Mowing mowing patterns

MossRoad · Aug 21, 2003

i usually mow around the permiter then try to mow in a rectangle 

Ha! I do just the oposite. Mow the largest protion first, then finish up the perimeter. Go figure /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

GSS · Aug 25, 2003

So THAT's what that guy was doing! I was wondering why this guy was starting to mow from the center of his field, outward, in circles. It all makes sense now...

I never gave it much thought (obviously). /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

- Gerald

skent · Aug 27, 2003

I have a fair sized (3 Acre) meadow, rectangular. The biggest problem is the corners. As you work your way in to the middle, the turns get sharper and you end up backing up to get the turn in. Last few times, I started by making one pass around the perimeter, then make two diagonal swipes right across the center, from corner to corner. Basically I end up with a big 10 foot wide "X" in my meadow. Where the diagonal swipes cross is the center of the meadow (if I drove straight). I then continue the perimeter mowing, working my way in from the outside and all my turns get made at the diagonals, and eliminates the need to stop and backup. Has seemed to work well for me.

GSS · Aug 27, 2003

While mowing a smaller area of yard last night, I realized that mowing backwards is a lot easier to maneuver. I'll go straight across, then back up and then forward again and so on. Seems to keep it neater and cuts down on the ag tires tossing sod on the turnarounds. Do any of you do this?

- Gerald

JTC · Aug 27, 2003

When I first got my CUT and started mowing my 1 1/2 acre front lawn, my wife was giving me grief because she said it looked like a hay field. My pattern was the typical around the perimeter spiralling in. Did some experimenting and now I go around the perimeter once then mow up and down the long dimension of this area which is toward and away from the house. Each pass is terminated with a 3-point turn to reverse direction.

I don't think I'd want to do this with a gear tractor, but the HST makes it pretty painless. It adds maybe 10 minutes at most to the cutting time.

I also prop open the MMM distcharge chute so that its level insted of sloping down 3 or 4 inches. This eliminates any sign of windrowing which was pretty heavy at times. Of course, I'm very cautious when doing this and wouldn't do it with anyone else around or if rocks or other objects were an issue.

The results are much nicer now, went from hay field to golf course.

Jim

Golfgar4 · Aug 27, 2003

( The results are much nicer now, went from hay field to golf course.
)

....and from /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif wife to /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif wife!!

ShaleniFarm · Aug 27, 2003

( So THAT's what that guy was doing! )

Gerald,
I see we are in the same area.... I cut the field by the road in a spiral about 3 weeks ago. Did you see it??? I'm near 84.....

Anyway, it seemed to go much faster to do the circlular cut. Then all I had to finish was the corners. Probably a > 10 acre field, I guess...

Have fun,
Neil.

GSS · Aug 27, 2003

84, PA? No, I was up on Rt. 56, I believe, near Leechburg.

I'll have to try that. The field's kind of on a hillside though, so sometimes I try to avoid extra turning and stick with the back and forth method...

- Gerald

ipwanab · Aug 27, 2003

Do any of you guys have secrets for straight lines? My cut looks like an old drunk did it. I have experimented with various strategies but none seem to work for me. I like uniform rows whichever pattern I cut. I usually switch directions of cut every week , so each cut is like a new adventure.

Gatorboy · Aug 27, 2003

When I start a new row -- I pick a point (like a tree, post, etc.) directly in front of my tractor at the far end of where I am going to head -- and keep that point locked in front of my tractor. This works pretty well for me.

I have a GPS, and want to give that a try by holding a certain bearing. This should even be a better way of doing it, for when I start a second section, I will be able to run my lines at the same heading.

I'll be anxious to hear what methods you guys use.