Using a scythe to cut grass

Sometimes the old ways are best. Scythe lawn mowing was once a very common way to manage high grasses. In many countries it is still the preferred tool since a scythe is portable and easy to manage.

Champion mower Simon Damant shows how to wield one safely. The air is filled with birdsong and the buzz of insects as Simon Damant mows the meadows on the Wimpole Estate where he works as a forester. The scythe in his hands makes barely a whisper as it slices effortlessly through a stand of grass and wildflowers in a wide arc. The tool he is using might look primitive but, Simon passionately believes, it has yet to be bettered, whether you are cutting small garden meadows or the paths in your allotment. Simon is a regular champion at national scything competitions and has made good on this claim in strictly adjudicated conditions on many occasions. Even so, by the Second World War many in the UK had largely abandoned this traditional low-cost, low-impact tool in favour of motorised lawn mowers and combine harvesters. Only the Grim Reaper and a niche group of environmental enthusiasts kept hold of their scythes.

Using a scythe to cut grass

The answer is yes and there are many people in the UK doing just that! Lawn mowing can be a test of a scythers skill, it takes some thought and practice to do well. Here is a summary of the factors you need to consider if you are thinking of scything a lawn. Part 1 is about your lawn; Part 2 will be about your scythe and blade; and Part 3 about scything techniques for short grass. Lawns as we know them arose in 17th century England at the homes of large, wealthy landowners. Beyond the ha-ha , vegetation was controlled with livestock. Close to their homes landowners employed teams of scythers to create close cropped lawns. Only the rich could afford to pay for the labour needed, so a lawn was a mark of wealth and status. As short grass is more challenging to mow, letting your lawn grow longer between mowings will help your learning process a lot. Have a look at the area you are planning on mowing. Do you need a bowling green finish across the whole lawn? Can you leave it longer between mowings?

There's no hacking or slashing involved. Social Links Navigation. It is sharpened with a whetstone, while American scythes require grinding.

One Scythe Revolution. Whetstone Holders. Secale multicaule. Contact Info Reviews In the media Links. How to Mow with a Scythe. I have created some virtual workshops to help you start out successfully with the European scythe. Start slow and first get a feel for the cutting action of the blade.

Champion mower Simon Damant shows how to wield one safely. The air is filled with birdsong and the buzz of insects as Simon Damant mows the meadows on the Wimpole Estate where he works as a forester. The scythe in his hands makes barely a whisper as it slices effortlessly through a stand of grass and wildflowers in a wide arc. The tool he is using might look primitive but, Simon passionately believes, it has yet to be bettered, whether you are cutting small garden meadows or the paths in your allotment. Simon is a regular champion at national scything competitions and has made good on this claim in strictly adjudicated conditions on many occasions. Even so, by the Second World War many in the UK had largely abandoned this traditional low-cost, low-impact tool in favour of motorised lawn mowers and combine harvesters.

Using a scythe to cut grass

Are you looking for a way how to use a scythe to cut weeds and grass? You have come to the right place- here; we will illustrate everything you need to know to use a scythe for cutting grass. For example, before cutting the grass, you must have a basic knowledge of scythe parts, the right time to mow the grass, sharpen a scythe, etc. A scythe consists of a blade and a snath figure 2. The blade parts include edge, heel, back, knob, beard, and neck, whereas the heel, knob, and neck together form a tang figure 3.

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Start slow and first get a feel for the cutting action of the blade. Click here to sign up No thanks. When you have a feel for this action, you can start to lengthen your stroke. Decreasing the frequency of mowing and rotating the areas that you mow will make the task easier. Each has its benefits and selection may depend upon availability. So I carefully mowed off just the green grass at about a 3 inch height. It is sharpened with a whetstone, while American scythes require grinding. The curve near the tip of the blade initiates the cutting action with a sliding cut like when you start slicing a tomato. The answer is yes and there are many people in the UK doing just that! Today there are a many models to choose from, often named after the geographical regions where they originated. Eventually, as you get the hang of it, you can lengthen your stroke to a full degree arc in front of you. To complete the cutting arc, he bends his left knee slightly at the end of the swing, going with the momentum of the action. With practice and experience, your fine-tuned co-ordination will develop and you can then naturally start putting your weight into each stroke, for greater efficiency, as in the video below. The grips on an American blade are adjustable, whereas European scythes are not adjustable on the top grip. Company No:

Home » Grass. It takes practice to learn the correct technique. Place the scythe blade on the ground and extend your arms.

Using a scythe to mow low grass is difficult. Jodie Jones writes about gardeners as much as gardening. Yes they can! Here I am sparing a milkweed plant for the Monarch butterflies. It is better to let the grass grow to a height where the blade can capture it easily. The scene in which actor Aidan Turner stripped off his shirt for a spot of sweaty mowing was voted the best TV moment of by Radio Times readers and suddenly everyone was interested again. When you have a feel for this action, you can start to lengthen your stroke. The stems were too big to use as mulch, so I created a compost stack with them. Length of blade is another choice. I believe there are country shows now where you can watch somebody doing it properly i. If you're not convinced scything is for you, here's the best cordless mowers How to use a scythe Andrew Montgomery As a skilled mower, Simon uses very little energy to wield his scythe.