There are multiple ways to trim your lawn or cut it down to your preferred size. The tools, equipment, and other items you choose play a huge role. A lawn mower is one, and a scythe is another.
While a scythe dates back hundreds of years, the mower is hitting its peak with modern designs providing speedy solutions to overgrown lawns. Also, the scythe offers a simple design that involves a more hands-on approach to cutting your grass. At the moment, many homeowners are falling back to this traditional tool because it still works.
If you are about to decide which one to choose for your yard, a comparison will help. Read on to learn about their similarities, capabilities, and benefits.
Differences between Lawn Mower & Scythe
Like many tools, you must consider some factors before settling for a lawn mower or scythe. That’s because you will need a particular one that fits your requirements. Here are the factors to consider:
1. The Environment
Consider the environment where you hope to use your mower or scythe. If you opt for the lawn mower, know that emissions are part of the process. Moreover, there are regulations on certain levels of the mission. However lawn mowers continue to provide mechanized help, and the electric alternatives are often too expensive for some homes.
If you want less carbon footprint, a scythe does wonders for your environment. It will require some energy on your part, but rest assured, it has the lowest environmental impact.
2. Convenience and Ease of Use
When you want to use a tool or equipment for your lawn and home, you must pick a convenient tool. For example, technique and convenience are only somewhat important when mowing your lawn. You also don’t need so much ability, especially if you only have to push the machine.
Conversely, a scythe takes some skill and technical control to wield correctly. You’re not going to go all out swinging with the sharp edges. Applying the correct technique also allows you to achieve the best results on your lawn. When you have issues cutting with a scythe, your time cutting grass will prove counterproductive.
3. Motorized Operation vs. Hand-Powered Tool
A lawn mower is a motorized model most of the time. That means a lot of physical stress is removed from the cutting process. Additionally, your job is much simpler because you only have to guide the mower around your lawn. As a result, the mower completes more than 70% of the job.
As for scythes, there’s no record of a motorized one. Historically, users have had to put in the work applying this tool. That makes it physically demanding compared to lawnmowers.
It would help if you had a lot of strength and determination to shape your lawn with a scythe.
4. The Time Involved
Whether you like it or not, time is a factor you must consider. You wouldn’t want to spend the whole day trimming your lawn. When it comes to cutting grass with scythes, it will take longer, but if you master the techniques involved, you can cut grass in half the time.
When you scythe over a large area, expect to spend many hours perfecting the appearance of your lawn.
A lawn mower should do the trick quickly if your lawn is big. Sometimes, it will take one morning to get the job done, thanks to the engine and modern overall lawn mower.
5. Safety is Essential
Perhaps you have kids or lots of pets running around your yard. The safety of your family and pets is an aspect to consider because both tools can be potentially dangerous. That’s why you shouldn’t leave them unsupervised.
As an operator of either tool, ensure everyone around you is safe, and when you are done cutting your grass, keep the tools in a safe place. Scythes are more dangerous because of their physical nature and exposed blades. However, some lawnmowers also have exposed blades under a fitting deck.
Whatever you choose for your lawn, ensure it is safe for you and others.
6. Maintenance
Maintenance requirements for lawnmowers depend on the model of lawnmower you have. For example, reels require relatively minimal cleaning, including blade sharpening and occasional oiling. It would help if you also had gasoline to keep them running.
As for battery mowers, they require more, with keeping the battery clean one of the essential things to consider.
Scythes need more maintenance than reel mowers. What matters is keeping your blade sharp because the efficacy of scythes depends entirely on a sharp blade.
7. The Durability of Both Tools
When things like trimming your grass get more complicated, the chances of doing it wrongly increase. While things can go wrong with the scythe, you have nothing to worry about when the blades are well-kept. But they can create cracks on the handles, so you need to sharpen them at intervals.
As for lawnmowers (except reel mowers), they have a more complicated design. Mowers last long, but that depends on the particular model you work with. Many cheap models are in the market, so they might not have enough durability.
8. How You Deal With Clippings
You must consider the clippings because they add time to the hours it takes to handle your lawn care duties. A lawn mower gives you several options to deal with the clippings on your lawn. For example, you can mulch or leave the clippings on your lawn, especially with a mulching blade. In addition, you can discharge the clippings and collect them afterward using a rake.
Scythes only give you one last option. As you move about cutting the grass, the clippings get left behind. It becomes a choice to go back and collect the clippings at the end of your chore. That will likely take more time than you budgeted.
9. Storage
Storage gives the scythe an upper hand against the lawn mower. Firstly, scythes are mostly single-sized and do not need much storage space. That makes them ideal for homeowners managing their current space.
Secondly, it’s easy to grab scythes and go. You don’t need to contemplate taking out several machines or tools before taking them out of your storage facility.
Lawnmowers present a different prospect. Some are foldable and allow you to arrange them neatly in storage. However, mowers still occupy more space than a scythe. Only a reel mower can be hung up on the wall.
Pros & Cons of Mowers
The lawnmower has different styles and designs that fit a wide range of grasses. As a homeowner, you can get one that fits your budget and personal style. Moreover, the mower comes with several advantages, such as:
- Being fast and efficient allows you to trim and cut your grass quickly. For example, one commercial mower can cover up to ten football fields in one hour.
- Improved outlook for your grass. You get a more uniform look, which gives your lawn a modern appearance.
- You can constantly adjust the height of the lawn mower depending on the kind of cut you want. That also leads to more consistent cuts overall.
Some disadvantages of lawnmowers include:
- Mowers can be expensive to buy and maintain. Even though you can get one on a budget, they are more costly than scythes.
- Many mower models need help with slopes and traction on wet lawns.
- The emissions from some models contribute to environmental issues.
Pros and Cons of Scythes
Over the years, scythes have also transformed, but the design and shape mostly remain the same. Here are some advantages of using scythes:
- Scythes offer surprisingly low prices than mowers. You can get a scythe without breaking the bank.
- Scythes offer more maneuverability than lawnmowers, which means you’re far less likely to have issues with slopes and traction on wet lawns.
- Apart from the cheap purchase, there’s zero operating cost because scythes do not run on gas or electricity, unlike motor mowers that require gas or electricity.
- Scythes require little service apart from sharpening their blades, which can be done easily.
Here are some disadvantages of scythes:
- With a scythe, mowing close to the ground is needed. That can be very tasking for users.
- Cutting grass in large quantities often leaves the scythes stuck midway.
- Mowing with scythes is a skill in itself. You will need hands-on experience and patience in difficult grass and landscaping areas.
- Scythes are dangerous due to their sharp blades, which can cause injury if improperly handled.
- You will have difficulty using a scythe over a large land or yard covered with grass. Contrast that with mowers working within minutes.
Lawn Mower vs. Scythe: Which is Better
These two tools are worth their use, depending on your preference. While one gives you a mechanized output, less stress, and keeps to time, the other naturally takes more effort, thanks to its design.
The scythe also needs more than a swinging or roving hand. It requires skill, effort, and technique to get the best results. As for lawnmowers, they are more convenient and allow you to do the job faster. Mowers also take up more storage space than scythes.
Scythes are affordable options for smaller lawns and people who want a natural throwback feel. But they won’t work well in larger spaces, often demanding more work from the user.
Now that you know more about these tools and the factors that make them suited to some conditions, it’s easier to choose. You might opt for a lawn mower’s quick and sharp cuts or the old-school scythe’s sharpened blade.
