Which Way Do I Go?

[DrRod]

Greetings,

I had to laugh because the last couple of posts echoed just what I was thinking -- do you really need/want to mow that much lawn? I have a great log cabin on an estate-type lot (maybe 2 acres of grass) and I tell anyone who'll listen: "if you build a cabin, don't have even one inch of lawn."

Now you probably want some lawn, but wouldn't a big chunk of it look nice in a game-friendly cover crop like clover? How about a few Christmas trees -- even just for you and your friends? Maybe fence some and rent it out for grazing? You could even "naturalize" part of it -- i.e. let it go wild for three years at a time and just mow it when the brush starts getting a hold. Wild flowers are always nice.

In any case, just some food for thought -- best of luck to you.

Rod

 

[poltroon]

15 acres is a lot of "lawn". If you get yourself some nice lawn ornaments, like sheep, you would possibly spend less time caring for them than you'd spend mowing. Or, you can rent it to someone who has cows or sheep and who would be happy to have some auxilliary grazing. In my area there are many people with arrangements to run animals on a regular rotation over smaller non-farm parcels. Better to have the grass used as an energy source rather than an energy sink.

If not, your local county extension agent or your local organic-minded farming supply will likely have suggestions for cover crops or wildflower mixes that you can grow in your area and that will not need to be mowed, at least not every week. Clover is a good suggestion ( the crimson is especially pretty) but probably the best option would be some sort of meadow mix that includes a groundcover and flowers.

 

[DrRod]

And that got me thinking... pasture ornaments.

I had some idle fields and my wife said "let's get some pasture ornaments." In short -- horses no one rides. So we put an ad in the Baltimore Sun offering "lush pasture, clean streams, and quality care for your retired horse." The phone never stopped ringing.

The deal is, everyone has an extra horse. It may be lame, it may be too slow or too hot, the kids are gone, don't have time, etc. -- but no one can face selling it. Even if the horse is servicable, selling it is ten times tougher than selling a car and auctions can be unsavory (meat dealers are lurking).

We ended up with a pair of registered quarter horses 4 and 5 years old -- the owner was moving and just wanted a good home. One became the champion english pleasure horse of the Washington, D.C. area.

But there-in lies the problem. This approach works so well that you might find yourself in the horse business. But they sure looked good out there as the sun went down -- much better than weeds.

 

[riptides]

Yep.

Boarding is the rave. I have seen prices ranging from 150.00 to 325.00 dollars a month. In this area of the commonwealth.

They do look nice, don't they?

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Varmintmist]

15 AC???!!!!

Think about gang mowers, sheep, blacktop, vegetation killer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Actually I know a guy who planted all white clover in his "yard" in VA. He's going to brush hog it twice a year and forget about it. White clover wont get real high and cutting it twice a year will do it.

Any way. Something the size of the 950 (27hp) will do the job. You could go up in HP a little and it wouldnt hurt.

 

[Highbeam]

To keep 15 acres of lawn mowed as you desire. I would not get something as small as a 950. The price difference between a JD 950 and a Kubota 40 or 50 horsepower machine is pretty small when you consider that it could cut your mowing time in half EACH time you mow. There is a direct relationship between horsepower and how wide of a mower you can run, I have heard 5 horsepower per foot. Regardless, double the horsepower, then double the mower width and then halve the mowing time. When you are talking about all day Saturday vs. do it quick after work before supper the choice becomes easier.

I like a huge lawn/pasture/field. My choice to keep it short would be an animal of some sort like cattle. Call it farming and you get a 90% exemption on your property taxes in WA. The 5 acres around your home could be finish mowed lawn and the rest will still be open and nice to look at.

Boarding horses is a nice option. Our homewoner's insurance carrier threw a fit about it. Bigger liability but bigger potential profits if you live near suburban areas.