Mowing hill, rocks, around stumps and trees

[Garandman]

This is our "back yard" in NH. There are a lot of rocks, the ground is on a slope and kind of uneven, and there are several apple trees and garden patches to cut around. We also have to cut around the house and garage. That's only part of it: total area is about an acre.

BPO had an old 18hp big-box store Poulan lawn tractor. He took it with him so I'm not sure how it worked. I can get the L3200 over most of it but I don't have a finish mower, just a 5' brush cutter. And it's too big to get near the house, under the trees, near the garage, etc.

I'm inclined to get a walk-behind, something bigger and more powerful than the 21" Honda self-propelled we have in Boston. But I'm not sure if that would require a long time. This is a vacation house and we don't want to spend all day cutting grass but the growing season is pretty short so spending a doesn't make a lot of sense either.

At this point I don't even know what to look for used.

TIA

 

[4570Man]

I would probably buy a finish mower for the L3200. Then mow around the rocks and trees with a push mower or weed eater. That lot looks so rough it will quickly destroy a cheap mower. If at all possible I would remove those rocks and tree stumps.

 

[Garandman]

If at all possible I would remove those rocks and tree stumps.

Those rocks you see are the tip of the iceberg. i didn't get a backhoe because I determined that many of them weigh over a ton. Our neighbor has three excavators (small, medium, and large) so he's going to come over later this summer and put in some perimeter drains and dig them out.

There are a lot of places the tractor can't go so I don't think that will work. There is a stone wall and a bunch of trees not shown.

 

[SweBota]

A Husqvarna R322Awd front deck mower would cut around those obstacles in no time. I have 2 bigger models, cant praise them enough.

/Marcus

 

[Garandman]

What about a string trimmer / mower? (Trimmer Mower: 8.26 Subaru Self-Propelled (string trimmer) | DR Power Equipment)

There are quite a few 36-48" commercial grade walk-behind mowers that seem like they'd do a good job, not sure about the rocks, though.

 

[Garandman]

A Husqvarna R322Awd front deck mower would cut around those obstacles in no time. I have 2 bigger models, cant praise them enough.

/Marcus

Looks capable but not sure it makes sense to spend $5,300!
(Riding Lawn Mowers - Mower and accessories, reviews, buying guide and comparison charts Husqvarna)

 

[SweBota]

Looks capable but not sure it makes sense to spend $5,300!

Well, no budget was given ;-)). What is your time worth?

Here are some pics : http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/photos/339129-orange-new-black-our-3-a.html

BR, / Marcus

 

[4570Man]

Why can't the tractor go where you need to mow? I understand the tip of the iceberg problem. Here is about 1/4 of the rock we dug out of a few acres of yard. We didn't even worry about rocks that weren't a mowing hazard.

 

[Garandman]

Why can't the tractor go where you need to mow? I understand the tip of the iceberg problem. Here is about 1/4 of the rock we dug out of a few acres of yard. We didn't even worry about rocks that weren't a mowing hazard.

For example, ine side of the garage slopes off after 4' or so, with a generator in the way. There's a rock retaining wall, then another section with a crown. Etc x10.

Looking on CL there are quite a few 36-48" walk=behind commercial mowers and those DR Power "brush mowers" (Walk-Behind Field and Brush Mowers | DR Power Equipment) so that seems to be what folks use along with riding mowers. I'm thinking a walk behind will be able to get pretty much everything, even on the side slopes.

 

[Piston]

What about something like the Toro Timemaster walk behind? It has a 33" cut which would speed things up, and I believe has the same transmission style as the well known Toro Personal Pace. I think they are around a grand.

Or, look for a used DR Brush mower with the finish mower attachment. Those seem very common on craigslist.