherd, lol.

 

[DrRoy]

Very early on I did my own oil changes. Haven't for a long time though. I do still do my own yard work at 65. I figure the exercise is good for me. Cutting the grass with a self propelled mower is mostly just walking, which I would do anyway. I recently learned that my DFIL was paying almost $4000/yr for his smallish yard with garden beds and shrubbery for yard cleanup, trimming, mulching, and sprinkler service, with mowing done by someone else. I could afford it, but don't feel like doing so just yet.

 

[grasshopper]

Thanks everyone, I am beginning to believe Ms G when she said I was a lazy bum.

 

[athena53]

I recently learned that my DFIL was paying almost $4000/yr for his smallish yard with garden beds and shrubbery for yard cleanup, trimming, mulching, and sprinkler service, with mowing done by someone else. I could afford it, but don't feel like doing so just yet.

It adds up. There's some dirty work in there. I just paid the landscaping company $460 to do all the lawn chemicals for this season. I don't want to mess with chemicals. I think mowing is up to $55 so let's say 24 mowings over 6 months for $1,320. I do that and the cleanup, trimming, weeding, etc. No mulching- I'd go broke buying mulch because I have a LOT of garden areas and it just covers up the weeds till they pop through again and you have to throw down more mulch. So, my gardens aren't the neatest. I spend about an hour every evening weeding and trimming back. One Garden Club members spends -3 hours a day on hers and they're immaculate- but also a lot fewer square feet than mine. I'm looking forward to moving into the retirement community next year where I can put a few pots out on my balcony and call it good.

 

[DrRoy]

It adds up. There's some dirty work in there. I just paid the landscaping company $460 to do all the lawn chemicals for this season. I don't want to mess with chemicals. I think mowing is up to $55 so let's say 24 mowings over 6 months for $1,320. I do that and the cleanup, trimming, weeding, etc. No mulching- I'd go broke buying mulch because I have a LOT of garden areas and it just covers up the weeds till they pop through again and you have to throw down more mulch. So, my gardens aren't the neatest. I spend about an hour every evening weeding and trimming back. One Garden Club members spends -3 hours a day on hers and they're immaculate- but also a lot fewer square feet than mine. I'm looking forward to moving into the retirement community next year where I can put a few pots out on my balcony and call it good.

I also have someone do the lawn chemicals. Its about $320/yr. I don't have them do every treatment in their normal schedule. Often I have complained about price increases and they have rolled back many of them. It would be rather higher if I had never pushed back, because the increases would have compounded.

 

[Car-Guy]

It adds up. There's some dirty work in there. I just paid the landscaping company $460 to do all the lawn chemicals for this season. I don't want to mess with chemicals.

Reminds me, I need to get a couple of gallons of Round-Up (or an equivalent) to spray my fence lines. I'll admit, I really don't like messing with that stuff.

 

[street]

I still enjoy yard work with ~6000 sf of green to take care of. About 3 hours a week for me is the time I spend on the yard and garden.

At the ranch it is easier we have a cabin in the high country, and I have one that is easier to access now. As far as yard work not much has to be done but do a little mowing every couple weeks at the most. I have a push mower up at the high country place and I might mow it three times a year. Mostly rocks and dirt up there.