Cutting the Grass

[KenP]

I cut the grass today, like I do every five days or so, but today was different.

Not only was it Africa Hot and the middle of the day, but I saw something I hadn't seen before. While cutting the grass, we have a rather large yard, one of the Professional lawn care guys came around the corner riding his Zero Turn Hustler and headed to our neighbor's house and started cutting. Now I've seen that before and this guy cuts many yards in our 'hood, but today I noticed how fast he cuts the grass.

He was finished my neighbor's entire yard before I finished half of our front yard! And I had a head start!!! To top it off, he cut atleast 6 more lawns before I was done cutting ours!!!!! Oh, and I still had to trim and blow.

I think it's time to seriously consider a Zero Turn mower. It doesn't have to be a large Hustler or Dixie Chopper, just a Cub Cadet or Deere will work fine.

Anyone here have a ZT? What brand? Do you like it? And the big question, is it worth it?

I also recently upgraded from a Toro four stroke trimmer with the curved arm to a two stroke Ryobi with a long straight shaft. That alone saves me probably 15 minutes of trimmer work and with my height, the longer length doesn't cause my back any pain.

I highly recommend spending a few extra bucks to get a two stroke, straight shaft trimmer.

[CO Hummer]

I'm thinking about getting a rider too. Takes me 2 hours to cut and trim.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

I'm thinking about getting a rider too. Takes me 2 hours to cut and trim.

I already have a rider. I'm thinking about upgrading to something like this:


22hp and a 50in cut.

[SR1355]

My dad has one, not sure of the brand but 24hp 50" cut. It takes about 45 minutes for him to cut 2 acres with lots and I mean lots of trees. He used to take close to 3 hours with 42" cut rider... I don't have enough grass to worry about it here.

[timgco]

Originally Posted by KenP

I already have a rider. I'm thinking about upgrading to something like this:
Attachment 42574

22hp and a 50in cut.

Go for a grasshopper. I have the hookup on this if you want one.

[dеiтайожни]

Originally Posted by lotus4s

Why don't you just pay the guy to cut your grass? Surely your time is worth way more than it would cost. Do you really enjoy it that much?

I hate yard work and haven't mowed a lawn since I moved out of my parent's house when I was 18.

Some find it therapeutic but there's just so many things I'd rather be doing....

I've been telling him to hire a lawn care company for years now! I think it's more about principle than cost.

[lennyrebel]

Originally Posted by KenP

I already have a rider. I'm thinking about upgrading to something like this:
Attachment 42574

22hp and a 50in cut.

where's the beer holder and the sun shade--I never thought you were second class.

[Walter_Cronkite]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

I don't own a mower of any kind. Gardener does.

You being an H3er I was expecting you to complain about how expensive lawn mover gas is.

[dеiтайожни]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

I don't own a mower of any kind. Gardener does.

Want to buy mine? I bought it last year, only used it 3 times before going back to hiring a company to do it. Too much work just getting gas for it.

[Agriv8r]

Originally Posted by KenP

Oh, I still trim and blow.
I also recently upgraded from a four stroke to a two stroke.
Love a long straight shaft. The longer length doesn't cause my back any pain. I highly recommend spending a few extra bucks to get a two stroke, straight shaft .

but what about the yard.....

[KenP]

Originally Posted by dеiтайожни

I've been telling him to hire a lawn care company for years now! I think it's more about principle than cost.

Bingo! Plus I can't hear any kids screaming or crying in the background.

We'd have to spend $300+/month, so in 10 months, or two seasons, a ZT would be paid for.

I take pride in trimming the driveway nice and straight, having it look like a runway in the backyard, trimming around the beds so they look perfect.

I don't like spending forever on a mower when I see I can do it much faster.

Oh, for the record, I HATE weeding. That's what RoundUp is for.

[ssgharkness020147]

I've gone on reccord before stating that I do not care for Z-turn tractors. They are too awkward to use IMO. What you need Ken is a John Deere 400 series or X series with four wheel steering (the X series replaced the 400's a few years ago). My parents have a 445 (kawasaki fuel injected engine) with four wheel steering, and you can really cook on those things. I have the 455 (inline 3 diesels) with the two wheel steer, it doesnt cut as fast because of turns, but its got more implement options, which I'm all about. None of these models are cheap, but they will last you for at least 20 years.

http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCa...m=ho&link=dnav

[ssgharkness020147]

You should try 2-4D. I dont know about Va, but it Wi its not really legal for your average joe to posses, but damn does it work well. I went on a campaign of broadleaf genocide yesterday. Already that stuff is dead, and it does not kill your grass.

Originally Posted by KenP

Oh, for the record, I HATE weeding. That's what RoundUp is for.

[OldHiker]

I pay my gardener so that I can spend my time doing what I want, not what I have to. I have about 3/4 of an acre cleared around the house. When I was young, raising a family and money was not plentiful, I cut it. Bought a rider, put the headphones on, lit up and had a blast. Same with snow plowing the driveway.

Only thing that has changed is the rider part.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by ssgharkness020147

I've gone on reccord before stating that I do not care for Z-turn tractors. They are too awkward to use IMO. What you need Ken is a John Deere 400 series or X series with four wheel steering (the X series replaced the 400's a few years ago). My parents have a 445 (kawasaki fuel injected engine) with four wheel steering, and you can really cook on those things. I have the 455 (inline 3 diesels) with the two wheel steer, it doesnt cut as fast because of turns, but its got more implement options, which I'm all about. None of these models are cheap, but they will last you for at least 20 years.

http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCa...m=ho&link=dnav

Those are great mowers, but at 10k, they better be. Do you have any idea how much trouble I'd be in if I came home with one of those?

[KenP]

Originally Posted by ssgharkness020147

You should try 2-4D. I dont know about Va, but it Wi its not really legal for your average joe to posses, but damn does it work well. I went on a campaign of broadleaf genocide yesterday. Already that stuff is dead, and it does not kill your grass.

Wow, I just Googled that stuff and it must work, the enviro wacko hate it.

[fourfourto]

I use old dependable to cut my lawn,and also plow my 200 foot driveway with it.
I bought it used 10 years ago for $100.00
1977 Dynamark(Murry)11HP 36 inch cut.
30 years old and it does the job time and time again.

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Dixie Chopper Silver Eagel 44 inch, around $5000, works great...

RYD

[KenP]

Originally Posted by RubHer Yellow Ducky

Dixie Chopper Silver Eagel 44 inch, around $5000, works great...

RYD

Love Dixie Choppers, but we're not talking the same price range.

The Dixie Choper can cut a football field in 10 minutes, so it'd take me 20+ if I got the one above. But it's 1/4 the cost.

[ssgharkness020147]

Originally Posted by KenP

Those are great mowers, but at 10k, they better be. Do you have any idea how much trouble I'd be in if I came home with one of those?

Ken, I'm sure that CP will understand how important pure mowing bliss is to you. I look forward to cutting the grass, so much so that I dump tons of fertilizer on it and water the hell out of it, just so it grows faster, then I can cut it more often. Hell, I'm using that uber sweet 2-4D to expand my grass another 2-3K square feet so I can spend more time cutting the grass. Just go to the Deere dealer and take one out, or see if they have any demos left over, a used X should be in your price range.