cutting and collecting long grass?

[mikemike39]

One of the things I would like to be able to do is cut and collect about an acre which we only cut once a year - it is a meadow where the grasses look really nice as they grow, so I don't want to cut it and more often than that - I also don't want to leave the spoil on the ground - the grass gets to about 2 or 3 feet long.

Here in England I have seen flail/collectors advertised - which smash the grass up and pick it up in a collector - but I don't know whether they work

I am going to get a compact, probably around 25-30 PTO HP

Anyone use an attachment of the sort I've described - and if you go slow can you clean an area nicely of long grass?

Cheers Mike

 

[DocHeb]

No personal experience, but I've seen one flail mower/collector that might do the job: Lawn Genie by Mathews Company. For a 25 - 30 hp tractor you would have to stick to the 48". When I was considering one of these in November 2002, the 60" unit was $5000 plus tax, plus shipping from Illinois. The 60" unit was the one recommended for my NH TC40D (with 33 PTO hp). The 60" unit weighs 1260 lbs, and they add ~400 lbs for collected material for a total unit weight of ~1600 lbs. I don't have the price on a 48" unit, but they responded quickly to email. I would ask them if there is any problem with the long grass

 

[JFarms]

Another alternative to consider is a landscape rake. It's not as efficient as the collection system, but probably cheaper and has more uses. I cut with a flail mower/shredder on an acre field of grass & weeds but use a rake to clean up after mowing. Before I raked them, they composted on the spot. Now I use them for mulch and compost. Best of luck.

 

[SteveBenson]

Another idea: Buy a used side-pass hay rake and windrow the grass. You might then be able to push all the hay over to the side of the field with your loader and/or a landscape rake. I've never tried it, but it might work. It might be easier than using just the landscape rake.