54'' deck on X700 series.

[JDTank]

I try not to cut too much off in one go, but the problem with BC is everything grows, instantly. If I cut the grass Monday morning, by that evening you can tell a difference if you look at it closely. I keep the grass very short so I can keep up with it. If I cut it by the rule of thumb, 1/3, by the time the weekend comes and I can get to it, it's so thick and heavy that the discharge quality is terrible. I am not a fan of bagging because clippings have a lot of nutrients and moisture in them that acts as a natural fertilizer that's free.

One benefit to the very short lawn is when we play fetch with the dogs they can find the toys easy!

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I try not to cut too much off in one go, but the problem with BC is everything grows, instantly. If I cut the grass Monday morning, by that evening you can tell a difference if you look at it closely. I keep the grass very short so I can keep up with it. If I cut it by the rule of thumb, 1/3, by the time the weekend comes and I can get to it, it's so thick and heavy that the discharge quality is terrible. I am not a fan of bagging because clippings have a lot of nutrients and moisture in them that acts as a natural fertilizer that's free.

One benefit to the very short lawn is when we play fetch with the dogs they can find the toys easy!

Same here on the cut every other day in some situations. Over the past couple of years I have been raising my cutting height higher and higher. I feel that most cut too short. Having a taller lawn helps control weeds and I've been liking this in our case. I've been riunning in the neighborhood of 3 to 3.5" cut height I believe.

 

[Oldoak]

I hear what you're saying and am with you on all of that. Accept my grass here in PA doesn't grow quite as fast as yours in BC. Accept maybe early Spring. But I swear the Dandelions duck their heads every time I make a pass while mowing. Mow in the morning and they are taller than the cut grass in the afternoon, all season long.

 

[Carl Bert]

I try not to cut too much off in one go, but the problem with BC is everything grows, instantly. If I cut the grass Monday morning, by that evening you can tell a difference if you look at it closely. I keep the grass very short so I can keep up with it. If I cut it by the rule of thumb, 1/3, by the time the weekend comes and I can get to it, it's so thick and heavy that the discharge quality is terrible. I am not a fan of bagging because clippings have a lot of nutrients and moisture in them that acts as a natural fertilizer that's free.

One benefit to the very short lawn is when we play fetch with the dogs they can find the toys easy!

You should try the JD mulching kit. I have it on my 62" and the clippings just disappear.

 

[JDTank]

You should try the JD mulching kit. I have it on my 62" and the clippings just disappear.

I don't like the idea of mulching because your keeping everything underneath the deck. Grass has nowhere to go but down, and if the grass is damp at all, your deck will be clogged full in no time. I have found with mulching that cleaning the deck becomes a very regular thing.

My plan is to run gator blades on this deck. They did wonders on the old Craftsman, so they should do even better here. I found with the gators as long as the grass didn't get away on me, you could never tell I didn't bag it, and the underside of the deck was clean too.

 

[Gittyup]

I try not to cut too much off in one go, but the problem with BC is everything grows, instantly. If I cut the grass Monday morning, by that evening you can tell a difference if you look at it closely. I keep the grass very short so I can keep up with it. If I cut it by the rule of thumb, 1/3, by the time the weekend comes and I can get to it, it's so thick and heavy that the discharge quality is terrible. I am not a fan of bagging because clippings have a lot of nutrients and moisture in them that acts as a natural fertilizer that's free.

One benefit to the very short lawn is when we play fetch with the dogs they can find the toys easy!

Cutting it longer doesn't mean cutting more grass. You still cut at the same timer intervals between mowing, and you cut off the same amount. A taller lawn is healthier, less likely to scalp, reduces weeds, and holds up better when it's dry. You should never cut below about 3" on most grass types no matter how fast it grows.

 

[Carl Bert]

Cutting it longer doesn't mean cutting more grass. You still cut at the same timer intervals between mowing, and you cut off the same amount. A taller lawn is healthier, less likely to scalp, reduces weeds, and holds up better when it's dry. You should never cut below about 3" on most grass types no matter how fast it grows.

I agree, keeping grass at least 3" long gives you all the benefits Gittyup mentioned. I wish my lawn would grow as fast as the OP's. I can't get mine to grow fast enough. There is nothing more relaxing to me than cutting a nice thick lawn on a sunny day.

 

[JDTank]

I agree, keeping grass at least 3" long gives you all the benefits Gittyup mentioned. I wish my lawn would grow as fast as the OP's. I can't get mine to grow fast enough. There is nothing more relaxing to me than cutting a nice thick lawn on a sunny day.

I would have to agree with you there.

For me, the gratification comes from seeing your results immediately. You look behind you and see a beautiful lawn, while in front of you is uncut grass. It is nice to see that discharge chute spewing nice grass clippings on a sunny day.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with cutting when it is about 4.5 inches and cutting it to 3.0 inches The grass just looks better and weed free for the most part.

 

[94BULLITT]

Here is a site that has the recommended cutting heights for different types of grass.

Mowing-Mow it High and Let it Lie

I agree with cutting when it is about 4.5 inches and cutting it to 3.0 inches The grass just looks better and weed free for the most part.

I have noticed that too at least for my grass.

 

[J F]

You guys all cuttin' the same type of grass? I've got centipede down here, and of course, it's cut low/close.

And JD, I hate you for your age/mower. :laughing:

 

[94BULLITT]

You guys all cuttin' the same type of grass? I've got centipede down here, and of course, it's cut low/close.

And JD, I hate you for your age/mower. :laughing:

Fescue is what I have.

 

[J F]

I love fescue, Roger...but it definitely does not love GA, at least not in my little part of GA.

 

[J F]

I have to add, I've only tried it in shade areas. Most of the lawn is centipede, which does pretty well, if I do my part.

 

[JDTank]

I couldn't even venture a guess at what I have.

I do know that most of the property we are on went uncut for years. It used to be high, thick wild grass, and it was slowly trimmed back and made into a lawn.

Since we have very high amounts of rain here, I have a lot of problem areas where grass turns into moss. This stuff is so disconnected from the ground, you can end up on your behind before you know it. One good rub with your shoe and an entire piece of moss will move right off and expose bare soil underneath. Last year was the first year I tried to fertilize some areas, and it did seem to help a little.

I also need to focus on my shaded areas this year. I have a few large spots underneath groups of trees that will not grow anything due to lack of sunlight. I am going to try some seed that is suppose to grow even in the shade.

I can tell you all one thing. My fears about the quality of this 54 inch deck have been put to rest. In fact, for me, I am actually glad I opted for it over the 7 iron. I do a LOT of trailer work with my #18 cart, I need ground clearance. My 54C sits just high enough that 98% of the time, I can accomplish all my tasks with the mower deck still on the tractor. Had I purchased a taller 7 iron deck, I would have been removing/installing very frequently. Even though it is easy with that drive over deck, it still takes time, and removing the drive-shaft does too. I am extremely impressed with the cut quality so far, it has exceeded all of my expectations. Since I am happy with the cut quality, I am glad I didn't spend that extra $1,000 on a larger deck.

 

[J F]

It is neverending. :laughing:

 

[Gittyup]

Lime will help control moss. In your climate it may be a losing proposition though. I'd at least give it try. I spread about 800 lbs every fall on about 1.5 acres of lawn.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Since we have very high amounts of rain here, I have a lot of problem areas where grass turns into moss. This stuff is so disconnected from the ground, you can end up on your behind before you know it. One good rub with your shoe and an entire piece of moss will move right off and expose bare soil underneath. Last year was the first year I tried to fertilize some areas, and it did seem to help a little.

You might be a good candidate for bar tires. They do VERY well in wet areas and don't tend to spin out and burn like the turfs do. I had concerns about herringbone pattern in the soil, but those went away some 16 years ago. Yes if there's mud or really wet you will show a "print" but the grass hides any evidence.

 

[JDTank]

You might be a good candidate for bar tires. They do VERY well in wet areas and don't tend to spin out and burn like the turfs do. I had concerns about herringbone pattern in the soil, but those went away some 16 years ago. Yes if there's mud or really wet you will show a "print" but the grass hides any evidence.

I thought about bar tires but was concerned with damage. In the winter time, with all of our rain, the ground can get extremely soft, so much so that a footprint can leave damage sometimes.

I should also note I was concerned with traction on the turf tires, and so far it has proven to be much better than I expected. I have tried on purpose to make this tractor "wipe it's feet" and I can't get it to do it. I have a few dirt piles around here that are a steep angle, I would say 40 degrees or so. I have tried numerous times to make the tractor slip by driving straight up these piles. I can't make it slip even a little bit. I have no added weight either. Nothing has stopped this thing, it goes anywhere like an AWD X748, and I haven't even touched the diff lock yet.

 

[Mechanized ME]

I purchased my X700 in September 2012, and I am very pleased with the performance. I ordered it with a 48" deck which cuts better than my old TroyBilt Wide Cut. I selected the 48" deck due to the steep road bed that I can side hill cut, and because the deck is only a couple of inches wider than the tractor I can climb on or off the the slope without the ends of the deck digging into the lawn. I am running JD mulching cutters along with the mulching kit. Trimming around the flower beds is not an issue... YES I am very happy with the set-up!