Mowing around and between trees

[SWB]

I posted in the Lawn and Garden section but got few responses to the following. I have around 4 acres of old tomatoe field that I built a new house on. I have a grove of live oaks and other trees next to a marsh on one end of the property and am planting trees on two other sides. The ground is very bumpy and uneven. I mow with a CUT (Case DX35) and 5' rotary cutter and get bounced around even on it. I get tired of continually backing up with the rotary cutter to get next to the trees. I would like to get a second machine specifically for mowing around and between the trees on the edges of the property and use the the Cut and 5' mower for the rest. I am looking for suggestions. The few responses I got in the Lawn and Garden section thought that a JD L series lawn tractor would be too light. If I have to go to an expensive riding mower/lawn tractor such as a JD X300 series or better, I may try to find a used subCUT instead. Is the turning radius of a subCUT with a MMM good enough to do what I want? Are there less expensive solutions? Thanks in advance for all your opinions.

Steve B

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The ground is very bumpy and uneven )</font>

It's hard for us to know, or for you to describe, just how bumpy and uneven. Would it be worth your time and trouble to smooth out the bumps with something such as a box blade? How many trees? How far apart? What size trees? You may not have gotten many responses simply because other members may be like me, and just don't know what would be best for the job.

 

[beenthere]

I stick with the Deere X485 all wheel steer for all my 'around' trees mowing. There is no ROPS so if I can walk under the tree limbs, I can mow under them. The AWS will make quick work of mowing around the trees and turning around on a dime to go in the other direction. I have the 54" deck just because it fits nicely between my trees and a 60" deck would not.
So, boils down to how much room you have around your trees and under the limbs. If a lot of room and height, then a CUT with MMM might be just what you need. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jcmseven]

Steve,

I answered your question in the L&G section, for what it's worth. I think you know my thoughts on the matter.

John M

 

[newcountry]

My BX2230 turning radius is 36 inches with the 60"MMM, if my feeble memory serves me right. I have to do a lot of backing up for all my trees. What about a ZTR? They're not cheap, but cheaper than a sCUT. I'd like to get one but I have no moolah!

 

[Gatorboy]

How about one of the Billy Goat mowers.

 

[ronjhall]

Have you considered a MMM. Should be cheaper than a new mower that will cut your lawn. The DX35 can take up to a 84" MMM. Just make sure you plant trees far enough apart to allow for that size mower.

 

[Egon]

Also consider thoughts on landscaping. Some shrubs/shade tolerant flowers and/or Tall grasses around the base of some of the trees may eliminate some of the more difficult mowing areas.

Egon

 

[pennwalk]

Steve,
In '95 we replaced a International cub low boy that had a 5' mower deck with a John Deere F525 front mower. Even though the JD has a 4' deck we mow in the same time because it is so manuverable. The deck on the JD is offset to the left so it trims especially well. It only leaves a 7" uncut circle so it is great around trees. One down side is that it scruffs the grass in tight turns so if I am not careful I have bare rings around trees. John Deere doesn't make the F525 any more but I have seen nice used ones in the $1500-$2500 range. You might find it a little hard on your back if your ground is uneven. I have heard that you may get up to 1500 hours of useful life out of one.

Chris

 

[coasterez]

I second the all-wheel-steer choice. I'm not sure if JD still offers this in their new models. But, there are a lot of 425s and 485s out there for sale used. You should be able to find a good used one for between $4000 to $5000. These are heavy, serious mowers - very stable, fast and nimble. My 425 cuts down to a 13" diameter circle. I too have many trees and flower beds, etc. to mow around. I finish mow about 1.75 acres in about 1.5 hours with a 54" deck and seldom need to do any trimming.

A CUT is just too big for tight spaces and the roll bar often will get in the way. A subCUT, maybe. But, turning radius and agility are key if you have a lot of trees randomly dispersed such that you cannot cut in straight lines.

A ZTR is another option. Though, I'm told they don't do so well on hilly terrain. Or you might consider a walk behind with a trolley.

 

[flusher]

Here in the North Valley we have tens of thousands of acres of orchard (olives, English walnuts, almonds, peaches, apricots, nectarines, Mandarin oranges, etc).

The trees are laid out on a square grid. In one direction on the grid the trees are mulched with the mulch strip extending from tree to tree. In the perpendicular direction the ground cover is grass which is mowed with finish mowers and kept trimmed so equipment (sprayers, trimmers, etc) can get in the orchard.

Also, the ground is flat and smooth, and is kept that way with occasional harrowing.

I think your best bet is to level and smooth the ground and mulch around your trees. Then you can use a CUT or sub-CUT with ROPS removed to keep the grass mowed.

 

[flusher]

<font color="blue"> In the perpendicular direction the ground cover is grass which is mowed with finish mowers and kept trimmed so equipment (sprayers, trimmers, etc) can get in the orchard.
</font>

Oops: make that parallel, not perpendicular. The mulch strips and grass strips run parallel.

 

[H3hound]

I'm with you, Egon. I have at least 100 live oaks. I have created a landscape plan that surrounds many of them with mulch beds where practical - mostly near the house. Its time to relocate some sod!

 

[SWB]

Thanks Bird and the rest of you for replying. The trees are of different sizes with some of the large oaks up to 3' in diameter. Some are on little hills and some have root system higher than the surrounding area. If you level the ground out, you will destroy a good number of the trees.

Egon. I think the idea of planting schrubs around the trees is a good one and I will plan on doing so.

H3hound. That's a good suggestion for around the house, but
not for all the trees I have next to the marsh.

I do have space under most of the trees to accomodate a mower with a ROPS system. I am taking all of your comments into consideration and will be visiting several of the local dealers to see machines you suggested. I truly appreciate all the input from this forum and the L&G forum (thanks jcmseven). Any other suggestions will also be appreciated. I have to balance $$$ vs. benefit.

 

[1bush2hog]

If you have an ATV you may also want to consider one of the ATV pull behind mowers to supplement your tractor mowing