Frequently Asked Questions

General Sunlawn Questions

What is the History of the push reel mower?
The push reel mower was invented in 1830; it has been perfected and proven in actual use - worldwide - since long before modern fertilizers and herbicides were available. As functionally elegant as a bicycle, the modern hand mower still ranks as a highly efficient human-powered machine.

How does a push reel mower affect my grass?
Turf - lawn grass - forms a dense, interwoven network of leaves (blades) just above soil level. This interwoven growth pattern is a key element of turf's natural ability to retain moisture and crowd out weeds. The scissor cut heals quickly and causes minimal disturbance to the natural growth pattern. The grass is cut in place, reducing the vertical height but leaving the grass with blades of varied lengths - just as you do when you trim your house plants for maximum sun exposure. The roller refreshes the interwoven growth pattern and the clippings recycle back into the lawn to compost and provide nutrients. A grass catcher may also be used to collect the clippings for use as mulch elsewhere in the garden.

What height should I cut my grass?
With a hand mower you may always cut to the lowest recommended height and be confident that your lawn will have a beautiful, naturally healthy "barefoot" look and feel. 80% of the mowers in use in the U.S. are rotary power mowers. Thus most current mowing height recommendations are based on the requirements of power rotary mowers, which cannot mow at attractive healthy lower heights without possible damage to the lawn such as browning and scalping injury. Reel mower cutting heights of between 1 and 2 inches for most northern turf types have been proven over 200 years of worldwide use.

What is the key to a beautiful lawn?
Regularity is the key to effective mowing. The rule of thumb is to reduce the height of the grass by one-fourth to one-third. If you mow to 1.5 inches then at about 2.25 inches it's time to mow again - usually a week or less. If you wait too long and reduce the height by half or more at one time, especially in hot weather, the delay can cost you. A yellow tinge may appear indicating root shock, which may take weeks to recover. The grass will recover and grow back but the weakened lawn is now more susceptible to weed germination. Regularity - mowing, watering and feeding - will encourage your lawn to better health and appearance!

Is there anything to remember when switching from a rotary mower to a reel mower?
If the grass is high (3 - 4 inches high or more) you can make the transition easier on both yourself and your lawn by adjusting the height in two steps. You may even want to mow once more with a power mower, bagging the clippings to remove the excess mass. Then the next day mow with your new Sunlawn mower. Your lawn will love you for it.

What is normal maintenance for Sunlawn mowers?
The long life of the Sunlawn mower blades requires primarily that you keep the mower clean, dry and free of excess rust. The cleaner you keep it the longer it lasts. Clean the mower after using it; wipe the blades clean and dry using water or any simple cleaner, then store it in a clean dry place. Spraying the blades with silicon lube spray is also a good step to make the blades easier to clean and to prevent rust.

What is meant by "non-contact cutting system?"
The reel and the bed knife (stationary blade) of the Sunlawn mowers clear each other by a tiny gap of 0.05 mm - less than the width of a blade of grass. The non-contact cutting system gives the same scissor cut one expects from a reel mower but with less rolling friction and less noise. Before leaving the factory the blades of a new mower are set optimally. Periodically, if the cut becomes uneven after long use, the bottom blade setting can be corrected in a few minutes using a 10 mm wrench and the gauge supplied with the mower (or any 0.05 mm gauge).

When should a grass catcher be used?
The push reel mower is the original mulching mower. In most areas grasscycling - leaving the clippings on the lawn - provides the lawn with 1/4 to 1/3 of its nutritional needs over the season. Thus, generally a grass catcher is not needed unless you wish to collect the clippings for use as mulch elsewhere. Use of the grass catcher is more common in the South, where Bermuda and St. Augustine lawns in their high growth periods require mowing twice a week. That much mowing generates a lot of clippings so the grass catcher can be useful to avoid an excessive buildup of clippings on the lawn.