Dreaming - does a wet pasture cut better?

[JimCan]

I have myself halfway convinced that cutting a rough pasture is better done wet. I am a convert to a Flail mower. I sure wish I had heard of these 30 years ago... I have had two bush hogs and one finishing mower that left a nasty mess untill I got this flail. And now I am pretty sure it 'mulches' better after a rain than the same field dry for two weeks. I simply love the way it mult-cuts the weeds and leaves a reasonably fine trail of cuttings. My field does not look like I need to bail it.

I bring this up because we had some pretty heavy rain in the last couple of days and I had to finish half of my 5 acres today. The dry side had long leavings; the wet were half that long. I'm just a tourist with a 40hp tractor and thought I'd ask. Thanks.

Jim

(attached is an old picture: I do not let it get this tall any longer)

 

[mobilus]

I've never ran a flail mower...do they hold down the dust/flying fines better?

 

[JimCan]

mobilus, Considering I have only used this for 1-1/2 seasons, I would say yes. The principal reason is there are no long cuttings or clumpy thrown discharge. The rear is nearly sealed and the cuttings are 'rolled' vs. shot out. The strangest thing is to look back and see cuttings thrown forward just below the little swing doors at the leading edge of the mower. I suspect that is why the cuttings are so short; they may be double cut. I never had a 'rear discharge' rotary, I only saw large clumps of cuttings being throw out the side of my mowers. (I also think it works better wet.) I only need to slow down; I can tell the difference.

For years, I saw these mowers do all the shoulders on our county roads. I'd watch out my office window and thought; "That looks good." ...but thought 'Government $$'. This was under $2k.

Jim

 

[ShowroomShine]

Funny enough, I cut my pasture with my Alamo flail this morning while wet with heavy dew. I noticed the cut was the same, but the dust was much less. I love my flail but it's a dusty **** thing.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

Around here its Midland bermuda/fescue/tall grasses and all type of weeds. I have 40 acres with about 17 acre hay meadow/3-4 acres in yard and mow the rest with a 50 hp tractor/172 Rhino rotary mower.
I've found mowing wet the tractor tires mashes every thing down and makes a crappy job. After things dry out I have rows of uncut material standing back up. This is true especially in the spring when all the grasses /weeds have more moisture content.
I find mowing dry with this combo makes a better looking job.
Flail mowers may pull the wet grasses/weeds back up better than a rotary.

 

[JimCan]

Funny you mention, Jigbuilder, that's my only flail complaint. I have turf-tires and I wish I could extend the hitch about 4' to allow the wheel crush to rise. (it's better done slower ...but I always other things to do too...) Even better: if they made a front rotary that worked off the PTO, I'd seriously look into that! ...or a belly-flail. Maybe over the winter I could look about making some 'wind vanes' in there.... Cheers.

Jim

 

[rustyshakelford]

Wet grass sticks much worse under the mower. I'd assume the same is true with a flail. Dust is less but don't think the benefits out weigh the cons...however, do what fits best for you

Brett

 

[JimCan]

Brett, Makes sense... Any of my rotary mowers I'd use in the yard would clog in a hearbeat wet. I remember a reel mower as a kid not having that issue, as the clippings simply flipped out the back rather than be collected in a tornado and blown out the side. I'll have to try 'really wet' with the flail ...maybe a run in the rain. (I wonder if the shoulder crews work in the rain?) ....I wonder about silage? Wonder if running a chopper thru dry corn vs. green? Haven't done that in 50yrs. but remember it being done wet.

Here's an example of what it looks like three days after. (there's a 'skip' in the middle of the picture)

Sitting up on the tractor the cuttings look shorter than they do on the hood of my car. (started out about knee high; a mix of vines, weeds, grass and suckers) Still, tons better than I got with my old gear.

Jim

 

[Creamer]

Really wet will be hard on the blades as water will erode steel relatively fast. Everything cuts better dry but I am certain grass that is wet stands up better than dry so it may leave a more even appearance.

Having said this I do not think it would make much difference with a flail whether it had a heavy dew on it or not as long as there weren't droplets. The dust is certainly held down with the dampness.