@@Drueckeberger5000 Which is his point. Tall fescue at 2" in the southern zone? I cant get away with that here in central MD on any of my customers lawns (small father son business with 70ish weekly customers). They would all be dormant by the middle of July if not sooner. Nobody here irrigates either unfortunately, so we are forced to go high. By middle of summer we are at 4". If things get really hot and dry we will go even higher and start skipping every other week.
I live in Ohio and have a turf type tall fescue lawn.. I'm looking for a reel mower that can cut tall because I like to water as little as possible.. any ideas?
Works great! ruclips.net/user/postUgkxprGGPRQoChQaA8u58dt7miEpxQBKiWeJ More difficult with longer grass, though, but I was expecting that. I have a small back yard, it seemed like overkill to buy a lawnmower with an engine. This is easy to carry in and out of the basement through the bulkhead. Very sharp (be careful). At the back of the mower are little wheels, which I use when pulling the mower backwards, so it's easy to readjust direction. I'm including a photo which shows the before and after for my lawn when it was at its longest. For long grass like that you really have to put some muscle into it, and I needed to go into a new section of grass with some momentum, but when the grass is only an inch or two higher than regular cut height it's quite easy. The lawn is still patchy and full of weeds, but at least it's a good height! A step in the right direction.
Pete.... it’s nice to see someone who is passionate and cares about what they do. You are as genuine as they come and it comes across in every video. Awesome stripes. I’m about to lay my first stripes of the season at my job here in NJ.... maybe not this week , but definitely next week.
Pete. Meteorologist is up, geologist is down. Trust me , I know whats up and whats down (retired elevator mechanic). Thanks for all your videos. You and your family stay safe and well !
My reel mower did exactly what you're describing. What's probably happening is the blade length on some grass blade are long enough that they don't have room to stand back up and get cut. You can solve that by using your rotary mower (with a freshly sharpened blade) to do an annual "scalp" which gets the blade length down to something your reel mower can handle. With a tall fescue, of course, that'd be around 1.5 inches vice bermuda which is down almost down to dirt. The tallest height I've found you can cut (generally speaking) with a reel mower is about a 1/4 inch or so less than the distance between you're front roller and the leading edge of the bed knife. The reason is the grass blade needs a little room to "spring back" up hi enough to be caught by the reel and scissored between that and the bed knife. If your ground is dry enough (mine is waterlogged right now), a lot of reel mowers can be fitted with "high grass" wheels, but that reduces the striping until it's short enough to put the front roller back on. Hope that helps!... Boy do I wish I had that mower!
Oh my Pete. I always wanted to see how a reel mower really worked on a tall fescue lawn but hard to believe no more 4 inch tall fescue. Never seen you mow your lawn so short. Gotta be about the second time I’ve ever seen your lawn so short
From what I remember mowing with a Locke mower which is a reel mower, they leave things sticking up here and there ... I like the Honda engine on that mower
Pete you need to keep it at the height that you want it. the first cut you are doing right now the blades are too long and the reel mowers don't have suction. Once you keep cutting at your desired height the clippings will be smaller and it will probably look like you were expecting
Hey Pete nice video. If you start mowing with the longest line first, it makes it a lot easier to do the rest. Instead of having to match up a line from a long way away. Stay safe buddy
Hey Pete ... I know this is more of a study, but I personally liked your TTTF/KBG cut higher & striped with your rider more as nature intended. I get the fascination with reel mowing ... but on a golf course.
Reel Mowing to me is like a New Haircut... Give it some time to do what it used to do.... Don't go back for a trim in 3 days (although that is what you will probably have to do! lol) I think over time the stragglers will get less and less. AWESOME Video Pete!!
I’m really curious to see how this cut height works out for you. I inherited a lawn and was told it was KBG, so I cut it at 1.8” with a reel mower. Long story short, over time it destroyed the lawn! Turns out the lawn was tall fescue! I’ve been mowing at 4” to grow it back and it has nearly all filled in. I’m looking forward to seeing how this works out.
I think with your style turf at that 2" or higher cut with that mower you might want to try a cross cut on your second cut instead of doubling over the same line..it may catch that flush cut your seeking..your lawn looks incredible!
I’m a new subscriber and I absolutely love your channel. I’ve never been a lawn guy but will be purchasing our first home next year and you really have me motivated to lay some killer stripes.
I think one thing that is affecting the quality of cut is that most of the time reel mowed lawns are cut every day to every other day and there isn’t near as much material being cut off.
The idea of reel mowing is to roll the grass in front and behind the cutters. if you are cutting more than a quarter inch off the front roller flattens the grass and some dose not stand up in time to be cut by the blades. The trick is to choose a mix if grasses and care for the soil. The Allett range of attachments includes a lawn brush that will pick up slugs left by an aerator into the grass box and then brush soil amendments into the holes with the grass box removed. Once you have treated the soil a few times it will retain the water and allow finer grasses that take to short mowing to thrive. Allett have produced the best mower range in its class and the best range of attachments for it but due to ergonomics it is not possible it include a use full plug aerator as an attachment. But then you only use a plug aerator once a year or twice if you are a lawn freak so it is probably better to hire an aerator and let somebody else service it. The ultimate test is to roll a tennis ball over the grass if it stops rolling in a short distance then you have a U.S. style lawn if it keeps rolling then you have a U.K. style lawn. What is in the first four inches below the soil surface is just as important as the green bit on top.
Checking in on this video a year later wondering how the fescue handled this height? I’m in Nebraska, have a fescue lawn and prefer a lower grass. Would love to hang out around 2-2.5” if I can. What did you see the grass needing last year? More water and more frequent mows? Any growth boosters or anything. Thanks!
Pete I been watching you for so long and I can't seem to stop watching your videos I even go back when you first start off. Really wish there was a way for you to actually help personal level I have new house on a corner lot man I'm getting my butt whoop I'm throwing everything at it. Maybe I'm getting so far ahead of myself. I'm really trying to dominate my area even the city. I want to be better than a golf course and whatever else that's out there.
Wondering how this is going to work out in a few weeks when the fescue has its spring "pop off" We already got hit with warm weather in Charlotte and my fescue is growing 1+ inch per day. looks good brother! I am looking forward to seeing what happens!
Man IDK Pete. I think i am still partial to the ventrac reel mower wide stripes and the tuxedo. That walk behind looks like a real pain to operate especially when getting it turned around and lined up. Yard looks freakin amazing though brother. Thanks for everything you do. I know you are putting a ton of effort into the reel mow series and that thing wasnt cheap
ill be picking up a bunch of stuff from you here in a few months when the deployment im on starts coming to an end... excited about getting my yard regraded and getting some of that pretty grass growing in my yard!!!
I'm enjoying watching your videos,as someone who lives in the UK our grass seems much different to yours.......and I am amazed at the size of your gardens,are they all that size over there!
Hey Pete! Any updates on the height since cutting it lower with the reel mower? I’m getting ready to renovate my front lawn and just ordered your TTTF blend. Since I’m doing a full renovation I wanted to use a manual reel mower at first to keep the heavier mower off of the new grass for a while. Highest setting I can find is 3”. What are your thoughts?
Hey Pete I know you're not talking about irrigation in the video, however i wanted to know your thoughts on the Pro-feeder system or other systems like it. I would use it for all applications however maybe something like mosquito treatment or humid app.
The roller on the front bends the grass and not all of it gets a chance to stand up before the reel cuts it. Some reel mowers will have a groomer in front of the reel to help stand it up before it gets cut. I think this is prob another reason why you typically see two directional cutting, to get any strays. It’ll get used to the lower cut in no time. At least till Summer comes in all it’s glory.
Figures I buy a Timemaster and cut tall from bring inspired by LCN and Pete and now he’s reel mowing and low. Lol. I’ll stick with my plan until I see how this pans out. The lower I go the more defaults I see in the ground and more brownness underneath that beautiful green. Pete’s is green all the way to the roots
Ok Pete. You preached last year about leaving the tall fescue as high as possible during the summer months. Allowing transpiration to take place on the leaves of the fescue. What’s the plan this summer to keep the fescue cool during the heat? Any growth retardants, extra fungicide etc? I cut a customer’s fescue yard lower a few years ago and had to drop the traditional fertilizer and had to use more organic approach with added fungicides. Also what’s your mowing schedule. Twice a week or more?? Thanks man. Love your videos
Give it a few more cuts pete, and those tall stragglers will start cleaning up. Also....are you going to mow that every 3-4 days now to keep up with the growth? Looks good so far! I think your spot on with the lower cut evening out the stragglers as well. Good luck this season! Im reel mowing my bermuda...and we are already at about 75 percent greened up.
I think it's the front roller with the small home owners come with to smaller wheels so the roller does not go right across the front . Also allett have a mower called a Buffalo which I think is the longer grass I could be wrong
Pete with a reel mower if you “double back” on yourself and mow back up the dark stripes it folds the leaf blade up so the reel grabs it and you get a clean cut
What’s a decent fertilizer to put down now? I’m in East Tennessee and have a rye grass yard. I just want something to green it up that won’t hurt it. I know it’s not the ideal time to fertilize but I’d like to do it as soon as possible.
Fantastic looking yard! My grass and many grasses here in Maryland yellow over during the winter...and have just started to green up. Was your grass green all winter? How do I keep my grass green through fall into winter? I have combination Kentucky blue & Tall Fescue.
Hello, Pete cutting fescue with reel mower that's awesome. Your thoughts on Agri Gro' s Turf Formula and SuperCal just hoping your opinion on this stuff. Thanks for taking the time to put out this information and giving us feed back on our questions!!
I didn't go through the comments, but I believe you said that you have a 10 real blade. If you are going to cut at 2" or above you need a 6 reel blade. 10 and 11 reel blades are for 1" and lower.
Pete cutting at this height how much are you watering???
John Blevins haven’t even turned my irrigation on yet so I have no clue
Must be nice..... I know you gotten some rain..... Your grass looks great....
@@johnblevins2248 its tall fescue grass
@@Drueckeberger5000 Which is his point. Tall fescue at 2" in the southern zone? I cant get away with that here in central MD on any of my customers lawns (small father son business with 70ish weekly customers). They would all be dormant by the middle of July if not sooner. Nobody here irrigates either unfortunately, so we are forced to go high. By middle of summer we are at 4". If things get really hot and dry we will go even higher and start skipping every other week.
I live in Ohio and have a turf type tall fescue lawn.. I'm looking for a reel mower that can cut tall because I like to water as little as possible.. any ideas?
Works great! ruclips.net/user/postUgkxprGGPRQoChQaA8u58dt7miEpxQBKiWeJ More difficult with longer grass, though, but I was expecting that. I have a small back yard, it seemed like overkill to buy a lawnmower with an engine. This is easy to carry in and out of the basement through the bulkhead. Very sharp (be careful). At the back of the mower are little wheels, which I use when pulling the mower backwards, so it's easy to readjust direction. I'm including a photo which shows the before and after for my lawn when it was at its longest. For long grass like that you really have to put some muscle into it, and I needed to go into a new section of grass with some momentum, but when the grass is only an inch or two higher than regular cut height it's quite easy. The lawn is still patchy and full of weeds, but at least it's a good height! A step in the right direction.
Pete, you’re my favorite “Geometrist” on RUclips!
I continue to live vicariously through all you You Tube Lawn guys as my lawn is way less to brag about.
Man I freaking love this guy....always positive and sharing all his wisdom 🙏🏾
Me too brother
Pete.... it’s nice to see someone who is passionate and cares about what they do. You are as genuine as they come and it comes across in every video. Awesome stripes. I’m about to lay my first stripes of the season at my job here in NJ.... maybe not this week , but definitely next week.
Beast of a machine, I love reel mowers, especially 32-36 inch wide, proud of you brother, you’ve graduated from the norm.
Pete.....You are a better meteorologist than my local TV weather guy! Love your show.
Never seen a reel mower used on tall fescue, but it is beautiful. The stripes really POP!
Thanks Pete. We very much appreciate all your hard work and dedication to your channel.
Pete. Meteorologist is up, geologist is down. Trust me , I know whats up and whats down (retired elevator mechanic). Thanks for all your videos. You and your family stay safe and well !
My reel mower did exactly what you're describing. What's probably happening is the blade length on some grass blade are long enough that they don't have room to stand back up and get cut. You can solve that by using your rotary mower (with a freshly sharpened blade) to do an annual "scalp" which gets the blade length down to something your reel mower can handle. With a tall fescue, of course, that'd be around 1.5 inches vice bermuda which is down almost down to dirt. The tallest height I've found you can cut (generally speaking) with a reel mower is about a 1/4 inch or so less than the distance between you're front roller and the leading edge of the bed knife. The reason is the grass blade needs a little room to "spring back" up hi enough to be caught by the reel and scissored between that and the bed knife. If your ground is dry enough (mine is waterlogged right now), a lot of reel mowers can be fitted with "high grass" wheels, but that reduces the striping until it's short enough to put the front roller back on. Hope that helps!... Boy do I wish I had that mower!
Pete is like a kid on Christmas morning! Awesome video as always!
Oh my Pete. I always wanted to see how a reel mower really worked on a tall fescue lawn but hard to believe no more 4 inch tall fescue. Never seen you mow your lawn so short. Gotta be about the second time I’ve ever seen your lawn so short
Wow! Those are some beautiful stripes! The color is popping! Very rich green color!
Man I've seen you mow a million times now and its interesting every time
From what I remember mowing with a Locke mower which is a reel mower, they leave things sticking up here and there ... I like the Honda engine on that mower
You had my attention at the first stripe! Booom!
Looks good, I wouldn't do it, but I like watching to see how it goes, cool to see how excited you are.. like a kid on Christmas morning 🎄
The higher you cut with a reel mower the fewer blades you'll want to have on your cassette. Try a 6 or 8 blade reel for HOC's above 2"
Yep! and the shorter you cut, the more blades you need to prevent leaving "riffles" in the lawn.
Agreed!
Meteorologist Pete! Lol
Lol
1:28 Pete someone who "predicts" the weather is called a Sophomaniac... because they never admit being wrong! 😂
the lower the better on a reel. looking forward to seeing tttf reeled at an 1 an a half or maybe even lower. have a great weekend!
I will be interested to see your routine for sharpening the blades on the Allett.Thanks for sharing Pete and be safe and healthy everyone!
Throwing Sparks probably mailing it back to them lol, reel sharpening isn’t easy
Lol metrologist is the scientist your looking for Pete!! I just got my Allett for my yard channel also. I love it and Roland is a great guy 👍👍👍
Looks better than a golf course ! ,Glory be to God and a man that loves God!
Amén amén amén amén amén amén amén amén amén amén!
Your house is beautiful man. Grass is the best part !
Congratulations on the new mower. I have its baby brother and its a great machine, enjoy the mow
Pete you need to keep it at the height that you want it. the first cut you are doing right now the blades are too long and the reel mowers don't have suction. Once you keep cutting at your desired height the clippings will be smaller and it will probably look like you were expecting
Pete- Love the channel and love the products. Keep it up, it's either raining or it's not who needs a stinking "Weather Person".
Hey Pete nice video. If you start mowing with the longest line first, it makes it a lot easier to do the rest. Instead of having to match up a line from a long way away. Stay safe buddy
Hey Pete ... I know this is more of a study, but I personally liked your TTTF/KBG cut higher & striped with your rider more as nature intended. I get the fascination with reel mowing ... but on a golf course.
Thank you for the lawn weed identification. Helpful.
Thanks for sharing. I love the Allett mower.
Reel Mowing to me is like a New Haircut... Give it some time to do what it used to do.... Don't go back for a trim in 3 days (although that is what you will probably have to do! lol) I think over time the stragglers will get less and less. AWESOME Video Pete!!
Like that you showed how to fix your stripes. PITTL Pete!!!!
I’m really curious to see how this cut height works out for you. I inherited a lawn and was told it was KBG, so I cut it at 1.8” with a reel mower. Long story short, over time it destroyed the lawn! Turns out the lawn was tall fescue! I’ve been mowing at 4” to grow it back and it has nearly all filled in. I’m looking forward to seeing how this works out.
I think with your style turf at that 2" or higher cut with that mower you might want to try a cross cut on your second cut instead of doubling over the same line..it may catch that flush cut your seeking..your lawn looks incredible!
That is one awesome mower. Those stripes are going to pop.
At least the English mowers don't drive from the opposite side like their cars. 😂 You'll be having afternoon tea and crumpets before you know it!
Corona virus can kiss our grass 😉keep these coming they help with the boredom
Now that is a proper cylinder mower!
I’m a new subscriber and I absolutely love your channel. I’ve never been a lawn guy but will be purchasing our first home next year and you really have me motivated to lay some killer stripes.
I've been waiting for this video. Can you show a close up shot of the cut between 2 inches and 1.5?
I think one thing that is affecting the quality of cut is that most of the time reel mowed lawns are cut every day to every other day and there isn’t near as much material being cut off.
GCI Wait to the summer kicks in. It's not gonna make it in the Sun tall fescue . You cut to Short
I always say the same thing but you are the man PETE keep up the good work.Andbe safe my brother.👍🙏🇺🇸
fat stripes with no wheel marks, my prayers have been answered lol. good job pete. put a tape mark on the basket to guide your line on the next pass
You may already know this Pete, but I think you’ll find that the lower you go with your cut height on that reel, the cleaner the cut will be.
Looking great. Interested in following the process during the summer heat.
The idea of reel mowing is to roll the grass in front and behind the cutters. if you are cutting more than a quarter inch off the front roller flattens the grass and some dose not stand up in time to be cut by the blades. The trick is to choose a mix if grasses and care for the soil. The Allett range of attachments includes a lawn brush that will pick up slugs left by an aerator into the grass box and then brush soil amendments into the holes with the grass box removed. Once you have treated the soil a few times it will retain the water and allow finer grasses that take to short mowing to thrive. Allett have produced the best mower range in its class and the best range of attachments for it but due to ergonomics it is not possible it include a use full plug aerator as an attachment. But then you only use a plug aerator once a year or twice if you are a lawn freak so it is probably better to hire an aerator and let somebody else service it. The ultimate test is to roll a tennis ball over the grass if it stops rolling in a short distance then you have a U.S. style lawn if it keeps rolling then you have a U.K. style lawn. What is in the first four inches below the soil surface is just as important as the green bit on top.
Looking good Pete! Thanks for the striping tips!
Hey Pete, remember this mower has no suction to stand the grass blades up before their cut. Also explains the look and lack of clippings.
Ethofumasate is a herbicide you can spray for poa annual on cool season turf
Beautiful yard, pine and neiborhood
Checking in on this video a year later wondering how the fescue handled this height? I’m in Nebraska, have a fescue lawn and prefer a lower grass. Would love to hang out around 2-2.5” if I can. What did you see the grass needing last year? More water and more frequent mows? Any growth boosters or anything. Thanks!
Pete, your lawn is looking great
Man that mower looks like a big ole walk behind plugger.
Is this the twilight zone? What happened to cutting at 4.5” and all of the benefits???
Pete I been watching you for so long and I can't seem to stop watching your videos I even go back when you first start off. Really wish there was a way for you to actually help personal level I have new house on a corner lot man I'm getting my butt whoop I'm throwing everything at it. Maybe I'm getting so far ahead of myself. I'm really trying to dominate my area even the city. I want to be better than a golf course and whatever else that's out there.
1:40 - meteorologist! Hahaha
Wondering how this is going to work out in a few weeks when the fescue has its spring "pop off" We already got hit with warm weather in Charlotte and my fescue is growing 1+ inch per day. looks good brother! I am looking forward to seeing what happens!
That mower is a beast!
Do you intend to use plant growth regulator if you’re going for 1.5” all season?
You should get a seat i use a 30 inch dennis mower in the uk for my cricket out fields and use whats called a roller seat would be for your grass
Man IDK Pete. I think i am still partial to the ventrac reel mower wide stripes and the tuxedo. That walk behind looks like a real pain to operate especially when getting it turned around and lined up. Yard looks freakin amazing though brother. Thanks for everything you do. I know you are putting a ton of effort into the reel mow series and that thing wasnt cheap
It sounds like you need a grooved front roller. That may help with cutting issue you have.
ill be picking up a bunch of stuff from you here in a few months when the deployment im on starts coming to an end... excited about getting my yard regraded and getting some of that pretty grass growing in my yard!!!
Chad Bethune get his cool season guide. It’s awesome
I'm enjoying watching your videos,as someone who lives in the UK our grass seems much different to yours.......and I am amazed at the size of your gardens,are they all that size over there!
Good morning Pete!
helluva machine, that Allett...
Looking great Pete!
Hey Pete! Any updates on the height since cutting it lower with the reel mower? I’m getting ready to renovate my front lawn and just ordered your TTTF blend. Since I’m doing a full renovation I wanted to use a manual reel mower at first to keep the heavier mower off of the new grass for a while. Highest setting I can find is 3”. What are your thoughts?
Thanks for the videos, you always have really interesting content with good tips and advice!
It still looks good, I think come summer time it will also but may require more work possibly? I’ll be curious to see!
Hey Pete I know you're not talking about irrigation in the video, however i wanted to know your thoughts on the Pro-feeder system or other systems like it. I would use it for all applications however maybe something like mosquito treatment or humid app.
Love the content but imagine being his neighbor and hearing him start the thing 20 times 🤣
The roller on the front bends the grass and not all of it gets a chance to stand up before the reel cuts it. Some reel mowers will have a groomer in front of the reel to help stand it up before it gets cut. I think this is prob another reason why you typically see two directional cutting, to get any strays. It’ll get used to the lower cut in no time. At least till Summer comes in all it’s glory.
Figures I buy a Timemaster and cut tall from bring inspired by LCN and Pete and now he’s reel mowing and low. Lol. I’ll stick with my plan until I see how this pans out. The lower I go the more defaults I see in the ground and more brownness underneath that beautiful green. Pete’s is green all the way to the roots
Hey Pete! So what were the results? Will you be keeping it at the 2” height ? Or bringing it back up?
One thing I noticed is that the stripes are more homogeneous then with a rotary and striper kit.
Ok Pete. You preached last year about leaving the tall fescue as high as possible during the summer months. Allowing transpiration to take place on the leaves of the fescue. What’s the plan this summer to keep the fescue cool during the heat? Any growth retardants, extra fungicide etc? I cut a customer’s fescue yard lower a few years ago and had to drop the traditional fertilizer and had to use more organic approach with added fungicides.
Also what’s your mowing schedule. Twice a week or more?? Thanks man. Love your videos
looking good Pete
You still have them kbg plot out back? Would love to see that this spring!
That machine is a beast
You're going to get addicted to reel mowing
Give it a few more cuts pete, and those tall stragglers will start cleaning up. Also....are you going to mow that every 3-4 days now to keep up with the growth? Looks good so far! I think your spot on with the lower cut evening out the stragglers as well. Good luck this season! Im reel mowing my bermuda...and we are already at about 75 percent greened up.
I think it's the front roller with the small home owners come with to smaller wheels so the roller does not go right across the front . Also allett have a mower called a Buffalo which I think is the longer grass I could be wrong
Another great video Pete!!
I could never get stripes on my lawn until I bought an Allett Kensington 20H.
Hi how are you doing, tall fescue Is not designed to be cut short.😁👍🇺🇸
Hey Pete, i hope that family and boy of yours is doing ok.
Pete with a reel mower if you “double back” on yourself and mow back up the dark stripes it folds the leaf blade up so the reel grabs it and you get a clean cut
What’s a decent fertilizer to put down now? I’m in East Tennessee and have a rye grass yard. I just want something to green it up that won’t hurt it. I know it’s not the ideal time to fertilize but I’d like to do it as soon as possible.
Fantastic looking yard! My grass and many grasses here in Maryland yellow over during the winter...and have just started to green up. Was your grass green all winter? How do I keep my grass green through fall into winter? I have combination Kentucky blue & Tall Fescue.
Hello, Pete cutting fescue with reel mower that's awesome. Your thoughts on Agri Gro' s Turf Formula and SuperCal just hoping your opinion on this stuff. Thanks for taking the time to put out this information and giving us feed back on our questions!!
Try using xonerate for poa in cool season turf.
I didn't go through the comments, but I believe you said that you have a 10 real blade. If you are going to cut at 2" or above you need a 6 reel blade. 10 and 11 reel blades are for 1" and lower.
Really hoping your turf handles the lower height. I'm seeding with your tttf now and would love to reel mow it if itll handle it!
I just mowed my fescue at 1/2 inches and it turned out fine