Finished mowing

[GT71]

Hi everyone. I just finished mowing our 41 acre pasture yesterday. The weeds were 7 feet tall and the grass was chest high before it fell over in the last month. I cut it down to about 8 inches tall. Most of the grass was very clumpy and coarse. When i drove my truck over it its like driving over rocks. Even when cutting with the tractor its a very rough ride. My question is will these clumps of tough grass go away on their own if i keep it cut 2-3 times a year? It seems to me they may grow like that since they are getting choked out by everything else. I do plan on spraying for weeds in the Spring. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[MacLawn]

GT, I can't answer your question about the grass, but I sure would like to see a photo of the job. That must have been a lot of mowing!

 

[sweettractors]

They will eventually decompose. Ken Sweet

 

[teg]

I see that you are kinda new at TBN... I'll just let you know that "some" of the members prefer to reply to questions only if you post photos... :laughing::laughing: but that's not me .

What I've seen with Mowing... the more you do it... the less bumpy it gets but it will take some time. I would consider cutting the grass closer to 4-5 inches high, even if that means you'll hit the ground in a couple of areas. I bought a used 5' mower and it scalps the ground at some locations (but it was to mainly find the rocks!!!).

Is there a reason for cutting at 8" high. I think cutting lower will help to discourage weeds from growing and since the grass comes back faster (and hopefully fill in). The cuttings will decompose and start to fill the low areas.

 

[GT71]

My dad did not want us to cut it real short the first time. He thinks the clippings will choke out the grass. I plan on cutting it again in the Spring as low as the Rhino will cut. My brother just bought an Agco 110 gallon sprayer with a 21 ft boom so i will be spraying weeds in the Spring also. Am i better off to cut it twice a year or 3 times? I know i want to let it go to seed next summer before i mow it in the fall. Here are a few pictures i took while we were taking turns cutting. The quality is not that good from my cell phone. You can see in the first picture how tall the weeds are at the fence line where i could not mow with the tractor. Thats 1 of 18 chinese privet piles in the second picture you can barely see that we need to burn this winter. Thanks again.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Looks good. :thumbsup:

I tried to mow our pasture but it was slow and painful. I did a few sections - but never finished. I'll try to be more patient in the Spring.

 

[sweettractors]

My dad did not want us to cut it real short the first time. He thinks the clippings will choke out the grass. I plan on cutting it again in the Spring as low as the Rhino will cut. My brother just bought an Agco 110 gallon sprayer with a 21 ft boom so i will be spraying weeds in the Spring also. Am i better off to cut it twice a year or 3 times? I know i want to let it go to seed next summer before i mow it in the fall. Here are a few pictures i took while we were taking turns cutting. The quality is not that good from my cell phone. You can see in the first picture how tall the weeds are at the fence line where i could not mow with the tractor. Thats 1 of 18 chinese privet piles in the second picture you can barely see that we need to burn this winter. Thanks again.

The person that took that picture of the tractor and Brush hog is standing in a dangerous place, if the cutter was running? Ken Sweet

 

[Thomas]

You did darn good job GT.
Maybe another quick couple weeks to feather out the clumps.
Agree,cut couple time during year so tender grass will have chance.

 

[Topkicker]

Mowing 41 acres with a rotary cutter. Whew. Makes me tired just to say it. Nice job and nice tractor. :thumbsup:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I see that you are kinda new at TBN... I'll just let you know that "some" of the members prefer to reply to questions only if you post photos... :laughing::laughing: but that's not me .

Ain't that the truth...

 

[GT71]

Thanks everyone. The land has been in my family for almost 100 years. We always had 50-70 head of cattle on it when i was growing up as a hobby and they really kept the grass clean. My dad got tired of taking care of the cows and fence about 11 years ago and sold them. It doesnt take long for trees and bushes to start to take over. I rented a New Holland skid steer for two 3 day weekends this year and pushed over alot of privet that was taking over along the woodlines. We found a Massey 283 with the Perkins 248 ci engine with low hours, bought it and it is STRONG! It pulled that Rhino 272 mower in 3rd gear low range like it wasnt even back there thru that overgrown mess. Im hoping after we spray the weeds this Spring and keep mowing it we will be able to enjoy the land for along time to come. Thanks again!

 

[jinman]

Were the clumps of grass possibly bluestem or little bluestem? It is a native grass that grows in clumps. After years of growth and dying back each year, the base becomes very much a clump or mass. If you keep mowing, it will smooth out and give your fields a beautiful blue/gray tint with young grass. Livestock really seem to love grazing on bluestem.

 

[CTW]

My dad did not want us to cut it real short the first time. He thinks the clippings will choke out the grass.

Your grass was already chest high, do you think that extra 4 inches of grass will be the deciding factor of your grass being choked out? I just thought you raised the deck to prevent the tractor from stalling out. Nice work, it feels good to whip family land back into shape. Enjoy!

 

[CTW]

I tried to mow our pasture but it was slow and painful. I did a few sections - but never finished. I'll try to be more patient in the Spring.

What a minute... you mean to tell me it was too painful to drive that brand spankin' new Kubota around all day?