How tough is it to mow a lawn

This may seem like a silly question but I live in an apartment and have never mowed a lawn before. I’m thinking about moving to a 3-4 bedroom house, which is rare for an apartment, but all rental houses seem to require tenants to handle lawn care, and that makes me anxious.

I’m 4’11" and weigh around 90 lbs and I have some physical limitations that prevent me from lifting more than 20 lbs with both arms. I’m unsure if my lifting ability will make it hard for me to take care of a lawn properly.

why not hire a kid to handle it

Charlie said:
why not hire a kid to handle it

This is a great idea

Lawn care needs time and it can cost some money too, not to mention the effort to do it right. If you only need to fulfill a lease requirement, just find someone to take care of it for you. Just make sure they are reliable and won’t cost too much.

you might get by with a self-propelled battery mower and trimmer, but it could be a struggle

Marcell said:
you might get by with a self-propelled battery mower and trimmer, but it could be a struggle

The self-propel function on my push mower doesn’t work well. You can move it around, sure. But not for long

How tough it is depends on the lawn’s features. A flat square lawn without corners is easy to mow. But if there are slopes, uneven ground, or corners, it becomes more challenging. If I were you, I’d stick to a flat square lawn without corners. Hiring a local kid for a small fee might be the best choice if you don’t mind how it looks. For a nicely kept lawn, you might need to hire a professional.

Picture vacumming four bedrooms, then do it three times in one hour with a bulky heavy vacuum, including the hassle of getting it in and out of a little closet. Now imagine doing that without air conditioning on a hot day. That feels like mowing the lawn, but you have bugs, dog mess, and prickly weeds to deal with. And all of this is on your day off

If you can find a local kid or if there’s none available, an automatic mower might work for you. They cost a bit more, like a Roomba for lawns

Lane said:
If you can find a local kid or if there’s none available, an automatic mower might work for you. They cost a bit more, like a Roomba for lawns

There’s actually a lawn version of a Roomba out there

I enjoy mowing the grass. Don’t skimp on the mower. A good $450 mower will do the job with minimal effort. I control where it goes with hardly any strength needed.

Self-propelled is what it’s known as.

Compared to other household tasks, it might be pretty hard. I think you could manage, but the toughest part for you might be starting it. An electric push mower that starts with a button would help, as they are lighter and you skip the pull cord hassle. For an average person, starting a gas mower can be a bit frustrating, especially if it’s not working well.

@Payton
Actually, considering your lifting limit, I’d say it might be too much for you. I agree with the suggestion to find a neighborhood kid or even a friendly adult neighbor to help out.

Not sure where you’re located, but it gets really tough in Texas summer heat…and that’s not even taking the equipment into account.

It really depends on the type of mower and the lawn (I’ve had both). Some are very easy, while others can be quite tough. You won’t know until you try it yourself

A push mower isn’t too challenging unless you let the grass grow too tall or wet. Being out in the summer heat for a while does require some physical effort. And it’s better not to wear shorts or similar clothing.

Battery-powered mowers work well but could be tough for your lifting ability, especially in tight spots, maintenance, and storage.

Pulling a gas mower’s start cord could be difficult too, as gas engines can be heavy.

Manual push mowers typically weigh around 25 to 30 pounds. They are lighter compared to other mowers but demand more effort to push, though that doesn’t compare to lifting strength.

If you get a chance, try out a push mower first. Usually, you aren’t lifting the weight of the mower itself, and it is hard to know for sure what you can manage in practice.

Consider getting a smaller battery mower like the Worx 40V 17 inch Push Lawn Mower. My wife who is your size uses it and loves it.

A smaller lawn should be manageable, especially with a modern mower, since they are much easier to push, particularly when self-propelled

I had ankle surgery and it’s hard for me, even with a self-propelled mower, but I have steep hills in my yard.

I recommend budgeting for someone to do it for you. It might cost about $50 a week depending on where you live.

I take care of my lawn, edging and blowing leaves. My lawn is 13,800 square feet.

It’s perfectly fine. I just use a self-propelled walk-behind mower. It’s good exercise.