Kentucky bluegrass Renovation update and comparing McLane Reel Mowers

Рет қаралды 7,338

4 жыл бұрын

Converting my terrible lumpy lawn into a buttery smooth Kentucky Bluegrass Monostand is what I've been transitioning to in the transition zone since 2016.
I've also purchased two Mclane Reel mowers, both of which I've been extremely pleased with. One is a newer model (c 2017) I purchased Spring of 2019. It has no drum roller and no roller in the front, which makes it extremely prone to scalping if cutting below 1/2 inch.
My other "new to me" Mclane I love even more. It's an older model (c 2000?) and has a rear drive full drum and a full front roller, this makes it not only cut better, but less prone to scalping.
2016 and prior all I cared about (and knew about) was the ground not be dirt. I got fed up when a big portion went dormant during summer and nut sedge took over. I failed miserably at seeding and put in some Barenbrug HGT Bluegrass sod. Fall 2018 I planted a two monostands of Kentucky Bluegrass in my large hell strip (Mazama and Bewitched) to test which one I liked better. (Easy choice, Mazama.)
Spring 2019 I renovated my smaller hell strip with a monostand of Mazama KBG. Fall 2019 I renovated the main portion of my front lawn with a mono of Mazama as well. The only regret I have is getting overzealous this spring and mowing when the ground was too wet/soft and scalped a bunch of areas. The goal is a golf course lawn, with a sand based bentgrass green in my lower back yard.
Contact me: lawnkove@gmail.com
Hope you enjoy, check out my full playlist of my renovations! ;)
• Kentucky Bluegrass Law...
Video Time stamps:
0:20 Mazama vs Bewitched
0:51 Barefoot texture test
3:27 Old model McLane details
4:37 New model McLane details
6:20 Manual Push reel
6:47 Comparing them all
9:43 Kentucky Bluegrass Renovation Update
12:13 Back yard (10,000 sqft) update

Пікірлер: 60

@weignerg 3 жыл бұрын

sidewalk crack grass in another spot, nice.. :)

@kove 3 жыл бұрын

It's pretty dang handy! This year I intended on doing it again, but left it sitting out too long.

@weignerg 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for you videos on the lawn. Helping me to decide what to get for my lawn.

@kove 3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help Greg!

@motolifts 3 жыл бұрын

Really appreciate your series here on using Mazama KBG. Just about to close escrow on a new house and the backyard is all big box store fine fescue. I am also in a warm summer climate, so great to see you having such excellent success.

@kove 3 жыл бұрын

Congrats on the house! I'm in the transition zone. Depending how far south you are, I'd try a test plot of Mazama if you've a large yard.

@motolifts 3 жыл бұрын

@@kove Sounds good, also in the transition zone. I only have 1,100 sqft of grass so if it doesn’t go well I’ll either Sod or start over with something else. How does it hold up to traffic?

@kove 3 жыл бұрын

@@motolifts objectively hard to compare it to anything else, but for a cool season grass I couldn't ask for anything more.

@joejenkins8315 4 жыл бұрын

It's good to see that you got the greens mower running. Happy mowing.

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Joe! Glad to have her running, it's a pleasure to use.

@ReelLowDad 4 жыл бұрын

Holy cow!! that is what a newish bedknife looks like!!! Mine looks like a straight razor.

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

I've back lapped it 3 times so far. Wish I would have taken before pics. How old is your bedknife and how many times have you backlapped it?

@ReelLowDad 4 жыл бұрын

@@kove maybe 5 times. The mower sat in a garage for 15 years when I got it. I think it is the original bed knife and based on the Briggs serial from 1987. 😮🤯

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

@@ReelLowDad holy crap, why so long? I don't remember you mentioning that before. Maybe I'm backlapping for too long.🤔

@lxiong1077 4 жыл бұрын

Grass is looking spectacular but what got my attention was your Mcclane for $50.! What! That’s the steal of 2020.

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, the estate sale company was asking several hundred. The prev owner (RIP) had a green in his backyard. It was apparent he hadn't used this mower for years, so I'm super happy to be using it to the fullest capacity!

@minnesotagrassgeek7797 4 жыл бұрын

You are a good dad!

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Although no gym for over a month has taken it's toll physically and mentally. Edit: read that slightly wrong. 🤪

@kennycooperkc 4 жыл бұрын

Lawn is looking pretty good 👍

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kenny! There is room to improve!

@kennycooperkc 4 жыл бұрын

There always is. We want perfection, but then what would we do 🤔sit around and drink beer 😄

@JEK 2 жыл бұрын

best mower I ever had was a McLane push reel mower

@kove 2 жыл бұрын

They are indeed great!

@TheLawnShark 4 жыл бұрын

Looks great. Need to figure out my reel plan eventually. lol

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

It is, inevitable.

@TheLawnShark 4 жыл бұрын

@@kove I know ;)

@TommyTester 4 жыл бұрын

That was actually a video worth watching other than the lack of a Koven folly. I'll have to watch it again.

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Most of them I don't catch on camera, like when I crashed and broke my Dubai 210!

@ranjitbhagirath664 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Great video is your old Mclane greens keeper 17”, I am looking too buy a grass catcher and it seems you have the same one as mine. Wanted to know where you bought that? Ram want to monsm

@kove 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I bought mine from an estate sale near my house. Cool you have the same one, do you know any details about them? I can't find any info, or even the years this model was made.

@RobertKocialski 3 жыл бұрын

Good morning: what did you do to get the grass catcher fit with the reel roller????

@kove 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Robert, that older McLane is all stock. It came with a rear drum and groved front roller.

@richierichie6279 4 жыл бұрын

Just stumbled on your blogs and have really enjoyed them. Very informative and entertaining. Have to say your an absolute pro at presenting. You should be on a DIY TV programme. Apart from actually recording the footage, may I ask how much extra work is involved to produce a vid like this

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

I don't know about absolute pro lol, but I'll take the compliment and thanks! I edit my videos in the short 5-10 min windows I've time, usually over the course of a week. This one maybe took 2 hours? I've never kept track exactly.

@MikeHaddadLawnAddictions 4 жыл бұрын

I have a craftsman made by mclane. I have the wheels and smaller drive wheels. After seeing this I need a roller on the front

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

It's even more different in person, the camera does it 50% justice.

@MikeHaddadLawnAddictions 4 жыл бұрын

Koven Carlson awesome. I’m still figuring it out. I bought it used. No Manuel. So trying to adjust the hoc is proving to be difficult. And adjust it correctly.

@familybarton 4 жыл бұрын

Good lawn care channel, or best lawn care channel?

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Best there is, was and ever will be! ;) Thanks for watching man

@nathanwalker6787 4 жыл бұрын

How well do you think the Mazama is holding up to the heat? I'm further down in the transition zone (SC) but would like to try to get some KGB in my front lawn at least that gets a bit more sun. The back has a lot more shade so I'm not sure any KGB would take (all TTTF now). Ideally I get as much KBG in as I can to help with self repairing and give me the opportunity to move lower/get lateral spread.

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

It holds up very well in the heat in my experience with it. You'll need to increase cutting height with the temps. I cut 1/2" below 70, 3/4 in 70s, 1 inch 80s, anything higher 1.5-3 inches. For more objective data, check out the NTEP trials for KBG. ntep.org/kbh.htm

@nathanwalker6787 4 жыл бұрын

@@kove Great, thanks for the info! My goal would be to end up with being about to cut between 2-3" in the summer. Mainly desiring to have some KBG mixed in as I can already tell that the TTTF will need yearly overseed for at least the first few years to help it thicken up.

@yuumsta 2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking about getting the 25. Is there a roller attachment for it?

@kove 2 жыл бұрын

That I don't know, but you'd be happy with it alone I'm sure!

@rodbone6886 4 жыл бұрын

Where did you buy your Mazama KBG seed? Lawn looks amazing.

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

I got it at a local seed house near STL (don't ship, not online either). Thank you!

@rodbone6886 4 жыл бұрын

@@kove i also live in STL. Can you share the local seed house?

@jaredreyes2811 4 жыл бұрын

Koven, quick question bud. I just got my new McLane in yesterday. I got the front settings done but just noticed that the rear wheels can be adjusted also but u have to order different size chains from the manufacturer. I was wondering if you lowered your rear or you left it on factory setting

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

Congrats on the new mower! I haven't adjusted my rear wheels and doubt the fellow I bought it from adjusted it either. I've spoken to people at McLane, they answer the phone right away and are helpful, you could reach out to them too.

@jaredreyes2811 4 жыл бұрын

Hey brotha, I appreciate your time. Thanks

@kove 4 жыл бұрын

@@jaredreyes2811 anytime 👌