To stripe or not to stripe? That is the question....

[FrankenScagMachines]

Wondering-
How many of you guys mow stripes and how many mow w/o them?
Do the majority of your customers like them or not or do not even care?
Thanks,
Eric

[FrankenScagMachines]

Come on guys, you can do better than that ;)

I made it multiple choice so you can show what you like and what majority of customers like.
Eric

[Brickman]

Yes I stripe. With a Walker stripes happen. And if a customer didn't like them, I would tell them to call some body else, because I can't help it. 21" WB don't as much, but I love the look of the Walker stripes, as soon as grass gets to growing good, I will try posting a pic or two.

[stslawncare]

my customers like it, i think it makes it look professional. and yes even with my 22'' mower i can stripe, im gonna wait one more cut or two then i will take some pics and post.

[awm]

one thing to consider is if some of your customers dont like the stripe ,leave off the stripe kit. then u can go both ways.

[wmsland]

Most of my customers just want it to look nice, stripes are a bonus.

[Spanky]

I have to agree with Brickman, although I use a Bob-Cat. I know I have some pretty good stripes when my customers neighbors ask, "How do you do that?"
:cool:

[MATTHEW]

I always stripe as a basic practice. Every once in a while, I do double stripes. 2 border passes and then 2 passes alongside each other thus creating 88" stripes instead of lots of 44" ones. I have this one 20,000 sq. ft lawn and was bored one day. It was tall and needed a double cut. There was a round bed in the back, so I started there making circular stripes fanning out to the street. Then, I did the same in reverse. I was mildly amused at my new creation but the customer told me the following week that all the neighbors noticed it- and loved it! Go figure.

[lasher66]

Can someone help me out here? When I mow every lawn I usually do two clockwise trips around the outside of the yard so I dont get grass in the mulch then I go back and forth automatically creating stripes. I dont understand what other way is there to do it that doesnt create stripes? Doesnt stripes just automatically happen. One more thing, what is a stripe kit? I seen someone posted something about it and I never heard of it. Thanks

Lasher66

[FrankenScagMachines]

Matthew, do you think you could post some pics of the circular stripes? I don't have any areas where this would apply (not yet anyway) but i'm always looking for an adventure LOL. If you go to www.simplicitymfg.com and click on lawn striping there are some pics of something kinda like what i think you're talking about.. kinda neat. I want to do something different and noticeable, but all these rectangular areas don't leave many options and if you go zig zag it doesn't always work right and it makes you look like you can't go straight! AAARRGGG!
Anyhow, I just wanna see this..
thanks LOL
Eric

[BRL]

Lasher66,
I have posted your question a few times here and the only answer was that many warm season grasses do not show a stripe when a mower passes over them. So in the south, striping is not seen on many lawns. As far as cool season grasses, nobody has been able to post a way to not stripe a lawn while mowing it quickly & efficiently. The only way I can think to do it is to mow all passes in the same direction, which would make it take at least twice as long as needed to mow by circling the perimeter a whole lot of times to always start from one side. Or, maybe you can cut by just going in circles like using a homeowner type lawn tractor that can't make a zero radius turn like a commercial mower? That doesn't seem like it would be quick, efficient, or look good while using a commercial zero turning radius mower, especially with the shapes of most yards & the obstacles etc. that are there. I was just thinking for fun I'd try that one with my back yard one time, but now I'm realizing its rectangular, so I can't figure out how to cut it by just going in circles. I'm going to stop thinking about it now so I don't hurt my brain too much ;)

[lasher66]

Thanks for the info.

Lasher66

[MikeLT1Z28]

southern grasses will show stripes somewhat with the right mowers. i know that one zoysia yard i cut stripes really well and a few lush bermuda one's do too. hell, i have actually gotten some weed filled yards to stripe a litle! looks as goofy as the weeds all over the yard. now fescue... there's a good striping grass that does good in the shade down here in the south.