Mower for Empire Zoysia

lc818 – posted 19 August 2012 08:44

What is a good electric mower to cut Empire Zoysia and at what level? I have a Greenworks electric mower and cut at 3″ but hard to push. Any suggestions?

jod788 – posted 28 August 2012 12:52

If your yard is not extremely large, weed free, relatively flat, and free of a lot of twigs, etc, just buy the Fiskars reel mower (human powered only). It cuts beautifully and is very easy to use. I don’t know your physical limitations though. You said the electric was too hard to push for you. The Fiskars is easy for the average healthy adult.

[This message has been edited by jod788 (edited 28 August 2012).]

lc818 – posted 28 August 2012 19:40

We put down about 2500 square foot of Empire Sod in May 2012. Would you bag the clippings or leave on the grass?

quote:Originally posted by jod788:If your yard is not extremely large, weed free, relatively flat, and free of a lot of twigs, etc, just buy the Fiskars reel mower (human powered only). It cuts beautifully and is very easy to use. I don’t know your physical limitations though. You said the electric was too hard to push for you. The Fiskars is easy for the average healthy adult.

[This message has been edited by jod788 (edited 28 August 2012).]

jod788 – posted 29 August 2012 09:01

You don’t need a motorized lawn mower for 2500 sq feet. I would recommend the Fiskars Momentum. I mow 5000 sq feet with my Fiskars in about 15 minutes. It’s actually a better cut than any gas rotary mower Ive used. The Fiskars does not have a grass catcher. You don’t want to bag your grass clippings anyway.

lc818 – posted 29 August 2012 20:44

What level would you cut with Fiskars Momentum reel mower on Empire Zoysia?

quote:Originally posted by jod788:You don’t need a motorized lawn mower for 2500 sq feet. I would recommend the Fiskars Momentum. I mow 5000 sq feet with my Fiskars in about 15 minutes. It’s actually a better cut than any gas rotary mower Ive used. The Fiskars does not have a grass catcher. You don’t want to bag your grass clippings anyway.

jod788 – posted 30 August 2012 08:16

quote:Originally posted by lc818:What level would you cut with Fiskars Momentum reel mower on Empire Zoysia?

Well, 2.5-3″ is what I cut mine at with it. It’ll cut much lower, but being a manual reel mower, how low you can cut with it depends on how smooth and level your yard is. 2.5-3″ should be easy to cut it at though.

lc818 – posted 30 August 2012 21:05

Thank you. I just ordered the Fiskars Reel mower like you suggested. Hopefully I will get it in next week so I can try it out.

jod788 – posted 31 August 2012 10:31

Cool. It’s fun to use. Start it high and experiment with it. Make a pass at 3-4″ and go down a notch and make another pass and see what heights you can cut at. 2″ or so is as low as I can cut mine without the reel binding up. I think you’d need a super level and flat lawn to cut super low with that mower, but I don’t have a desire to cut that low anyway. Don’t let the grass get too long between mowings and you’ll be good. It’ll go thru small twigs and stuff ok, but it’s best to get any stuff like that off the yard before you start mowing. Is your yard pretty flat and smooth?

[This message has been edited by jod788 (edited 31 August 2012).]

lc818 – posted 31 August 2012 17:03

Some parts are not leveled. I told the people that put sod down to make sure my lawn is leveled before putting the sod, but when I mow it, it seems like it is not leveled. Will the Empire Zoysia grass make it leveled later on?

ezf – posted 31 August 2012 20:58

quote:Originally posted by lc818: Will the Empire Zoysia grass make it leveled later on?

If you mow it at around 3 inches, it will look level.

jod788 – posted 01 September 2012 13:34

The sod will settle some with time and level itself out. Id say whatever it levels to in a year is about all it’s gonna do. Beyond that you’ll have to level it yourself if you see tw need to- with topsoil/sand

[This message has been edited by jod788 (edited 01 September 2012).]

lc818 – posted 05 September 2012 22:27

The fiskars reel mower came in. The height level is 1”- 4” what is the measurements between? It can’t be half steps cause there are 8 levels. What level is 3”?

jod788 – posted 06 September 2012 07:56

Not sure. Just set the mower on a level surface (concrete) and measure from the bed knife (I think that’s what it’s called?) To the ground. Don’t sweat it too much. I believe I’m currently cutting my grass on the 3rd notch from the lowest. That’s probably like a 2.5″ cut, but I like that height. Just start a couple of notches from the highest setting and give it a try. Then you can experiment with it and go down a notch and see how you like that.

jod788 – posted 06 September 2012 07:58

3″ is probably notch 5 or so. You don’t have to make it an exact science. Just guess and start mowing with it.

Read the instructions and make sure the blades are set correctly. They should come very very close to the bed knife, but not touch. I believe it tells you to get some strips of paper and manually turn the reel and make sure it slices the paper sufficiently in various areas along the blades. I never had to adjust mine. It was good out of the box.

[This message has been edited by jod788 (edited 06 September 2012).]

[This message has been edited by jod788 (edited 06 September 2012).]

lc818 – posted 10 September 2012 20:12

Thank you. What is a good weed killer without killing the Empire Zoysia grass?

jod788 – posted 11 September 2012 06:50

I don’t know. I’ve never seen a weed in my zoysia so I’ve never had it sprayed. I’d just call a local trusted company that can spray for you. How’s the mower?

lc818 – posted 11 September 2012 06:52

I like it a lot thank you.