First Time To Mow This Season

Last week I mowed our lawn for the first time. A few weeks ago a did a lot of cleanup in our yard, and prepared it for the new growing season. Last week I finally broke down and started my mower and started the process that won't end until sometime in late October. My routine is the same every time I do our yard. I rake all the twigs and leaves, and unfortunately my neighbor's sweet gum balls; then I mow; followed by edging; sweeping the sidewalk; and then I sweep the street. I learned how to take care of a yard from my father. I helped him do it many times, and then he supervised me while I did it by myself, and finally I started taking care of our yard without the need for supervision. Now, I've settled into my own routine, and I don't remember if I still do the steps in the same order, except for sweeping the street. That was always the final touch. One thing I learned from my father was that if a job was worth doing, do it well and finish it. I watched him do this with everything that he did. So, while some of our neighbors blew their lawn clippings into the street and hoped that the street sweeper would come along, I dutifully swept the street to complete the job.

I've taught both my oldest sons how to care for their yards. And yes, when they tell me they were working in their yards, I ask, "did you sweep the street?" I have two younger sons at home who are helping me with our yard. They'll learn how to sweep the street, and in the process they'll learn how to finish the job well.