I am often at a loss trying to understand the members here who have to deal with rough lawns and property. I would think that one of the main reasons for buying a tractor would be for improvements such as grading and smoothing. While I understand everyone has a different approach it would seem that reworking a rough lawn or pasture into a smooth and properly graded one would be a prime use for the equipment. It seems that a lot of people choose to buy seat and suspensions rather than fixing the inherent problems. It doesn't take that much equipment to make a lawn or small field super smooth, and then mowing in the years to come is much easier to do.
Greetings Jenkinsph,
I take it you aren't in a northern climate.
I have 2 lawns within 2 miles of each other. 1 is 1 acre with no irrigation system and clay base with planted grass from many years ago (mostly flat lawn).
The 2nd is 1.3 acres with irrigation system and 1/2 sodden bluegrass with the other half seeded bluegrass mixed. All of it is clay base with 2 to 5 inches of black dirt and special compost underneath. This lawn is heavily sloped in 60% of the lawn and is 7 years old.
Yard 1 heaves greatly each winter as old flat farm clay will do. Then it unheaves as spring thaws show up in Western WI.
This lawn over the years has washboarded a fair amount and a normal zero turn tractor suspension makes it a fitful mowing activity in some places and a mildly jarring activity in the rest. My new GC1715 with its vastly improved seat and suspension makes it nearly imperceptible of washboarding . . and makes it very pleasant and faster cuttibg as well. On occasion I dirt fill some of the rougher spots (10' by 10') areas. To do as you suggest would cost 400 to 500 dollars just in a "park mix seed" plus labor to seed and till and reseed once again the spots that don't take hold. It would be a full summer of watering and growing efforts . . only to deal with winter heaving the next year.
The 2nd property is not wasboarded at all but moles and gophers create considerable changes and some kill sections and of course issues from mole hills and tunneling. The lawn is quite attractive and mostly maintenance free except the moles and cutting. But over time the moles and dead spots and winter heaving and slopes will alter it some too.
Doing as you suggest on this 1.3 acres would cost 4000.00 for just the sod and 400 for seed areas plus considerable 3 man labor costs/effort including myself. And then there is the issue of the irrigation system pipes and sprinklers.
Again . . my GC1715 setup with factory deluxe seat . . Makes this an effortless and fun lawn cutting efgort with no jarring or pounding. Winter and moles can do their worst . . and its still pleasant.
What I had noted in my test drives on BX product compared to the GC1715 was a considerably noticeable difference in ride comfort. I noted my wheel sizes and wheelbase are not much different than the larger BX units . . but comfort was quite different. My back or knee are never a problem on the Massey scut.
As to small cut sizes being more comfortable . . I'd question the cost and manueverability issues. My 3rd land location with slope I could afford to have a cat grade the whole thing of past farm furrows and rough spots many times over compared to a cut cost increase. But a single cat grading would make that 1.5 acres quite comfortable for my scut to operate on without jarring.
PS- If you are just looking for a excuse for a larger tractor tell your wife I said it was ok to buy something huge!!!
