What should I do, suggestions needed.

[rutwad]

Guys, I have a problem. No, I guess it is more of an issue or just an inconvenience. I have about 7 acres (a guesstimate) to mow between my parents yard and mine. It's all joined acreage, but it has too many obstacles.
On second thought the obstacles are not that bad to deal with, I have a bigger issue with the roughness.

Yesterday I cut my lawn. It was mostly wild onions and flowering weeds, but
it was really thin so I thought I could cut it fast. That's where the roughness
became a problem. I was using a Kubota L4610 and 72" finishing mower. The
compact tractor rides rough. The finishing mower will bounce around in rough areas leaving some spots uncut.

I hear that zero-turn mowers can cut at speeds up to 8mph or something similiar. Would it ride any smoother than the tractor, or would the problem be the same. How many acres/hr or hrs/acre will a zero turn cut?

What would be the best, cheepest way to smooth out my yard?

I think I may kill all the grass and spray paint it green... !

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

if the ground is that rought, a ZTR will still rattle your fillings out.
is tilling, harrowing, cultipacking and reseeding an option?
that would let you level out the area and then it'd be a piece of cake to mow.

 

[GIJOE]

Before I bought my tractor, I used my FIL Snapper ZTR w/ a 48" cut several times to cut my yard. The first thing I noticed when mowing my yard w/ my tractor was that it rode a lot smother than the ZTR. The tractors wheel base is more than twice the length of the ZTR which is the reason the tractor will ride smother.
IMO, If the cutting width on both machines are equal, and the area to be cut is open with few to no obstacles, I think using the tractor would be faster. You would have the HP (mower wouldn't bog down) and speed advantage.
If there are many obstacles to cut around, a ZTR would be faster even with a smaller cut.

Joe

 

[ray66v]

Ferris zero turn mowers have independent suspension on them, and that has got to make a big difference. Ferris Industries

 

[Mark-in-Mo]

I maybe wrong but I think the smaller the tires and shorter the wheel base the rougher the ride.

I have both a 48inch zero turn and a Kubota 4740 the kubota wins hands down over rough terrain

 

[john_bud]

Can you get an old 500 gal propane tank fill it with crete and turn it into a lawn roller?

jb

 

[groundcover]

I agree with Mark in Mo,I have a Kubota 3010 that is a lot smoother than my Skag 48 zero turn. You need to do a little leveling and get some good seed down.

 

[JerryG]

What would be the best, cheepest way to smooth out my yard?

Check the air pressure in your tires. If you have them aired up for loader work, they will ride rough mowing.

 

[RalphVa]

I can't figure why you or anyone mows such large acreages. Let it grow natural. Only mow areas right around your house. Mow a path to your relative's house.

Mow any areas for a ball field or volleyball court. Just don't feel you have to mow, mow, mow. It's a waste.

Ralph

 

[wolc123]

I think Ralph has the right idea. Finish mow as little as possible. I finish mow less than 2 acres around my house and barns and use the rest of my land for more productive purposes. Some of it I brush hog a couple times a month and running the brush hog with a larger tractor is much more comfortable and enjoyable than running the little mower tractor around the house. A longer wheelbase, heavy tractor does help a lot over rougher ground and every year I cut more with the brush hog and less with the finish mower. My wife does like the manicured look so I have to be carefull with this.