Best way to deal with very overgrown lawn? can anyone reccomend good strimmer?

[listsandbudgets]

Helping elderly friend. I cant see I'm going to get a mower through it, it's knee height in some parts and the ground seems quite uneven. It's absolutely riddled with weeds too.

I'm not sure where to start. I guess I need a good quality strimmer, a grass rake and then a lawn mower but not even sure if that's the way forward.

I'm considering talking to him about leaving it for a couple of weeks as there are lots of butterflies, bees etc. and it may be that I should let no mow May run it's course..

But I need a plan of campaign.. so recommendations for a good cordless strimmer please or ideas for another way to deal with it.

If the grass is that long you'll probably be best with a petrol strimmer. My neighbour leaves there grass to grow that long and then pays a guy to come and do it. I'm sure you could find one in your area, will save the expense of buying all the kit.

It’s sounds like a very big job and you sound inexperienced

does he have funds for you to call in a gardener?

No now may for sure. But unmown grass looks so much better with a path and the edges mown. And safer for someone elderly to negotiate. Strimming first will make it easier to mow. But that's only if you don't or can't follow dustyourselfoff's advice and get someone in.

It would probably be quicker, cheaper and safer to get someone in to do the first cut, as it avoids having to buy a strimmer (which are almost always a PITA!).

Scythe?

Years ago in that situation we hired a petrol strimmer and a petrol lawn mower. The number of hire shops has decreased but there are still some around.

It was also a group of us doing it so if you can round up some friends to help you then do so.

Depending on where you live there are some community projects that will come and cut grass for the elderly.
it’s worth looking up.

but strimmer wise, get a cheap but wide one so if it breaks you aren’t too upset. Mine was £30 from argos years ago and is still going strong.

Hand scythe if you can.

If you do go in with a strimmer, please check for wildlife before you get stuck in. Hedgehogs have been known to nest in long grass and strimmer injuries are usually fatal for them.