How to Cut Tall Weeds on an Incline

Hover Mower

• 1

  Walk through the area you want to mow, and pick up all rocks, fallen branches and other debris that might get caught in the hover mower. Wear closed-toed shoes with good traction. With the hover mower cutting blades in the off position, transport the hover mower to the bottom of the incline of the area you want to mow.

• 2

  Adjust the mower height to the highest setting. Start the mower, and mow in a side-to-side pattern, working you way up the incline. Do not mow up-and-down the slope.

• 3

  Stop the mower’s engine to cross an area that does not have grass. Doing so prevents small rocks and dirt clods from becoming projectiles. Re-start the mower when you have crossed an area without grass.

• 4

  Mow in the side-to-side pattern until you have cut all of the grass in the area. If an area has extremely tall weeds, run the hover mower over the area several times, until all the weeds are cut.

European-Style Scythe

• 5

  Face the incline so you look up the slope. Hold a European-style scythe with its end grip in your left hand and its nib grip -- the grip halfway down the handle -- in your right hand.

• 6

  Swing the blade from right to left with the blade contacting the ground and only one-third of the end of the blade contacting the uncut grass. As you swing the blade, shift your weight from your right leg to your left leg, and twist your body.

• 7

  Return the blade to the starting position. Do not raise the blade, but keep it in contact with the ground. Without stopping, move the blade forward, and cut the next swath of grass. One swath's cut should be about 7 feet across. Continue this rhythmic, stroking action as you work up the incline.

Hand Sickle

• 8

  Walk to the bottom of the incline. Bend over, grasp tall weeds in one hand, and pull that bunch of weeds until tension is on the weeds. Hold a hand sickle in your other hand.

• 9

  Place the sickle's blade on the weeds 5 to 6 inches below the hand holding the weeds. Pull the sickle across the weeds as you hold them tight, and cut them at the desired height.

• 10

  Work across the slope, and walk backward carefully as you pull and cut the weeds. Place the cut weeds in a bucket or other container so that you can carry them away from the site.