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, using a scythe to cut grass, 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.

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

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. Most people instinctively swing a scythe like a hockey stick or golf club, and chop at the grass. They assume the curve of the blade is supposed to catch the grass stems and then the edge chops through them. Your scythe is NOT designed to be used like that! It's a precision mowing tool. Start by keeping the blade flat on the ground at all times, and slide it forward in an arc in front of you, in the direction that the tip is pointing. There's no hacking or slashing involved. You only cut a narrow strip of grass with each stroke. The curve near the tip of the blade initiates the cutting action with a sliding cut like when you start slicing a tomato.

The area in this video had been left to grow all summer, the previous year, and then was mowed with a tractor in the fall, but the grass was left in place as mulch. Subscribe Newsletter.

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. Mowing a lawn with a scythe isn't something you see every day in modernized regions, but the tool is adaptable, easy to keep sharp, and a lightweight piece of land management. It is also eco-friendly and adds no noise pollution because it is human, rather than gas powered. A scythe is a curved, sharp blade at the end of a long pole.

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.

Using a scythe to cut grass

Home » Grass. It takes practice to learn the correct technique. Place the scythe blade on the ground and extend your arms. Sweep the blade in a semi-circle in one fluid motion through the grass or weeds in front of you. The blade should pass along the ground, cutting through the plant stems near the base with a shearing action. Short grass is often harder to cut with a scythe than long grass. Sometimes, lawn grass gets flattened by people walking on it, causing it to point in different directions.

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Words Alys Fowler. The American scythe has a thick, narrow, steel blade with a curved handle, commonly found in farm supply stores. 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. The top handle should line up with the tips of your fingers. Decreasing the frequency of mowing and rotating the areas that you mow will make the task easier. You only cut a narrow strip of grass with each stroke. Interesting, very interesting. Can you leave it longer between mowings? Make Comment Public. Social Links Navigation.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The scythe is an instrument used to cut grass or shrub.

The versatile scythe requires frequent peening and stoning. In many countries it is still the preferred tool since a scythe is portable and easy to manage. I can cut a meadow faster and neater with my scythe than anyone with a strimmer 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. They assume the curve of the blade is supposed to catch the grass stems and then the edge chops through them. Your scythe is NOT designed to be used like that! If the area is large, can you divide it up and mow parts of it at different intervals? Most people instinctively swing a scythe like a hockey stick or golf club, and chop at the grass. 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. Secale multicaule. Registered in England. Can you leave it longer between mowings? Start by keeping the blade flat on the ground at all times, and slide it forward in an arc in front of you, in the direction that the tip is pointing. The razor-sharp edge is extremely dangerous, with the power to sever a tendon. We advocate changes that will mean better lives for almost everyone. We have a small lawn in our private garden, a larger one by the Trust barn and various paths and tracks that are kept mown throughout the growing season.