Mowing Help!

[Ramble]

Hello,

I am new to owning a 26 acre ranch.

15 acres of pasture that needs to be cut--about 3 feet high

Just bought from Sears:

54 In. 26hp Kohler Turn Tight Hydrostatic Garden Tractor

Will that do it?

I have no horses or cattle---don't plan on having them. So I need to cut it myself? Or hire somebody to do it?

Any advice? What am I in for on the first cut?


Signed,
Helpless in Hamlin Pennsylvania

 

[Mud Mechanik]

Just a personal opinion....your gonna destroy your mower doing that, I would hire someone with a tractor and bush hog.

 

[Ramble]

How about I hire someone for the first cut, and then maintain it with my mower....whadyathink

 

[Mud Mechanik]

You would be a lot better off......although 15 acres is gonna keep your mower busy.

 

[EagleTDL]

How about I hire someone for the first cut, and then maintain it with my mower....whadyathink

Not a chance! I own a little over 4 acres, with a house and driveway, along with a detached shop and associated driveway. So, I'm probably cutting about 3, 3.2 acres, all told. I have a 72" Zero Turn and it takes me about 2 hour and 15 minutes to mow it. You've got 5 times the amount of land I do, with a smaller mower... Not going to work in my opinion, unless you enjoy spending all weekend on a mower?? :laughing:

Best suggestion is either hire it out and have someone cut it for you when needed, or invest in some equipment. I'm a SCUT guy with no bush hog experience, but there are plenty of guys here that will give you good advice. Good luck!

 

[MoKelly]

You will go nuts cutting 15 acres with a residential mower (that is all you will have time to do) and the mower will eventually be destroyed. You will learn quickly that you need commercial type equipment to do big jobs. You will learn. Ask me how I know.

MoKelly

 

[Ramble]

Just got an estimate from a company. $55 an hour to do it. The guy says, after HE gets it done. Then I could maintain it..but my new machine isn't going to last for years and years. I should have bought a commercial tractor....but right now can't afford it! Now to convince my husband to let this happen...is another whole thing. and for another forum!!

 

[PhilY]

I agree with Mud either way. It would probably over heat the first time out in 3' grass after a few minutes. If you had someone cut it the first time and were able to keep it short, I would think the tractor would only last a couple seasons. Pastures usually aren't all to smooth either, so my guess would be that mowing 15 acres would probably take you at least 10 hours at 1 - 1.5 acres an hour. Personally, I would recommend getting a CUT in the 35-45 HP range with a tow behind bush hog at least 6' wide. This way you could mow it once every other week in about 6+ hrs. I used to be able to do about an acre in 20 mins with an 8' fairway mower on a very smooth golf course. Either way, having that much land, a CUT (compact utility tractor) will be priceless.

 

[Ed of all trades]

If you can't afford a CUT look for an older used farm tractor 30 or 35 horse with a 5' bush hog, You could get one for 5 grand or so.:2cents:

 

[swines]

If you own the land, then look at renting out the pastures you don't want to use. Let the person renting the land take care of it. As for your current problem - either let it grow, or if you just have to have it mowed, then contract with someone to do it. It's not going to grow that much for the remainder of the year, and should give you time to find an acceptable arrangement to rent the land before next spring.

I used to work on a grounds crew and mowed 10 hours a day...they gave me an 8-foot flail mower on the back of a golf course grooming tractor and I could get about 3 acres an hour cut if that gives you an idea of what you can do with a moderately sized mower.

 

[Rad1956]

There is always the possibility that someone on the forum who is always looking for any excuse to use his tractor and lives close would come over to show you how it's done!

 

[KennyG]

My church tried mowing about 5 acres with a Craftsman 26 HP, 54 inch mower. It took forever and was beating the mower to pieces. Since I maintain the mower, I just haul my 2320 over and spend a couple of hours and have it done.

I would suggest the OP find a good used CUT or an older 3 point tractor like a Ford, get a bush hog or a rear finish mower, and just use the Craftsman to mow right around the house. With 26 acres, you really need a tractor.

 

[Soundguy]

15 ac to cut? If it was only a 1 time thing.. I'd hire it. but with no animals.. you will becutting it alot.. or letting it grow.

15ac constant cut will kill a consumer grade rider mower.. so will rough cut.

asture cuttinglike that would even wear out a commercial unit before it's time.

go buy an old ford from 47 to 64 and a used 5' mower.

proabbly get the entire package for 3500$ or less.

47-52 8n ok

53-54 Naa.. a lil better.

55-57 600/800 series or 58-62 601/801 series even better! ( 7XX/9XX series is rowcrop.. narrow and wide fronts

63-64 000/4 cyl same as below.. but newer..

personally I'd get a 4 of 5spd and avoid the 10 speed SOS jobs.

will be a mowing fool.

if ya get an old ford.. I know where you can get advice on fixing and maintaining it..

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

If you can't afford a CUT look for an older used farm tractor 30 or 35 horse with a 5' bush hog, You could get one for 5 grand or so.:2cents:

could get 2 ugle ones for that.. or one good one with plenty of change..

good old ford 600 series and 5' mower will ding inthe 2-3 ish range depending upon exact options and condition.

remember.. rusty tin mows grass JUST as good as shiney painted tin.

near bald tires that hold air mow grass just as well too!

that's my vote anyway.. save that poor rider mower for just the area around the house...

 

[Danbo56]

Here's my Idea: Get someone to mow it and bale it for hay. It's too tall for horse hay, but cows will eat it. Get a local farmer to make into round bales. Tell him if he cut's and bales it he can keep it. (Around here the usual deal is a 50-50 split) With 20 ac's it worth it to local guy to come out and bale it!

 

[acktractor]

I hope you are not serious about the sears lawn tractor or Garden tractor you bought to mow the field! First of all what you bought is for 1 to 2 acre lawns that are 4- 6" long at the most! You will certainly need to hire someone with a 5 to 8' mow on a 30 - 60 or large tractor. Once the have cut it it will need to be raked up for still your tractor will not be able to cut it! Remember what you bought is for lawns NOT fields!

 

[JIGBUILDER]

I've found using a lawn tractor or a zero turn with a 50"-72" deck just doesn't work well when mowing 3' tall stuff. The deck simply pushed the weeds down and made a ragged cut at best. Requires another pass or two for it to look right and is slow going.
A lawn tractor deck may be 72" wide but its may not be but 3' long at most vs my 6' Rhino rotory mower that is also 72" wide but the deck is 7'-8' long which lets the weeds stand up and get chopped off the first pass.

Try a pass or two and see what happens.

 

[Mrfarmertrees]

I've had a tractor mowing business since 1992. Currently I mow about 150 to 200 acres a month depending on the month, using a 15' batwing. I've gained several customers over the years that had the same idea you had. After wearing out their equipment they learn you need some larger equipment, add in the equipment maintenance and it is cheaper to hire someone to mow a couple times a year.

Maybe a better solution would be to have someone hay your land. On my land that's what I do. It allows me to keep an agriculture exemption on the property, plus I don't have to spend the time and money doing it myself. At least you could get the property mowed and it wouldn't cost you. Good luck on your decision.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I would also get someone to do it for you,then lease it out for hay meadow(written lease with coming to an agreement on things like must bale atleast twice,fertilize,spray weeds,etc.). I mow places like yours all the time,most of the time they just dont wont a tractor and couldnt be out there mowing on an open cab tractor anyways. Some do let me lease from them but then there are some that really dont like the idea of someone else being on there property. Another thing the $55 an hr,what size tractor and mower they running? Do you know if pasture is clean(if not may have to run slower to look out)? How low are they going to mow it,are they going to guarantee a clean mow without going over some twice on the clock? Is there trees do you wont them to clean under them(if limbs are low takes time to back under)? I would get them to bid it,if they mow enough it shouldnt be a problem for them and then you know what your going to have to pay when everything is said and done.
...Rolled up barbed wirer is what gets me the most on first pass

 

[Deere Dude]

I would wait until next year when before the grass is growing to scope it out to see how rough it is and maybe try a little section before the grass grows to high. You might be in for a shock. A smooth pasture may be able to be mowed with some commercial type equipment mentioned but I wouldn't even try it with a 54" deck on anything.