Using My STIHL Push Mower

June 20, 2024

I am always on the lookout for innovative, sensible, and easy-to-operate tools and supplies to use around my Bedford, New York farm. It's important that my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have “the right tool for the right job.”

I've been using STIHL products for many years. STIHL is recognized as a worldwide leader in outdoor power equipment and offers an extensive lineup of more than 80 different pieces including professional-grade chainsaws, blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, pruners, and more. Not long ago, I received one of STIHL's new push mowers. It's great for using in between the raised beds in my vegetable garden, under the pergola, along the various allées, and any other flat, narrow spaces around my home. It gets into tight areas and provides good, precise cuts.

Enjoy these photos.

: It’s officially summer and that means it’s mowing season! And while I have replaced many grassy areas with mulch to reduce the amount of mowing around my farm, there is still a lot of mowing to do. This open space is what I call the “soccer field” or “party lawn” where my grandson loves to play when he visits. It is adjacent to my long and winding clematis pergola on the left.

: Here is the narrow path between my herbaceous peony garden and my fenced in living maze.

: This narrow path heads toward my Boxwood Allée.

: This view looks south from the Boxwood Allée through the allée of lindens between my paddocks.

: And here’s another view of lawn between the horse pastures with the tall eastern white pines in the distance. I have a fleet of ride-on mowers to mow the large open spaces, but they cannot access the more narrow areas…

: For those places, such as between my raised garden beds, we use this STIHL RM 655 VS push mower. A push mower is a walk behind unit that an operator pushes forward or backward to mow the lawn.

: This 21-inch gas powered mower provides really sharp, accurate cutting and easy bagging.

: The controls are easy to access and use…

: …And there is a mono-comfort handlebar, which is sturdy and secure.

: Adan Morales is my resident mower. He knows exactly which mowers are best for every area of the farm. Here he is mowing the narrow strips of grass next to my pergola. Another benefit of this mower is that it is equipped with a blade brake clutch system that allows one to stop the blade without restarting the engine to remove obstacles in the path.

: This machine has a cutting height range from .98 to 3.35 inches to accommodate a variety of different grass types, terrains, seasons, and weather conditions.

: The polymer grass bag also helps to direct air and dust away from the operator.

: When mowing, remember to avoid scalping the grass, which means cutting it too short. A scalped lawn is vulnerable to grass burn, diseases, and weed infestation. Scalped turf also tends to be more weak and sparse.

: Adan is careful to always adjust the cutting height accordingly. Grass that’s consistently cut too short will have a poorly developed root system, which makes the lawn more susceptible to serious damage from drought or high temperatures.

: Another tip is to adjust the mower height throughout the growing season. Shift higher in summer and allow the grass to grow longer. Taller grass helps shade the soil, which prevents weed growth and slows water evaporation. Taller grass also develops deeper roots, which help the lawn to withstand drought better. In late autumn lower the cutting deck for the last mowing of the season to help prevent snow mold from forming on the grass.

: And try to always mow when the grass is dry. We only mow dry grass at the farm. Mowing a wet lawn doesn’t harm the grass, but it can fill and clog a mower, and make the cut look uneven. Mid-morning mowing is the healthiest for your grass – it’s cooler, drier and allows time for the grass to recover after cutting.

: On this STIHL RM 655 VS mower, the Vario Drive self-propel system also enables one to select the proper ground speed. On a push mower, 3mph is the average speed. Going too fast can actually result in an uneven cut.

: This mower is lightweight – just a little more than 100-pounds, making it easy to maneuver. And the controls are built to be ergonomic in design, so it is comfortable to use all day. And don’t forget safety equipment – gloves, hat, eye and ear protection.

: Here, Adan can get close to the vegetable bed without hurting any plants or the wooden bed frame.

: When it’s time, Adan simply lifts the polymer grass bag out of the mower and empties it onto a nearby tarp, so it is easy to load onto the dump truck.