Had enough of the clumps Ordering Gator Blades

[hazmat]

After 2 week vacation, came home to lawn jungle. Mowed it sunday, then again last night. This is typical of what my lawn looks like now. Not even one of the worse spots (but was near window for pic). I'll be ordering the gator blades today.

 

[hazmat]

I guess I should also say that this is what my lawn looks like in the spring if I don't cut every 4-5 days.

Looks like I'm a victim of my own success. The lawn was a bit neglected when we bought the house (and the rear discharge mower worked great all seasons). I've been applying fert 2X per year, aerating and cutting high (3" in spring, 3.5" in summer). I've also thinned out my apple "orchard" to let the sun hit the grass.

Just wish there was a way to have lush green lawn w/o all the mowing /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[jwstewar]

I know the feeling. That is partially why I was so anxious to get that spring put back on mine. As I last mowed on the 11th. Started mowing then on the 19th - company came, 20th - spring fell off, 21st finished fixing the spring and started mowing again company came. The grass is really starting to get tall and now last night/today now we've gotten quite a bit of rain.

I'll be anxious to see how the Gators do with the rear-discharge. When I replace my blades I will probably go with the Gators as well. That'll probably be next spring - though maybe not - as good as the blades looked this spring they might make it another year. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[thcri]

Haz,

I don't know how the shoot on the rear discharge is but most here have raised the shoot up some to allow the grass to shoot a farther distance. I put some washers under mine to raise it up and there was a major difference in the windrows I was having. But the Gator blades made the biggest difference for me.

murph

 

[spencer200]

Well if you really want to be sucessful with your lawn /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
you should mow when there is no more than 1/4" to 1/2 growth. Just think of the seat time you would get. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">Well if you really want to be sucessful with your lawn
you should mow when there is no more than 1/4" to 1/2 growth. Just think of the seat time you would get. </font>

It's a lawn not a golf course. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I do try to follow the 1/3 rule - ie don't cut more than 1/3 off at a time. Usually the grass goes semi-dormant in July/August. We've been getting a steady supply of rain this year that has kept everything green & growing.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">I don't know how the shoot on the rear discharge is but most here have raised the shoot up some to allow the grass to shoot a farther distance. I put some washers under mine to raise it up and there was a major difference in the windrows I was having. </font>

No shoot on the Rear discharge - the aft end of the deck is simply 3/4" higher than the front and sides - so the "shoot" is 3/4" by 60. No way to adjust anything.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">I know the feeling. </font> Yeah I remember your post with all the "droppings".

 

[goatman]

What are gator blades?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Do a search in the NH Owning/Operating section you will find all kinds of posts about them.

Here is a link to a post that Thcri about Gators on his 72" that includes some pictures. Gator:: seems to have made me happy

 

[hazmat]

Dealer had a little trouble finding the P/N (couldn't tell from one screen which was the right size). After a little detective work, the 54/60 screen called them out properly vs the 60/72 screen.

Anyway for anybody who's interested the P/N is AUB163680

Here's a pic of thrci's blades. They are just a mulching blade.

 

[thcri]

Here's the link to their homepage. They won't sell direct for New Holland Equipment but I found the New Holland price is less than buying direct anyway.

Gator

 

[spencer200]

Yeah cool and wet! You got to love New England. My farmers are starting to get ugly they cant get much hay in the barn with this weather pattern.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">My farmers are starting to get ugly they cant get much hay in the barn with this weather pattern </font>

My lawn looks like a cut hayfield right now. My two dogs (labs) must think they are part cow as they keep snacking on it.

The blades are in today. I'll pick them up afterwork. I'll try to capture a before and after comparison.

 

[Inspector507]

hazmat............I'm REALLY curious how they work for you. I'm thinking of a set too.

 

[hazmat]

Picked em up and ran them tonight. Jury is still out. My lawn is still full of "hay" - a layer of dead grass. The gators seemed to spread it around more than the old blades. Certainly weren't any worse.

 

[hazmat]

to the left (along fence) mowed by the standard blades, to the right the gators

 

[hazmat]

an idea of what the lawn looked like before cutting

 

[hazmat]

Glamor shot

 

[hazmat]

The gators ran great where there wasn't previously accumulated grass (shady areas). The deck didn't load up & crap grass sludge, but it was pretty dry.

Tomorrow I plan to use the leaf blower to rake up the loose grass. I should have a better idea how the gators run when they are only cutting live grass.