Light weight 3 point offset mower

[bikerdib]

I'm leaning towards spending the money on a sickle bar mower, it is probably the easiest, fastest and safest method. The barrier fabric would most likely work OK but would make it harder to get to the water edge for fishing. Nothing like sliding into the water on a cold winter day...

I guess another option would be to buy push mowers at pawn shops and do it the hard way but that certainly doesn't sound fun. I used to have the 25 HP DR field and brush cutter. Bad jazz machine but it wouldn't like the slope.

 

[m5040]

Power Trac PT425 with boom mower - YouTube

 

[bikerdib]

Pretty cool machine but I won't need anywhere near that much reach. I'd be willing to bet that I can get a 6' or 7' sickle bar cutter for less too.

 

[cold1313]

I was in the same boat and not wanting to spend $20k on a setup to reach down that far, I stopped at the local supply house for ODOT. They sold me "high slope, low growth" grass seed.

It's what the state uses where the slope is too steep for their mowers. It has the roots for the slopes to hold the soil and grows slow enough to where it MIGHT need cut once a year...I haven't mowed it at all in 2+ years.

I spray Trimec on the area a few times a year, to kill the weeds etc. Otherwise the broad leaf weeds would over take everything.

 

[DieselBound]

As cold1313 suggests. Then get yourself some domestic geese (they're great grass-trimmers).

 

[bikerdib]

Cold1313, that sounds like a possible solution. Do you know what the grass is called?

Diesel bound, this pond is being dug on my place on the edge of my small town and the Coyote and Bobcat that move through the woods behind my new pond would appreciate an easy meal.

A few years back the land owner next to my weekend place in the woods put some in their pond. I remember thinking that the Coyote, Bobcats and even occasional Cougar are going to be happy. The next weekend I went back and found several piles of feathers on my property close to the neighbor's pond.

 

[DieselBound]

Yeah, without a dog/dogs it's hard to keep domestic fowl. I've had dogs that also chase off eagles. And it wasn't until a couple years ago that I managed to get in a fence (pond lies within the fence) to help discourage attacks from the wildlife: raccoons, when dogs weren't around, were wreaking havoc (we were also between dogs- our replacement dog is still a work in progress)- ended up stringing a hotwire at the top of our fence and gates and that activity stopped dead in its tracks.

 

[the old grind]

If it were me, 57" Standard Ditch Bank Flail Mower, FH-AGL145 | Betstco Sales, Parts, and Service:

I bought a different model, but this one should do slopes steeper that 15^. You only pay for something once. I have >2100' of shoreline (three-finger pond shape) and don't mow to the water. That said, maintaining buffer areas is a full time job here.

I suggest you plan for twice what you think you'll need to do, and put versatility as a top priority. (You only pay for something once.) Spot-spraying a few worst weeds will minimize chemicals in the water. I believe the mower I suggested above would demand the least other effort in dealing with clippings and chemicals. I'm new to flail and stunned at what I've been missing, esp to keep a wide access road to grub 'junk' growth along the the tree-lined far shores. 18th year pulling willows and poplar from banks. Trees growing near your pond will be regretted.

Waterfowl will surly hasten weed growth, likely assure overgrowth in < a decade. Good luck keeping fowl, even in pens with the local predator population.
Let me guess, you might want to shoot a few for the sake of all your animals.

 

[bikerdib]

Trees within or on top of a pond dam are a no-no. Even on the backside they will be removed. Outside the dam are OK.

I have ruled out a flail due to the amount of weight hanging out towards the water. I'd rather not have that much weight trying to dump me in the drink as they say. I think a sickle will cut at more angle too, some I've seen will do up to 75° down.

 

[the old grind]

Wow, yes, a sickle-bar mower, if a bit more $$ up front, very much the right idea from post #1. :thumbsup:

I suggest all attending this thread see Ted's EA video regarding what to expect IF things get too tall. (check in at ~4:00 to see what I mean about the cut.)

5 Foot Sickle Bar Mower For Subcompact Tractors - YouTube

IMO, it's pretty well proven that there's no "Plan B" to be imagined this time.

btw, OP, put out a corn feeder if you like pork. t o g

(and I only wish I could justify owning one. :confused3: find 'used'.)