You want to keep your lawn in check but you don’t have a lot of money to do so. You want it to impress the neighbors, but you really can’t afford to hire a lawn care service or invest a small fortune into a super-duper mower with all the bells and whistles. I can totally relate – we’ve all been there. Money is tight, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to truly enjoy the time you spend at home. I don’t profess to know about cost-cutting in other areas of the home, but if you’re looking for the cheapest way to cut grass and ensure your lawn is more “desirable feature” than “untidy burden” then I know a few tricks.
Without a doubt, the cheapest way to cut grass to a good standard is using a push reel mower. A corded electric mower, scythe, as well as repurposing other tools you may own, such as a string trimmer, are other good options.
The Cheapest Way to Cut Grass without Compromising – The Reel Mower
There’s something truly beautiful about simplicity. I often find myself thinking that, and the humble reel mower perfectly illustrates that point. They offer a great, effective (and most importantly) cheap way to cut grass.
You can pick one up for as little as $50-60 new, and for just a few dollars if you buy one second hand off eBay or Craigslist (just be careful to inspect the mower carefully before you part with your money).
Reel mowers can be bought in a range of sizes, from a very narrow deck to models with a wider deck that can be used for bigger yards. One big plus point about them is that they use a cylinder “reel” of blades (typically 5-7 blades) that slice through the grass, as opposed to a rotary blade that produces more of a tear than a cut. This slicing technique is considered better for your lawn’s health and allows it to recover quicker.
But it’s not just the affordable upfront cost or the quality of the cut that makes a reel mower my top recommendation for the “cheapest way to cut grass”…It’s also the lack of any ongoing costs. You see with a gas mower, there’s lots of maintenance and fuel costs (think oil, gas, changing air filters, etc), and with battery-powered mowers, there’s the batteries themselves, which will have to be periodically replaced. With a reel mower, you have none of these costs. You provide the energy by pushing the mower, and as you do, the blade spins. And in terms of maintenance, there’s hardly anything to worry about. You just need to sharpen the blade once or twice per season and that’s it.
Other Cheap Tool Options for Cutting the Grass
I understand that a reel mower might not be for everyone. If that’s you, here are a few more ideas that will help you cut the grass cheaply.
Corded Electric Mower
A corded electric lawn mower won’t be quite as cheap as a reel mower, but there are some very affordable models out there that represent very good value for $100 or slightly more. If you want to cut your grass with a mower, this is your next best option (gas and battery mowers typically cost significantly more).
Running and maintenance costs are also minimal. There’s no oil, gas or other messy maintenance to pay for and worry about. It’s unlikely to cost more than a few dollars per month on electricity, and the only maintenance you’ll need to invest in is sharpening or replacing the blade once or twice per season.
Scythe
If you’ve googled “how to cut the grass without a lawn mower” at any point, it’s likely that you came across the option of using a scythe. And the truth is, it’s actually a very cheap way to cut the grass. Like the reel mower option, there’s no fuel cost, and very little ongoing maintenance costs (it’s really just about keeping the blade sharp).
But what are the differences when comparing a reel lawn mower vs scythe? As we’ve already established, the cost involved is comparable. It’s perhaps possible to pick up a reel mower for slightly less new (although I had a look and there are plenty of scythes available for around $100 new).
In terms of operation, unless you really like the idea of cutting your grass with a scythe, I’d lean towards a reel mower, as they are more straightforward. You push, the blades spin, and it cuts. It’s also a lot easier to control the cutting height. With a scythe, there is far more technique involved, and it may make take you several sessions to feel comfortable with one. But some folks do just love cutting their grass in this old-fashioned way!
Take Advantage of Tools You Already Have
If you don’t have the money to buy a lawn mower and are determined to find the absolute cheapest way to cut your grass, why not repurpose power tools you already own! The prime candidate here is using a weed wacker to cut your grass. After all, its primary function is cutting grass anyhow. Even though it’s mainly used as a detailing tool (I use mine to cut around a few trees), it can be used to cut small areas of grass pretty effectively if you’re patient.
Related Article: String Trimmers Made in the USA
A hedge trimmer is another option. Sounds, crazy, right? Now I’d never advise you to get down on your knees and use one to cut your whole lawn, but using a hedge trimmer to cut grass that is super long is really not a bad idea. It zips right through areas of grass that a mower or strimmer would really struggle with and tidies them up quickly.
Two tools that you may very well already have sitting in your shed or garage. You wanted cheap – it’d be hard to beat zero cost!
More Ideas for Getting the Lawn Cut Cheaply
If you’re resourceful, there’s a cheap way to do everything. When you travel, you can hitchhike and couch surf. When it comes to maintaining a lawn for cheap there are a couple more ways I can think of to bring the cost right down.
Source a Mower at a Yard Sale
If upfront cost is the big issue, this is a great option. You can sometimes pick up a mower in very good condition for just a few dollars. I’d still opt for a reel mower if you have a choice. A quick sharpening of the blades is usually enough to whip a used reel mower into shape, and then it’s off to the races.
It’s worth looking online too. If you have a Facebook account, check out Facebook Marketplace in your local area. I’ve seen folks giving away mowers for free in my area from time to time.
Hire Youngsters to Take Care of Your Lawn
A professional lawn care service isn’t usually a very cheap way to cut grass, but there are often some young kids in the local area looking to pick up odd jobs to make a few bucks here and there. You may even have kids or grandkids that would love a little pocket money in exchange for cutting the grass.
Have a think if you or your neighbors know of anyone, and offer them a rate that’s a great deal for you both. I used to cut my folks’ lawn once a week during the summer for $10 a time when I was a kid and the independence and responsibility it taught me was honestly invaluable.
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