ideas for mowing shoulder/ditch next to driveway

[s219]

Here's a shot of my driveway, about 600 feet long.



Over part of it, the ditch and shoulder are getting pretty weedy and tall, and I'd like to figure out a clever way to mow with a tractor. I can't really get my push mower or riding mower in there due to the irregular ground and slope off into the ditch, and I definitely can't straddle it with my L3200. Last summer I weed whacked it, but that was tedious and clumsy.

A sickle mower would be the ticket, but they are too expensive for such a small job. Wondering if there is some other idea or hack I can try.

I do have a Honda push mower with a rusted out deck, and was wondering if there's a way to salvage the motor and blade and make some mower I can hang off the side of the 3-pt, with some sort of wheels to keep it from scalping. But that would probably be a bit dangerous.

There's got to be a clever solution to this.....

 

[Ken45101]

A simple solution is a tow behind mower which can be offset. A batwing cutter works great too but you probably don't want to go that route.

 

[dave1949]

A walk behind string trimmer adapted to a 3pt attached frame that sticks out to the side would be safer than a blade. Raising and lowering would be simple, extending it out and retracting is certainly doable with some design work ... maybe a telescoping tube affair pushed and pulled by a power beyond hydraulic cylinder. Maybe the folks at Everything Attachments would build something if there is enough demand.

 

[farmer2009]

Spray the weeds with a broadleaf killer and let the grass grow. Mow off after it goes to seed and it may get tall again but shouldn't be too bad.

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

Sickle bar might be a possibility if you spend a little time on craigslist. I see them for $300-$400 in my area occasionally.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/314836-new-pull-behind-trimmer-52-a.html

Try this possibility.

Ron

 

[ferrari99]

You could get your engine and mount it on a adjustable 3pt frame, and somehow attach some 'string' to it.
I know this is probably to expensive, and it is an aussie website, but I am surprised no one as mentioned it.
Midway Sales Hanmey 1200mm 50HP Verge Flail Mowers with hydraulic reach for sale Australia wide from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Suits small to medium tractors with PTO and 3 point linkage | , Midway Sales - Queensland, New South Wales and Victori

 

[bcp]

Maybe a variation on this idea of mounting an unwheeled string trimmer on the tractor.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?p=3396826#post3396826

Bruce

 

[s219]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/314836-new-pull-behind-trimmer-52-a.html

Try this possibility.

Ron

Thanks -- looks like DR makes a 3-pt model for $999 that might do the trick:

http://www.drpower.com/power-equipm.../ft1-3pt-fence-line-trimmer-speedhead-new.axd

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks -- looks like DR makes a 3-pt model for $999 that might do the trick:

DR Power 3-Point Hitch Trimmer Mower: String Trimmer and Fence Mower

The reviews on the DR site aren't too positive for the 3PH model...