Athletic Field Mowing - What type of mowers to use?

Az Gardener · Aug 16, 2006

MMLawn said:
ALso, no offense but how are you making any money with 4 people and only 70 accts? They would have to be huge paying accts, certainly not residentials.

You didn't say certainly not residential accounts in NC or MS. My perception is, you said he was not telling the truth. I just wanted to point out he may well be telling the truth. Just because his model is not the same as yours does not make him dishonest or his numbers wrong.

As for the second part, believe what you want.

bamaone · Aug 16, 2006

Thanks Old Turf,
Yes, your info helps! I appreciate your time to respond.

Do you guys do any fert/ weed control program on the fields.

These guys asked me about including this service. I am licensed and Cert.
but do not have much experience with large areas like this and what type of equipment would make this task much easier.

MMLawn · Aug 16, 2006

Yes, we do all of the chemical treatments, lime, aero and overseeding on teh ones we maintain and we of course wrote that into our contracts as a part of doing them. We use both Perma-Greens and tractors with spreaders and pto aero's they are also on 12 month/yearly billing. During the season we cut them every 5 days, during the off season every 7-10 days and only as needed Dec-Feb.

dvmcmrhp52 · Aug 16, 2006

oldturf said:
3 acres an hour with my 62'' Toros and well over 5 acres an hour with the JD 997. This makes mowing 85 acres in two days no problem at all. .

The machine is capable of 85 acres in two days, most operators are not,and that mower won't last very long with that kind of abuse.

Enjoy yourself..............

Tharrell · Aug 16, 2006

A 7 or 9 gang reel mower is what I'd use. That's the best look.

oldturf · Aug 17, 2006

dvmcmrhp52 said:
The machine is capable of 85 acres in two days, most operators are not,and that mower won't last very long with that kind of abuse.

Enjoy yourself..............

We have cared for these fields for the last 4 years and we and the machines are doing fine. The 997 has only been in operation this year but it is built a heck of a lot stronger and the ride is great, especially on soccer fields. These speeds are not what I think they might do but are what we experience with these machines and this is about half of what they would be capable of if mowing something as smooth as asphalt. These speeds are certainly not obtainable on normal lawn surfaces as they will beat you to pieces, but on groomed soccer fields is another matter.

luckylawnboy · Aug 30, 2006

We Mow and trim 40 acres with 30 trees 1 huge building with two 72's and two guys can get it done in 5 hrs pretty easy...

dcgreenspro · Aug 30, 2006

oldturf said:
We have cared for these fields for the last 4 years and we and the machines are doing fine. The 997 has only been in operation this year but it is built a heck of a lot stronger and the ride is great, especially on soccer fields. These speeds are not what I think they might do but are what we experience with these machines and this is about half of what they would be capable of if mowing something as smooth as asphalt. These speeds are certainly not obtainable on normal lawn surfaces as they will beat you to pieces, but on groomed soccer fields is another matter.

a 997 is not built to handle 85 acres a week. Go out and buy an AR-250 and be done with it. your initial purchase will be more but the mower still be in use in three years compared to that 997. just my 2 cents.

oldturf · Aug 30, 2006

dcgreenspro said:
a 997 is not built to handle 85 acres a week. Go out and buy an AR-250 and be done with it. your initial purchase will be more but the mower still be in use in three years compared to that 997. just my 2 cents.

? Have you had any experience with the John Deere 997 or do you just have something against JD. These are some of the toughest and most productive machines that I have come across.

dcgreenspro · Aug 30, 2006

i have a 777 and it's great but my point is, which machine will take more abuse in the long run, the 997 or the AR 250

Earth and Turf · Aug 30, 2006

Who makes an AR 250

ucfjoe · Aug 30, 2006

Earth and Turf said:
Who makes an AR 250

Jacobsen

....man i wish i could afford one

Athletic Field Mowing - What type of mowers to use?

Az Gardener

bamaone

MMLawn

dvmcmrhp52

Tharrell

oldturf

luckylawnboy

dcgreenspro

oldturf

dcgreenspro

Earth and Turf

ucfjoe

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