What can I do with a old reel lawnmower?

Cynthia Ballien
by Cynthia Ballien
I have had this reel mower sitting next to my shed for years. It is cute but does anyone have any ideas that would make it a really fun accessory for the backyard. Thanks
  19 answers
  • Carole Carole on Aug 06, 2014
    Lean it against a tree (if you have one) as a decorative piece as is, or grow a climber up it such as a clematis. I have seen one leant against a bird house that was on a stand and it looked a good combo. I bought one of these on ebay and mine leans against a gum tree and I am trying to get a climbing plant (Pandorea) to grow up it. You could paint it to make it stand out more or leave it with that rusty look which is also popular in the garden. Or you could lean it against the garden shed and hang some old rusty tools such as garden spade, fork etc on the wall of the shed and make a grouping of these old garden tools as features for the garden.
  • Judy Carver Judy Carver on Aug 07, 2014
    I have mine in the rock garden with a cypress vine-some people call them hummingbird vine climbing on it-pretty because the vine is so light and has the red blooms. left it rustic
  • Bev Bev on Aug 07, 2014
    Use it! Regular lawn mowers have no catalytic converter or other systems on them to prevent them from putting out pollutants. We used ours until 2005. I inherited it from my Dad.
  • Cynthia Ballien Cynthia Ballien on Aug 20, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Carmen Carmen on Aug 20, 2014
    an idea
  • Bananas! Bananas! on Aug 21, 2014
    hang it on outside of your wall shed? on an angle? or just straight down? along with it find some other old tools and hang those as well ?
  • Sue Peet Sue Peet on Aug 22, 2014
    If there was a way to attach a tall basket to it then you could use it around the yard for carrying garden tools like rakes or shovels, etc.
  • Lee Cunningham Green Lee Cunningham Green on Sep 29, 2014
    Take the mower right up to the edge of your "new garden," and get some of those wonderful display grasses that grow very tall and plant it right in front of the mower, and then to add age plant a vine type plant, something that flowers in the summer. or Lovely ivy and train it right up the arm of the mower. Then plan the flower bed around it, tearing down, Tulip/ Lilies/ then smaller plants and then smallest ones on the edge or ground cover . It could be adorable! I just suggested this to someone else now I want an old mower in my yard!
  • Erin Stoddard Erin Stoddard on Jul 22, 2018

    Turn it into a compost shredder

  • Russell Russell on Apr 27, 2020

    I have one and I want to use it for a mailbox post. If I can figure out a way to do that. Still thinking about it.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 19, 2021

    Hello there,

    Maybe Sell it on eBay as Garden Decoration. (You could do it up Paint it etc . or sell as is).

  • Kimberly Kimberly on Sep 10, 2022

    Use it! I have 2 and I absolutely love them! It's a great workout too!

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 10, 2022

    Would be very cute in the garden perhaps with some vines growing up it.

    If you have kids or pets make sure the blades can't be accessed.

    If you want to be a little different why not hang this on a shed containing lawn equipment?

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 17, 2023

    I sold ours to a neighbor for $25.

  • Use it as garden art and grow a vine up the handle.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Aug 18, 2023

    I saw one with a vine growing up it that flowers on it sitting as a yard ornament it was very pretty.

  • Betsy Betsy on Aug 18, 2023

    Hi Cynthia: You can make a scarecrow to put behind it like it's mowing the lawn :)

  • Mogie Mogie on Aug 18, 2023

    Cute idea for a landscaping company to have in front of their business.

  • Dee Dee on Aug 18, 2023

    I think you should try to see if it is worth anything. If not use it as a lawn decoration. I love Cynthia's idea for a scarecrow, you can do the same for Halloween with a ghost or Santa at Christmas.