It’s always about this time of year when I get tired of mowing. It’s hot, the grass doesn’t look its best, and there’s still two more solid months of mowing left. In April it’s fun. In September there’s light at the end of the tunnel. In July, it’s just a chore. So who do we have to thank for creating this great thing called a lawn, filled with grass that takes so much of our time? The wealthy lords of the middle ages, that’s who.

 

It was they who found a short grass lawn to be fashionable. They originally would have their servants (Yeah, think they ever did any real work?) pound their grass flat with mallets. Then with the invention of the scythe they would have several servants keep their grass cut short. Sir Francis Bacon praised “Closely mown lawns because nothing is more pleasant to the eye than green grass finely shorn.”

 

It wasn’t until 1830 when the mower as we would recognize it came around. Edward Budding had invented a machine to cut the nap off of velvet. He realized that this would also work for grass, and patented his idea. It was basically a reel mower, but very heavy and extremely hard to push. His mowers caught on quickly and soon cut lawns became quit the rage. In 1893 a steam-powered mower hit the market. In 1902 a gasoline-powered model came out. In the 1950’s self-propelled mowers would become available, as would the latest invention, the rotary blade. Since then we haven’t seen major changes in the basic design of a mower. Hover mowers, string mowers, robotic mowers, they are out there, but they have never caught on.

 

Perhaps someone will have a Eureka moment and make a huge leap forward in mowing technology. As for me I’m thinking that being a wealthy land-owner with servants is about the best way to beat the drudgery of mid-summer mowing! Short of that I guess I’d go to Orchards Ace Hardware and by myself a nice new Toro! Plenty of models left to choose from, still at great prices. Buy one now and take the drudgery out of mowing, by enjoying a nice new machine!

Thanks again to Vince Staten for the facts.

-Clark