The high cost of cutting grass

[bdhsfz6]

She and I spoke on the phone and she was more than agreeable to a fuel surcharge at each monthly billing cycle.

This is the way it should work.

We deal with Waste Management for our refuse disposal. Their quarterly statements include a "fuel surcharge" that has never been reduced when the fuel prices drop. To me, this isn't a surcharge, it's just another name for a price increase.

 

[johara1]

You are right they are a rip off... We went with an other company that doesn't spend your money on TV commercials and fancy trucks...... Jim

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Well I own a diesel lawn mower, but have listened to the idiots about banning leaf blowers, buy ethanol free gas at a Sinclair station, just went up to 4.59 but keeps all 2 strokes from having to be worked on as well as small trim mowers that don't get much use, no carburetor issues with that fuel, your correct about several things , this president didn't cause this oil spike, the last president caused oil to be exported, we use 180 million barrels a day but produce only 120 million and export about 3 million so we import the difference from over 10 + countries most from Canada and some from Russia, our president is trying to get oil companies to produce more but to no avail, that speaks for itself, greed.

I’ve gone electric for everything, trimmers, chainsaws, blowers. Never going back. I still have two Stihl 2-cycle chainsaws but they hardly get used anymore. No starting issues. No gummed up carbs. They just work and when you let off the trigger, total silence.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Lots of benefits to mowed lawn/grass but water is taking the biggest toll here.

Maintained turf is a good fire and pest barrier unlike rock landscape that every kid feels the need to throw... or so it seems.

Turf cuts down on dust and can help soil retain moisture

That said every two weeks is my schedule for 10 months of the year...

All of that is true, and it looks better than unmaintained property. Ticks love tall grass but stay out of regularly mowed areas. Overgrown fields develop bare spots that eventually lead to erosion. I like a mowed area and then ‘feather’ the edges from tall grass transitioning to woods. Holds deer, rabbits, birds, etc.

 

[ultrarunner]

Across the board fuel surcharges being invoiced and started with landscape company $5 per visit.

I wonder if I can surcharge rent for maintenance calls...

The service van averages about 12 mpg around town with landscape trailer and filling the 34 gallon tank is $200+... a far cry from when bought new in 1985 when $40 would get me change...

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I just saw that on this date in 2020 I paid $16 to fill my mower. Last week it was $48.

Time to buy some goats

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Filled up my nurse tank today. Luckily I was able to find a station selling diesel for ONLY $4.799 a gallon.

 

[johara1]

Do you buy off road fuel? or do you have to pay the road tax on it? .Jim

 

[johara1]

Well with all the rain and the ground like a sponge you cut where and when you can. I went in to get gas got 10 gallon for the mower and 5.9 for the car 68.00 worth.... and I see fuel at 6.10 @ gallon now scary and oil is under a 100.00 @ barrel now what gives?...... Jim

 

[NoTrespassing]

Well with all the rain and the ground like a sponge you cut where and when you can. I went in to get gas got 10 gallon for the mower and 5.9 for the car 68.00 worth.... and I see fuel at 6.10 @ gallon now scary and oil is under a 100.00 @ barrel now what gives?...... Jim

WTI (Texas Crude) 107.86 Brent 109.17 RBOB 388.75

RBOB was as low as 195 last December.

Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB) gasoline is a fuel product made from refined crude oil. RBOB gasoline often goes by the names gasoline, petro gasoline or petrol.

 

[prs]

I noticed regular grade gasoline (E-10) at $4.15 here this morning. Up from $3.75 last Saturday at two local Exxon stations. No option for sober gas here and no option for off road gasoline. Diesel is CRAZY out of line at $4.17/gal! There is off road here for diesel, but a 40 mile round trip for me. My CUT is diesel. I am cutting less often and slightly reduced RPM, the Ventrac 4500Z handles it.

prs

 

[hube2]

I generally only mow every 2 weeks. I might be extending that to 3 this year. Diesel is currently over $6.69/gallon here. I want to stretch what I have and hope that the price comes down before I need more.

 

[johara1]

They are setting you up for the big one, Diesel is in short supply..... but the fuel companies are sell it every where to other countries. Just wait till winter approaches and you need to fill your tank for home heating oil..... Jim

 

[johara1]

I generally only mow every 2 weeks. I might be extending that to 3 this year. Diesel is currently over $6.69/gallon here. I want to stretch what I have and hope that the price comes down before I need more.

It would be a foot high by then if I did that, I cut back to once a week, got 10 gallons of gas 47.00.... Jim

 

[bdhsfz6]

I generally only mow every 2 weeks. I might be extending that to 3 this year. Diesel is currently over $6.69/gallon here. I want to stretch what I have and hope that the price comes down before I need more.

You'll use more fuel mowing high/thick grass so the economy is questionable.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Talked to the owner of my favorite golf course about their gas costs for keeping the course in shape. Obviously that cost has doubled this year. The rough really needed mowed but it seems they're mowing less this year. Our foursome lost a lot of balls last Saturday!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

You'll use more fuel mowing high/thick grass so the economy is questionable.

I had no choice but to put off mowing a couple weeks ago due to weather and schedules. So when I did do it, I took 2x as long and ran the equipment harder.

The neighbor is in the hospital, as he did the same, and his ZTR loaded up with so much grass, it caught fire and he has 3rd degree burns covering one arm. I don’t have the full story yet, but I’ll probably go mow his fields down this week.

Gas is $4.599 here now, and reports say it will go to $5 soon.

Fuel costs are more of an annoyance for me. I’m blessed that my livelihood doesn’t depend on it, in a way. Granted when fuel prices get high, and I go burn 100s of thousands of pounds of Jet A at work, that does typically tend to slow the airlines. Which right now, would almost be welcome, because we are very short staffed and cannot meet our current obligations. A 10% reduction in block hours would be perfect about now.

 

[hube2]

My lawn takes me the same amount of time to mow and there is no noticeable difference is how hard the tractor needs to work or how much fuel I use no matter how long I let it get... well within reason. I have let it go for up to 3 weeks in the past due to weather and the only thing that I don't like about that is the rows of grass that look ready for baling when I get done. My wife may need to get use to seeing that.

I mow with the deck as high as it will go. Leaving your lawn longer is better for the lawn and the environment. When you cut the lawn higher it actually grows slower, meaning you can cut it less often. After 1 week I can barely tell that there has been any growth except where my leach field is located.

As you might tell, my lawn is not something I worry too much about. People's obsession with their lawns is something that I will never understand. I have better things to do with my time and money than mowing my lawn.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

My lawn is 8” tall in 6 days... so... I’d be hurting if I waited 2 weeks

I mow at 4”

 

[hube2]

My lawn is 8” tall in 6 days... so... I’d be hurting if I waited 2 weeks

I mow at 4”

If mine grew that fast I'd be in trouble as well, glad it doesn't.