CliffordK
Veteran Member
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- Eugene, Oregon
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CliffordK
Veteran Member
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- Eugene, Oregon
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I'm personally not a big fan of people that like to drive tractors around in circles to have a 5 acre lawn. And it is annoying to have my peace and quiet interrupted by the hum of mowers.... all the time. I thought I left that behind in the city.
5 acres may be just about enough to get a neighbor to come and cut and take your hay. Perhaps for free. Especially if you can plant good weed free grass.
If you are going to mow it, you could look for a larger bat wing mower. Say 10 foot wide or so. But that'll take a bit of horsepower.
Larger used self propelled mowers do pop up for sale from time to time, but many have been badly abused before they go to the scrap market.
5 acres may be just about enough to get a neighbor to come and cut and take your hay. Perhaps for free. Especially if you can plant good weed free grass.
If you are going to mow it, you could look for a larger bat wing mower. Say 10 foot wide or so. But that'll take a bit of horsepower.
Larger used self propelled mowers do pop up for sale from time to time, but many have been badly abused before they go to the scrap market.
Panik
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
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- 490
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- Kubota bx2360
To answer OP's question, probably some combination of zero turn and rear finish mower. When we first got our 11 acres I mowed the 4 acres of "yard" with a 60" mid-mount on the BX. Cut was very nice, but it was time consuming and frankly my back usually was killing me by the end of it between the bumps/ruts/general uneveness of the ground and my posture from sitting on a small tractor.
I purchased a 54" zero turn about 6 years back and its been both world's quicker and more comfortable to accomplish on the zero turn, even with the rough terrain (old terraced farm land with clay soils). About the only time I mow with the tractor is to brush hog and that's due either to the zero turn being down or hitting the spots too steep for the zero turn about twice a year.
Funny you mention the idea of small acreage haying, or at least letting the grass grow. Next door neighbor was like a grandfather to me and always use to gently rib me about growing hay when I let the yard get too long. I'd respect his wishes and break out the mower and get it cut, usually with a follow up comment from him the next day as to whether I needed to borrow a tedder.
He passed about 6 months back and this last week I finally decided I was going let about an acre of my yard grow to see what develops with the idea of slowly managing that section into a wildlife food plot, native grass/forbes patch (lots of wildlife in the neighborhood - deer/turkey/rabbit/fox/flying squirrels/birds/etc).
There's a slope on the backside of my property, next to my shop that I've only ever mowed about twice a year due to the steepness and it consistently has grown a healthy, dominant stand of little bluestem. I'm hoping with some gentle coaxing (maybe some burning, a little herbicide and potentially some seeding) I can get the acre I am letting run wild come up in little bluestem or something similar for both aesthetic and wildlife purposes. With my oldest getting his driver's license, girls and getting further into playing in competition marching band I somehow doubt his interest in running the zero turn will stay as high. It'd be nice to cut down on the amount we have to mow on a weekly basis.
I purchased a 54" zero turn about 6 years back and its been both world's quicker and more comfortable to accomplish on the zero turn, even with the rough terrain (old terraced farm land with clay soils). About the only time I mow with the tractor is to brush hog and that's due either to the zero turn being down or hitting the spots too steep for the zero turn about twice a year.
Funny you mention the idea of small acreage haying, or at least letting the grass grow. Next door neighbor was like a grandfather to me and always use to gently rib me about growing hay when I let the yard get too long. I'd respect his wishes and break out the mower and get it cut, usually with a follow up comment from him the next day as to whether I needed to borrow a tedder.
He passed about 6 months back and this last week I finally decided I was going let about an acre of my yard grow to see what develops with the idea of slowly managing that section into a wildlife food plot, native grass/forbes patch (lots of wildlife in the neighborhood - deer/turkey/rabbit/fox/flying squirrels/birds/etc).
There's a slope on the backside of my property, next to my shop that I've only ever mowed about twice a year due to the steepness and it consistently has grown a healthy, dominant stand of little bluestem. I'm hoping with some gentle coaxing (maybe some burning, a little herbicide and potentially some seeding) I can get the acre I am letting run wild come up in little bluestem or something similar for both aesthetic and wildlife purposes. With my oldest getting his driver's license, girls and getting further into playing in competition marching band I somehow doubt his interest in running the zero turn will stay as high. It'd be nice to cut down on the amount we have to mow on a weekly basis.
RjCorazza
Elite Member
Once you get the 4 acres into lawn condition (after brush hogging), a 54" lawn mower is going to take about 2.0 - 2.25 hours to mow it at a brisk pace. A 60" zero about 1.5 hours, and a 72" zero about 1.0 - 1.25 hours.
That's assuming 3.5 mph on the 54" mower and 5 mph on the zero turns.
I mow larger residential lots, and the 72" zero turn is spot on what I can do in the real world.
That's assuming 3.5 mph on the 54" mower and 5 mph on the zero turns.
I mow larger residential lots, and the 72" zero turn is spot on what I can do in the real world.
lman
Veteran Member
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I bought this 12' mower from the neighbor several years ago for $3,500. I can get a lot done in a short time, while my wife uses the 60" zero turn to get what I miss. I actually don't mow all that is in the picture. Seven acres are alfalfa. I recently saw a price for a new mower like that and realized I got a very good deal even though I had to make some repairs.
oosik
Epic Contributor
Two weeks ago I cleared and mowed the last part of a weed patch on the far west side of my house. I have about 2 1/2 acres of lawn around my house and outbuildings now. It's my answer to a fire break.
I mow it all with my JD 750 riding mower. There are a few spots, here and there, that are still rough and bumpy. I really don't think a zero turn would work to well for mowing. The JD takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to mow it all. It's the mowing around the buildings that takes all the time.
A mowed meadow near my inner gate.
I mow it all with my JD 750 riding mower. There are a few spots, here and there, that are still rough and bumpy. I really don't think a zero turn would work to well for mowing. The JD takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to mow it all. It's the mowing around the buildings that takes all the time.
A mowed meadow near my inner gate.
workinonit
Elite Member
I have Frontier 21' batwing finish mower. Probably the best implement that I ever bought.
Lots of questions, I'll try to answer them.
I own a TYM 654, 67 hp, Ag tires I'd rather not drive on it. It does not have a mid mount PTO.
The area is currently a rock field. All I want to do is keep the vegitation down. Two years ago a paid someone 5 grand to clear it with an excavator with a cutter head.
It's pretty rectangular, so long straight cuts.
When he's done, I'm hoping it's smooth enough to cut with a finish mower. If it's not, I'll attack it with my grader and or landscape rake.
I'm leaning towards my 54" ride on and a tow behind self powered mower, hopefully getting me 100" path or so.
Neighbors are far away, no worries about noise complaints.
Steve
I own a TYM 654, 67 hp, Ag tires I'd rather not drive on it. It does not have a mid mount PTO.
The area is currently a rock field. All I want to do is keep the vegitation down. Two years ago a paid someone 5 grand to clear it with an excavator with a cutter head.
It's pretty rectangular, so long straight cuts.
When he's done, I'm hoping it's smooth enough to cut with a finish mower. If it's not, I'll attack it with my grader and or landscape rake.
I'm leaning towards my 54" ride on and a tow behind self powered mower, hopefully getting me 100" path or so.
Neighbors are far away, no worries about noise complaints.
Steve
workinonit
Elite Member
Why don't you want to drive on it? You have a tractor, use it. Get something that you can use to cut it in a fraction of the time. I've been cutting about 5 acres with my 21' FM for 10 years. I run ag tires. Never seen the issue with that setup. I would never try to cut all that grass with one of my ZTs.
leonz
Super Member
If you want an acre ease rotary mower with an offset hitch that is one option;
but it is just one more piece of equipment to own and maintain.
Your mule is going to give you a better ride than the rider or the quad and it has
more power as well.
Hard sod is not going to dent even with loaded tires if that is what your worried about.
A rotary mower is going to leave cut grass on top of the sod and create dead spots if it
is very long.
A finish flail mower will leave very small clippings and you will be able to recut
those clippings the same day to may them dissolve faster.
You would be able to mow once every 2 weeks with a finish flail mower and keep the sod grass
at a 2 inch height.
but it is just one more piece of equipment to own and maintain.
Your mule is going to give you a better ride than the rider or the quad and it has
more power as well.
Hard sod is not going to dent even with loaded tires if that is what your worried about.
A rotary mower is going to leave cut grass on top of the sod and create dead spots if it
is very long.
A finish flail mower will leave very small clippings and you will be able to recut
those clippings the same day to may them dissolve faster.
You would be able to mow once every 2 weeks with a finish flail mower and keep the sod grass
at a 2 inch height.