Over kill, big time

[cos]

I saw a landscaper, (grass cutter) mowing a small lawn with his lazer z and there were two 48" bobcats still on his trailer. I kinda looked up cause I was sitting in a parking spot and thought wow "he is wasting his time and not to mention turfing up that grass with all the turns he is making" When you use a big rider on a tiny lawn, you

A. Don't get such a great cut (alot of excess trimming)
B. tear the turf up ( cause of all the turning)
c. can get more done by using a smaller mower (cause it keeps moving with less stopping and slowing down)
d. Are just too lazy to use the 48" walk behind (and when you get off the rider your arse looks like a bag of riggota cheese)

Am I right about all the above or is it just me.


Best Wishes.

[Five Star Lawn Care LLC]

It all depends on the operator. if u give me a small yard with my dixie where i can fit through every thing i will leave just as much triming as you would with a 48 or maybe even less if the 48 is a belt drive. as far as tearinging up turf that is the work of an unskilled driver. a skilled operator will not leave any marks on the lawn except nice lines.

[Charles]

I agree, it all depends on the operator. Big yard, small yard, INBETWEEN YARD, DOESN'T REALLY MATTER

[BUSHMASTER]

the operator is the key and small ...really small yards i try not to turn around i run my walker foward and back looks good when i am done.

[bob]

If I can't ride the lawn, I don't cut it. I guess I'm getting lazy!

[tslawn]

In my neck of the woods, the rain has been practically non-stop so the result is grounds that are very soft and grass that is very fragile. Even with the best of care, my rider (Gravely 260Z) will tear up grass whenever I make a turn. I try everything from slowing down to almost a complete stop to making 3 point turns, but still, nonetheless, damage still occurs. It's not necessarily the operator. Last year, when we had the drought, this never happened. The ground was so tough, you couldn't hurt the grass! Also, I find that when I use the ZTR, there is less trimming than when my husband uses the walkbehinds. Go Figure.

[cos]

I forgot to mention that the lawn that he was cutting had many obstacles like bushes and trees and was on a slight slope. He was having a hell of a time backing up and maneuvering around the small areas. Obviously there were no strips to be had on that lawn.

[LoneStarLawn]

I've seen the same thing as well...seems to be lazy as well as trying as to produce quantity and not quality. More than likely when the customer understands that the quality is poor the guy will loose the customer. On the other hand if a job can be done premo with it then go for it...as long as quality is not lost. I wouldn't do it though.

[Edited by LoneStarLawn on 09-23-2000 at 03:40 AM]

[chrisbolte]

do any of you guys try to lower tire pressure so the turf doesnt get torn up as much? I do and I think it helps.

[gene gls]

Use a Walker 48" GHS.Its the only mower on my trailer. Trim cut on either side, compleat control on slopes,less string trimming in the end,no clippings blown on the beds and no extra riding around to avoid blowing on the beds.

I agree with bob,can't ride it I don't mow it.

[Edited by gene gls on 09-23-2000 at 03:58 AM]

[Bobby]

Our ground stays wet in the summer. I agree with Bushmaster,in some tight areas I will go up and back. The WalkerMT42 is very menuverable so I may end up with two or three inches to weedeat.I also run under-inflated tires. Going up and back is an outfront deck advantage. A mid-mount has ten times the weight on the front tires. So when you back up, the front tires dig as they reverse.
There are no hills where I live so I run my tires as long as they will hold air. They look like slicks. Less damage with no knobbys sticking up.

[John DiMartino]

I wouldnt do that small a job with myDC,its tires are veryagressive and the stance is wide,so even though you can turn without scuffing,you cant turn as you move,it will scuff the inside tire thats not moving for a second.If there is room for straight passes ,itll do fine,I do a spot with curbing around it and its impossible ot edge with the DC without scufing,so I have to trim it the edge of the curb with the trimmer and stay a bit away from the edge in the corner.I think it has to do with the wide stance more than the tires.