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.

 

[LBrown59]

If you don't at least keep it brush hogged occasionally it will turn into a real jungle in a few years then you will have a real chore grubbing it and getting it cleaned up.
Been there done that don't care to try it again.
== L B ==

 

[rutwad]

Well it sounds like the zero turn mower is out. I did let some air out of the tires and the tractor does ride better.

John-bud, I have never though about that but I may have to try it. I had thought about discing a reseeding, but I'll try this first.

Ralph, you're right! I do need to cut back mowing.

Now I gotta find that roller!

Thanks

 

[Kendrick]

heheh tractor works great ill you have land like mine. I have to get a zero turn the parts the tractor can get to are to squishy for it and the parts it cant the zero I borrowed started a pucker. all of my "front lawn" are hill its all rough ground and didnt have to bad a time with the zero ah well..

ralphs right thouhg get rid of the manacure... your a man have a manly yard feel free to have a yard that the annoying niece can truely get lost in

 

[Barneyhunts]

OR....convince your wife to mow it

 

[jimainiac]

I agree with the last two posters. I keep the blades sharp on our bush hog, and after I cut a field, even if it's rough ground, it looks nice. It will leave the grass longer, but the good thing about that is it doesn't get burned out as quick.

 

[putt_putt_green]

I mow about 1/2 acre around the house and a 5' and 40' strip down each side of my 550' long driveway. The rest of the 10 acres of open land is left natural. It is mostly prairie type grasses growing. It's great for the wildlife. I have lots of pheasants which I see every day. I have walnut, oak, and cherry trees growing up in this area. I get rid of scrub trees (cottonwood, autumn olive). Brushhogging and mowing eliminates the wildlife habitat.

Most of my neighbors mowed their 10 acre parcels when they first moved there. Now they pretty much mow about 3 acres tops.

 

[rutwad]

I mow about 1/2 acre around the house and a 5' and 40' strip down each side of my 550' long driveway. The rest of the 10 acres of open land is left natural. It is mostly prairie type grasses growing. It's great for the wildlife. I have lots of pheasants which I see every day. I have walnut, oak, and cherry trees growing up in this area. I get rid of scrub trees (cottonwood, autumn olive). Brushhogging and mowing eliminates the wildlife habitat.

Most of my neighbors mowed their 10 acre parcels when they first moved there. Now they pretty much mow about 3 acres tops.

Do you have any pics?

I think I may mow out 60' or so in front of the house and leave the other
200' + for bushhogging.

 

[rutwad]

OR....convince your wife to mow it

You would be suprised at how few times I have had to mow in the last few years. But now it's time for me to step up to the plate. I guess that's why the rough yard never bothered me in the past. So far I have removed 3 obstacles and about to get a fourth. Cutting around things is time consuming!

 

[putt_putt_green]

I'm at work. I have a couple, but not very good. I'll post better pictures tomorrow.

 

[putt_putt_green]

Do you have any pics?

I think I may mow out 60' or so in front of the house and leave the other
200' + for bushhogging.

Well, I found one, from 2003.

[/IMG]