[ztrguy]

For those of you with a ZTR and WalkBehind, do you prohibit your machine on certain lawns?

Example:

Do you keep the ZTR off smaller lawns?
If so, what is the size of lawn that you prohibit the use of a ZTR? Smaller than 10,000 square feet?
Smaller than 20,000 square feet?
Etc...

I'm finding more and more people wanting a WalkBehind ONLY on lawns that are 20,000 square feet or less.

I can see where some lawns will wear in certain areas (using a ZTR) after continuous weekly service, but every lawn is different.

I believe the extra 500 lbs or so is the cause. Meaning the WalkBehind will not wear the grass out as easy as a ZTR.

Most lawns smaller than 20,000 square feet take me longer with a ZTR anyway b/c you have to be so slow/smooth/careful when turning. So it doesn't bother me too much to use a WalkBehind on those yards.

Tell me what you all think!!!

-Thanks

 

[Royalslover]

If I can get my fixed deck 60" Great Dane on a lawn I'm using it.
Where do you go to find the nicest grass around? Golf courses and sod farms. On fairways they use heavier mowers than we do and on sod farms they mow with tractors.

 

[Pecker]

IMO, use the ZTR as long as there is space enough so you don't keep compacting or damage the tuf by changing directions, in the same areas each week. In places such as near edges where I must run the same path every time, I try to stagger the path on which the tires roll each week. For instance: overlapping on the concrete or trimming the closest 8"or so from the edge with a string trimmer so my deck only has to get about 8" from the edge, keeping my tires further away from the edge where I know I ran last week, etc. (hope that makes sense). Sometimes it is hard not to change direction on the same spot when you must go in a certain direction every time. Also, its good to not mow in the same direction (as we all know) each time. In other words, I just make a conscious attempt to not damage the turf. After all, I'm there to help it look its best. Guess it really just depends on the customer, but I do my best to not give them a reason (which is hard enough because it even looks too heavy for a lawn) to not like my ZTR because it sure is nice to ride after all that footwork.

 

[Frank2]

The only time the walkbehind comes out of the trailer is when the lazer won't hold a hill.........period. It's not the machine that will tear up a lawn, it's the operator.
As soon as a customer starts telling me how to cut lawns.......is as soon as they're dropped.

 

[GLAN]

to answer in one word. Yes.

 

[redbull]

Originally posted by Royalslover
If I can get my fixed deck 60" Great Dane on a lawn I'm using it.
Where do you go to find the nicest grass around? Golf courses and sod farms. On fairways they use heavier mowers than we do and on sod farms they mow with tractors.

You are correct about the nicest grass - just remember bioth of the these examples use irrigation, golf courses are overseeded, and arreated. And a lot of the equipment used on GC have slick, wide, low air pressure tires. BUT I agree if the Z fits use it!

 

[DUSTYCEDAR]

if the lawn is well maintained meaning we cut it -fertilize it -do a cleanup and -aeration-seed i have never had a problem with any ztr.
any complainers are the mow only yards they never spend a dime on anything else like re-seeding if they don't like it bye

 

[tiedeman]

we only have two lawns in particular where we can't run the larger mowers, and that is at the customers request. Of course they get charged more, so everything works out fine by me.

 

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by redbull
You are correct about the nicest grass - just remember bioth of the these examples use irrigation, golf courses are overseeded, and arreated. And a lot of the equipment used on GC have slick, wide, low air pressure tires. BUT I agree if the Z fits use it!

So our ZTR's don't have these?

You had better take a closer look at some of the 1800-2400 + pound machines that run the same size and type tires I have on my ZTR.

 

[Live4Mowin']

Originally posted by Royalslover
If I can get my fixed deck 60" Great Dane on a lawn I'm using it. Where do you go to find the nicest grass around? Golf courses and sod farms. On fairways they use heavier mowers than we do and on sod farms they mow with tractors.

Originally posted by redbull
You are correct about the nicest grass - just remember both of the these examples use irrigation, golf courses are overseeded, and arreated. And a lot of the equipment used on GC have slick, wide, low air pressure tires. BUT I agree if the Z fits use it!

They also mow very large areas that require less turning.

 

[mtdman]

I have two lawns that are very shady and damp. These two customers have complained about the bigger mowers damaging the lawn. I disagreed at first. The customers asked me to use the small push mower on the lawn, and since the areas are both small and the customers agreed to pay more, I started using the push mower in these areas. The lawns both look 100% better, and the areas that were wearing because of the bigger mowers look much better. And the customer is happier. Sometimes the biggest mower isn't always the best for the job.

 

[Gravely_Man]

Running the biggest machine you can doesn’t always mean you will damage the turf but by the same token this doesn’t always mean you will end up with the best cut either. Every situation is different and only you will know when to bring out the big boys and when to use the walk behind.


Gravely_Man