Reel Mowing with a California Trimmer Review // Choosing the Right Reel Mower to Mow Your Lawn

Here's a review of the California Trimmer reel mower. I share what I like about it and what makes it the best lawn mower for my yard. I'll also give you feedback on some downsides to the unit. If you're in the market to reel mow, this video is sure to help you out in the decision process.
Lawn care becomes a whole new ball game when you make the jump to power reel mowing. So be sure to watch this video to get some details you need to know before you reel mow.
Looking for more reel mowing and California Trimmer info? Be sure to check out this playlist and subscribe to follow along:
Guide To Power Reel Mowing - • Guide To Power Reel Mo...
This channel's videos share DIY lawn care tips for the average homeowner looking to fix an ugly lawn or maintain a nice one. Whether you're a beginner or experienced, you'll learn ways to have the best yard on the block without spending a lot of money.
I'm a husband and dad who loves his family and his lawn. Gotta care for and manage a budget for both.
#reelmower #reelmowing #reelmow #reellow #reellowmow #earthwisereelmower #californiatrimmer #californiatrimmerreelmower #lawnmower #lawnmowing #mow #mowing #lawncare #lawn #rotarylawnmower #bermudagrass #review
/ budget.lawns

[@DugEphresh]

That SHIRT My dude, you are too awesome! I love that you give it straight, no fluff.

[@BudgetLawns]

😂😂 couldn't help myself. Appreciate you!

[@BudgetLawns]

BTW... www.bonfire.com/store/budget-lawns/ Sales fund giveaways here on the channel. Not my pocket. We do one every last Tuesday of the month on our weekly Tuesday night livestream. More giveaways to come this summer...Lowe's or Home Depot e-giftcards to the winner...their choice. Thanks again.

[@jbragg2493]

You sold me on one! Bought one last month and feel exactly how you do. Love it with very minor dislikes. Next purchase will be the handlebar extension. Love the videos. Great work.

[@BudgetLawns]

👊Niiice! Congrats! Appreciate the feedback. Glad the vids were able to help you decide on a buying one. Appreciate your support. Thanks man.

[@TWinnings_InTheLawn]

I agree with everything in your review and have experienced them first hand. With time I have adjusted to how I mow and found that I'm much more efficient with turns, maneuvering in tight places and pushing the mower around. I think it take a full season of mowing to fully grasp cutting with a reel mower regardless of what model you purchase. Great review and video!

[@BudgetLawns]

That's good to know. I agree man. By the middle part of next season, it'll be a totally different ballgame. Appreciate your feedback. Thank you!

[@TheLawnShark]

Reel Mowing is definitely a different animal! Great review!

[@BudgetLawns]

Ain't no doubt about that. Thanks bro!

[@1975oldschool]

Subscribed a few weeks ago and love your content man! Keep at it please :-)

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank you very much! You got it. I'll do my best! Appreciate ya.

[@donslawns1]

Awesome work with the Cali!! Seems like you have the best tool for your job!! 😎🤙🏼

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks bro. Indeed I do. Appreciate ya!

[@Striperman]

Great job on the review and you brought up some good points. I never owned a self propelled mower of any kind before so it was some getting use to with my Allett. Even with the 4 or 5 speeds it has I use to walk faster with my manual so I have to get use to that. Cutting the lawn wet from morning dew with my manual was always so easy and would just hose off and blow dry the mower when I was done . Can't do that with my battery powered Allett. The one advantage with the Allett is the split rear drum that make it easier to make turns. The cut rate on these are so much better that the manuals so that is a huge plus. They all have their pros and cons but either way you made a nice choice and you will see how much better your lawn will be. :)

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank ya Striperman! Definitely a slower pace behind one of these bad boys. That's a cool feature the Allet has with the split drum. I bet that makes turning a breeze! Can't wait to see a video of ya with it in action. And you got that right. The lawns will love 'em! Appreciate ya buddy!

[@kesm66]

I have Bermuda and Zeon Zoysia. After reviewing several rotary mowers online I ordered the 56V battery crossover version of the California trimmer. I hope one of the benefits of this version will be a lighter unit to aid in maneuverability. We shall see.

[@BudgetLawns]

Awesome. Keep me posted. Thanks so much for watching and sharing.

[@SunnyBermuda]

🌞Great video! My boys got a kick out of your shirt. 😂🌞

[@BudgetLawns]

Haha, thanks bud. Seems to be a popular shirt.

[@williamjohnson9727]

Your explanation of machine operation makes things seem less scary for beginners. Love the content brother.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks man. Wanna make sure folks don't get scared off cause it's worth it.

[@trianglereelmowers450]

Glad your liking it. For sure the best thing about the Trimmer when comparing to other homeowner brands is the ease of adjustment with the reel to bedknife. Two posts at the top. Righty tighty, lefty loosey!

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank you! Yup, definitely a huge plus. I highlighted that in the video of why I chose this mower. It was a huge deciding factor. Appreciate ya watching!

[@bmacski]

I’m wondering if the comment made about manually pushing it (with the drive wheels up), was in regards to maybe pushing it under and around bushes or landscaping. I know that’s why some people like to do that. So if they have a 4 foot wide bed, they could just kinda shimmy it up in there and back without engaging the power. Great video, keep em coming!

[@BudgetLawns]

Could have been. I think it was something like that. Can't remember exactly. Appreciate ya watching and commenting! 👊

[@trianglereelmowers450]

It’s for sure not the lightest reel mower. I usually disengage the rear roller when cutting around my mailbox and going under some bushes.

[@scottkennedy7076]

That shirt is awesome 😂🤣

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks man! It's my design and part of the Budget Lawns merch line. Appreciate ya!

[@RaulSachsCarrillo]

Nice review 🙏 well said and awesome shirt 😂💯💣💥 also dont know why people call them vanity strip lol it's a parkway not a light fixture 💡

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank ya buddy! I don't get it either, haha. Too funny. Appreciate ya!

[@michaellord1389]

Great video! I have the same thoughts with my Cal Trimmer.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks man. Good to know I'm not the only one with these thoughts. Appreciate ya!

[@michaellord1389]

Budget Lawns And my front yard is on a slope so when I mow up the slope I notice the back wheel tends to tear the grass a bit. So I just manually push it up!!! Lol

[@BudgetLawns]

Dang, that can't be easy. I'm fortunate I don't have much of a slope at all.

[@michaellord1389]

Budget Lawns but you are right- the cut you get with it is worth it!!!! Such a tight cut.

[@BudgetLawns]

Got that right!

[@kennykinyanjui2635]

I like your videos. I bought my California trimmer a few months ago. It was very difficult at first but now I’m figuring it out. My front lawn has a small slope. The only issue I have with the mower is that it stops when it tilts to the left. Right tilt is fine. Does anyone know if there is a slope adjustment? I can’t find it on the manual. My lawn is just slightly sloppy.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank you very much. Yeah, it's definitely a challenge at first. That's strange on the tilt. I wonder if it's an oil issue. There's a sensor that will shut the mower off if the oil is low. Maybe when it's tilting, it's getting a low reading on the oil? Something to consider. Thanks for watching and commenting. Appreciate ya.

[@browdcb]

I’m not a big fan of the grass catcher. It works but is a pain to empty into the brown lawn bags we have to use. Other than that I love mine. Your review is spot on.

[@BudgetLawns]

Right on. I’m right there with ya. Thank you for the feedback. Appreciate ya.

[@browdcb]

@@BudgetLawns have you done a video on backslapping the blades?

[@browdcb]

Back lapping. 😂

[@BudgetLawns]

Not yet. Coming very soon.

[@RussC123]

Great review man! What’s the lowest HOC on this? Wondering if this would also work if you wanted to maintain a small backyard putting green. Obviously wouldn’t be as low as a greens mower but just wondering if you’d be able to get by without having to buy a separate greens mower

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank ya. Appreciate ya watching. The lowest cutting height is somewhere around 3/8. Low enough for a putting green but not to the low heights of a greens mower. Hope this helps. Thanks again!

[@rrobertson4191]

Thanks for sharing. I'm trying to decide which brand of power reel to get. I'm a small woman so the weight would make it a deal breaker for me unfortunately.

[@BudgetLawns]

You’re welcome. Good luck in your search. Thanks for watching.

[@daviddsims]

I just bought a Cal Trimmer with 7 blades. I'm waiting on things to dry up to be able to use it.

[@BudgetLawns]

Right on. Congrats. You'll love it. Appreciate ya watching!

[@MrMadeinthe80s]

I think that was one of the main complaints with the CalTrimmer was the turning around with them. I know allett and swardman have dual spinning drums in the back so it spins them in opposite directions when you go to turn them. That and the CalTrimmer doesn't have separate drive and reel motors.

[@BudgetLawns]

You're right there. Major difference in design with a major difference in price point. I'm sure the easy turning is nice though. Appreciate the comment. Thanks for watching.

[@MrMadeinthe80s]

@@BudgetLawns yeah $1200 vs $2300+ is quite the jump for what they do.

[@BudgetLawns]

Too rich for my blood haha. Maybe one day.

[@tommyturf5090]

Nice looking reel, did you look at an Allett or Swardman with a cartridge based system or were they budget busters? Just curious as I shop around for a reel, next Spring, of course. :)

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks man. Didn't even look at 'em. You nailed it. Budget busters for sure. The Cal Trimmer is by far the most budget friendly for power reel mowers. Appreciate the question and ya watching. Good luck in your shopping!

[@christopherortiz8713]

Like that shirt.. 😂 I know it depends on size of lawn but how many cut can you get in before you have to add more gasoline.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks man. It's part of the Budget Lawns merch line that I designed. I can double cut my 4000sqft starting with a full tank and still have some to spare. I'm thinking I could get a full 3 mows out of it. Appreciate the comment and you watchin!

[@redtwin1968]

One of the BIG benefits of cutting with a reel is mowing wet. I use a greensmower with the big roller so it won't tear up the ground in turns.

[@BudgetLawns]

A big benefit for greensmowers for sure. Maybe not for this one and others like it. I'm not a much of a wet grass mower anyway, so I guess it works out for me haha. Appreciate you watching and your feedback.

[@redtwin1968]

@@BudgetLawns I could see how that drive wheel could dig when doing 180s when wet but I agree that the Cal Trimmer is still an awesome machine for sure. Here in Florida, if I had to wait for things to dry out during the summer, I would never be able to keep a low HOC. The smooth roller is nice on flatter lawns but the Cal Trimmer drive wheel probably works on inclines better.

[@BudgetLawns]

So true. I lived in the panhandle for a couple years. You get rain chances everyday. You've definitely got the right machine for that. You've got it figured out! Appreciate ya.

[@YardGuy]

First!

[@BudgetLawns]

🥇👊

[@btrook1981]

I need that hat! 🧢

[@BudgetLawns]

It's a good lookin' lid for sure. Big thanks to John Ware at The Lawn Forum for that one! Thanks for watching man!

[@rickybobby6678]

How do I get the shirt ?

[@BudgetLawns]

DM me on Instagram, @budget.lawns or shoot me an email, [e-mail] and I'll get ya all the details. Thanks.

[@bamabladez]

About to buy one but I'm a little disappointed. I heard its lowest cut is only about 5/8 or .6?? Is this true for yours? I was hoping it would do the 1/4 it says. Thanks!

[@BudgetLawns]

Did you get the standard cut or high cut? The standard cut does go lower to around 1/4 with the roller. The high cut only goes to 5/8.

[@bamabladez]

@@BudgetLawns so I haven't bought yet was probably going to order Friday, and yes I was going to get the standard which does say 1/4. But like with rotary mowers that say 1inch when truly mine is about an 1.25 so I was curious if the standard truly cuts 1/4th. Thanks for the quick response!

[@bamabladez]

@@BudgetLawns I was told this by another KZbinr that does cal trimmer reviews. I don't know what exact one he has nor did i think about that

[@BudgetLawns]

I’ve never gone that low. You’d have to have a super smooth yard for that. I prefer right around an inch. You bet. Thank you.

[@bamabladez]

@@BudgetLawns Thanks! I was disappointed when he told me. I will keep my yard around that .6 mark like I'm doing now with my sunjoe battery reel but in the future I had plans to make a putting/ chipping green for fun. I know the cal trimmer is not a greens mower but .25 should work for a little family fun.

[@breckisaac5378]

Did you get the rig with higher cutting ability?

[@BudgetLawns]

No, I got the classic with the lower cutting heights.

[@breckisaac5378]

Budget Lawns any thoughts how it would do on a sloped yard? Also, un-level.

[@BudgetLawns]

Michael Lord posted about that in this comment section. Check out his feedback. I don't have much experience with that. I do know that folks make it happen though.

[@SplashBucketz]

Breck Isaac it does just fine on the slope in my backyard. No problems cutting or moving the mower.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank you for that input.

[@nhssn]

How low can you go with the California Trimmer?

[@BudgetLawns]

I’ve only used it on my old, small 4K sqft lawn and would top it off each time. So I don’t really know it’s max. But it goes a good ways on a tank of gas. Appreciate ya watching.

[@noah4987]

Rip the trees out of the hell strip! That ought to make mowing more enjoyable.

[@BudgetLawns]

That would sure help. Haha. Thanks for watching!

[@dchildress17]

How heavy is.....heavy?! Lol

[@BudgetLawns]

Haha, 150+ for sure.

[@trianglereelmowers450]

Yep. Right around 150 with the roller.