In the event that you're on the particular hunt for the best reel mower for st augustine grass , you most likely currently know that this specific turf will be a bit of a beast in comparison to your average Kentucky Bluegrass. St. Augustine is thick, it's coarse, and it also grows via these types of long, creeping runners called stolons that can make an inexpensive mower feel such as it's seeking to reduce through a moist shag carpet. It's a beautiful, luxurious grass when it's healthy, but in the event that you treat it incorrect with a boring blade or the particular wrong equipment, this gets stressed out pretty quickly.
Most people stay with standard rotary mowers because they're easy to find, but there's a small, dedicated group associated with us who swear by reel mowers. The "scissor-cut" actions of a reel is way better for the grass than the "hacking" motion of a rotary blade. But here's the kicker: not every reel mower can handle the density of St. Augustine. You need something along with a bit associated with "oomph" and, even more importantly, the proper height settings.
The reason why St. Augustine Grass is a Different Animal
Before going out and grab the first reel mower you notice at the big-box store, you've got to understand why this particular grass is therefore picky. St. Augustine thrives in the South because it adores the heat, yet it has a very thick, succulent cutter. When you use a normal mower, the particular blade often cry the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. Those jagged edges turn brown, plus suddenly your yard looks like it offers a tan it didn't ask for.
A reel mower acts just like a pair of scissors. One blade goes by more than a stationary bedknife, snipping the grass cleanly. This helps the lawn maintain moisture and resist disease. However, because St. Augustine is usually so thick, a lightweight manual reel mower can sometimes "float" over the particular top or obtain bogged down if the grass is even a little bit too long.
The particular Struggle with Trimming Height
This is how most people go wrong in order to for the best reel mower for st augustine grass . St. Augustine generally likes to be held tall—usually between two. 5 and 4 inches. Most traditional reel mowers are made for "golf course" style grasses such as Bermuda, which means they often max out there at 1. 5 or 2 ins.
If you scalp your St. Augustine by reducing it too reduced with a standard reel mower, you're going to expose the soil, invite weeds, and potentially eliminate off patches associated with your lawn. A person absolutely must find a mower which has an flexible height that gets to a minimum of 3 inches, or you're going to have a very poor time.
Manual vs. Powered Reel Mowers
You've basically got two paths here. You can go the manual "push" path, which is great for your cardiovascular as well as the environment, or even you can go with a gas or even battery-powered reel mower.
In case you have a small, toned yard, a manual reel mower could work, but truthfully, you're going to need some decent upper body power. Pushing a regular reel through thick St. Augustine is definitely a workout. When you let the grass go for even a few additional days, it becomes exponentially harder to push.
Powered reel mowers are usually the gold regular for this grass type. They have the to remain down within the grass and the capacity to keep the cutting blades spinning fast good enough to catch these thick runners. They're more expensive, sure, but the finish they leave is amazing. It appears to be a literal green floor covering.
The Manual Contenders
When you're dead-set on a manual mower, look for one particular with a large cutting diameter and plenty of height modification. The Fiskars StaySharp Max will be usually one people point to for St. Augustine. Why? Because it may actually be established to 4 inches high. That's a rarity in the particular manual reel entire world. It's also weightier compared to cheap types you discover for the hundred bucks, which helps it plow through the width without bouncing around.
Another choice is the Scotts Classic 20-inch . It's a little lighter and cheaper, but it's a workhorse. This doesn't go very up to the Fiskars, but for the well-maintained lawn that will you're cutting two times per week, it will get the job completed without breaking the bank.
Stepping Up in order to Power
Right now, if you really want to observe what your lawn can do, look at something similar to a McLane or even a California Trimmer . These are gas-powered machines that are usually built like reservoirs. They aren't cheap, and they require more maintenance (oil changes, spark attaches, etc. ), but they handle St. Augustine like a fantasy. They have the weight to press down the stolons and snip them before they could slide under the particular mower.
When gas isn't your thing, there are usually some newer electric reel mowers coming onto the market. They offer that same "powered spin" which is crucial for thick grass, although with no noise and the fumes. Just make sure the battery has sufficient juice to finish your whole backyard, because St. Augustine creates a lot of resistance, which usually drains batteries faster than thin grass does.
Crucial Features to Look For
When you're comparing models, don't just look at the price tag. Here are a few items that actually matter for our specific grass type:
- Blade Count: For St. Augustine, a 5-blade or 7-blade reel is usually the sweet spot. If you have a lot of blades (like the 10-blade reel), they could actually struggle to "grab" the dense blades of grass. It's counter-intuitive, but fewer blades can sometimes handle the bulkier turf much better.
- Wheel Design: Look for "tracking" wheels or rollers. You want the mower to proceed in the straight collection without weaving, specifically since you'll end up being pushing against several resistance.
- Weight: Usually, we want things to end up being light, but along with a reel mower on thick grass, a little bit of weight is usually your friend. This keeps the mower from "riding" upon top of the particular grass.
- Ease of Sharpening: Reel mowers need to stay sharpened to work. Some models allow for "backlapping, " which is usually a DIY way to sharpen the blades at home. It'll save you a great deal of money and trips to the shop.
Tips for Success along with a Reel Mower
Once you've picked out the best reel mower for st augustine grass for your particular yard, there's a bit of a learning competition.
First, don't wait too longer between mows. If you're used to mowing and trimming once every two weeks, you're going in order to hate a reel mower. These tools are designed in order to have a little bit off the best frequently. If the grass gets as well long, the reel will just force it over instead of cutting this. Throughout the peak of summer, you may find yourself around every 4 or even 5 days.
Second, keep it sharp. In the event that you notice the particular grass looks "shredded" or maybe the tips are usually turning white/brown a day after mowing, your blades are dull. A dull reel mower is usually worse than the usual rotary mower. You would like all those blades to be able to cut a piece associated with paper held against the bedknife.
Third, watch for sticks. Reel mowers hate twigs. A rotary mower will simply mulch a little stick, but a stick can jam a reel mower instantly, potentially bending the blades or even just giving your arms a nasty jolt when it stops dead.
Conclusions
Choosing the right tool depends on your spending budget and how much associated with a workout you need. If you've got a small spot of grass plus you're feeling match, the Fiskars is a solid wager because of that high-cut capability. But if you have the half-acre of solid, thirsty St. Augustine, you might desire to conserve for a powered device.
What ever you choose, keep in mind that the goal is really a clean cut. St. Augustine is the "greedy" grass—it desires plenty of water, plenty of sun, plus a very clear haircut. If you provide that, your own lawn will end up being the envy from the neighborhood, looking such as a lush, deep-green velvet rug. This takes a bit more hard work than just pushing a standard mower around, but the results speak for themselves. Just keep those blades sharpened and keep the height up, as well as your grass will thank you.