Mowing Mowing Pattern / Discharge help

[hwp]

I use two different patterns depending on whether I am single-cutting or double-cutting. If I am single-cutting I do as the others have suggested. After a couple of passes around the perimeter (clockwise) I make a cut across the middle of narrow width of the rectangle to make two smaller rectangles. I then cut the north (for sake of aguement) edges of two smaller rectangles so that the swaths are gradually shifting towards one end (in my example the north end). One of the problems this gives is that at one end the discharge is going on to uncut grass and at the other end the discharge is going on to cut grass. I don't think this looks very good but that its just my opinion.

My preference is to double-cut, first one way back and forth and then at 90 degrees to the first cut back and forth to get a baseball diamond effect. This results in a nice appearance and there are no noticable swaths of discharge. However this does involve at lot of 180 degree turns, not a problem with rear wheel steering. In periods on rapid growth, such as we are experiencing right now, I cut the grass twice a week to reduce the burdon of clippings on the lawn.

On the other question of direction of discharge, I cut the first two rounds in a clockwise directions so that the cuttings go to the inside, i.e. to the uncut side, and not on my driveway etc. I then cut the rest in a counter-clockwise direction so that the cuttings are dispersed evenly over the cut grass and there is no build up of cuttings at the centre. Otherwise when you get to the centre there can be a lot of cuttings to handle. However, if you have a grass catcher, this isn't a problem.

 

[EdKing]

I never wrote my initials, but I did write "Happy Father's Day" for my dad once./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I usually mow in a rectangular pattern, starting from the outside, discharging to the outside. When the turns get too tight, I either do a small figure 8 on the already mowed area, or skip a side completly.

Please excuse the crudity of attached drawing.

 

[TresCrows]

I do what the Purple tractor man does most of the time but sometimes I cut in a circle and never turn around until I am nearly in the middle and then I revert to doing small loops at each end of a rectangular pass such as shown by Purple tractor man. J

 

[theboman]

I just kinda mow. Cut the outside rings and mow. No real set pattern, up and down, or round and round. The grass we got this year is awesome. Lots of rain and I have tossed down some fertilizer, sew seed in weak and heacy traffic areas and boy is it growing. I ain't complaining on mowing I gotta 'Bota!
I whine about weed eating.... I maybe become a major mulcher.

 

[skent]

My oldest daughter likes to start in the middle of the meadow and make a circle with the discharge pointing in. Then she continues to make the circle bigger and bigger, squaring it off as she goes. Ends up with corners (triangles) to trim up, but it's amusing to watch. (Teenagers!)

 

[OCDLubeman]

This reminds me of high school English class - using only the written word, describe a process. It's harder than it seems. My method is about the same as pbenven's.

I mow around the field once to get "warmed up". I then mow 2 or 3 passes in the narrow ends (headlands) to provide turning area for the tractor/mower - this requires a few back up moves. I then break the field up into equal rectangle pairs 2, 4, 6,etc. - the width of the rectangles about a "comfortable turning radius" for the tractor.

Here's a simplified scenario: my mower is 5' wide, comfortable turning radius is 25 feet, the field is 100 feet wide by a mile long. After the headlands are mowed, I mow up the "25 foot" line, then move over to the "50 foot" line and mow down. I move over to the 20 ft. line and mow up the field, then to the 45 foot line and mow down. Then 15 '/40' , 10'/35', 5'/30', and maybe one more pass to finish these two rectangle. I repeat the process on the next pair of rectangles. You end up driving around in loops, discharging grass to the already cut side - constantly moving forward, no gear shifting, etc..

The challenge and fun of this method is to guess (no, I don't take a tape measure out) your rectangles so you end up with even last passes. The key is to make your rectangles an efficient width so you don't spend too much time in the headland area and not mowing. This method keeps you moving fast with few turn arounds/back ups. I imagine it is better suited to rectangular fields.

Randy

 

[Buster57]

I have a next door neighbor who is a retired Tektronix M.E. who drives me nuts.
What I like to do is mow randomly for an hour or so then finish the job about three days later.
Drives him up a wall!

 

[Rockfarmer]

I also like to leave a few implements hither and yon in my pastures. Drives the yuppies crazy. If you have any old washing machines you can use as water tanks for the cows and sheep I find that keeps them away, too. Also leaving strips of multiflora growing near their side lots slows down the dog traffic. Mowing must be great where you have rectangular plots. Us swamp yankees just have to mow what we can when we can. About half my land can't be cut until after Labor Day because its still too wet to work. Makes for colorful stories,though.

 

[orange_and_8ns]

i must be doing it all wrong-- i put the bud light in the cup holder THEN JUST RIDE ---the hardest part is deciding which color to ride today

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I do not think you are doing it wrong-I just suggest a Pilsner Urquil on flat terrain! Keep it slow & safer that way!
I know all the true die hard shudder at the thought of having a beer on the tractor but one (1) will not hurt anyone-if it is a good brew that is! A Bud light may not hurt you, I like them and have had a few, but a good Pilsner Urquil or an IPA is better. If you want a light beer on you rig I suggest a Chinese Chin Tao(sp). They are low in alcohol but taste like they are a Carte Blanca!
Great for a sun tan. I know-I drive BMWs, but prefer the JD and soon to be delivered L3010.
I Can't wait any longer!