Mowing and lawn care thread

[Creamer]

I did some searches and honestly I was a little surprised there wasn't a general lawn care thread. So let's get one started.

Who has already had to cut the yard this spring? We're inching closer to that first cut. I need to get the oil changed on my zero turn and I'd like to get my blades sharpened before the spring rush really hits. At our new place, there's several big clumps of ornamental grasses, like pampas grass type stuff. My old electric hedge trimmer was the extension cord variety, which wasn't going to work here. I had a Lowe's gift card from Christmas and used that towards a new Ego trimmer that used the same battery system as my weed eater. Am I the only one who geeks out with a new yard tool? A few of the clumps are big so I was a little skeptical of how well the Ego would get through it.

Went through it like butter.

 

[5Cent]

22pgs of mix match items here on the subject(s)

Thread 'Zero Turns.'

Nov 2, 2020

With the new property comes the need for a zero-turn mower. It's only 2 acres but I have 27 trees in mowable areas on the back acre alone so a traditional riding mower just isn't gonna do. I don't know shit all about zero turns. Not really looking to buy new as I despise initial depreciation. I see a lot of them out there from cub cadet, toro, Xmark Deere etc but have no idea regarding the reliability of brands. I have been doing some reading and a forged deck is a must instead of stamped as our dirt is really just sand so the deck and blades get constantly sandblasted. What should a fella...

• Jackalope
• Replies: 432
• Forum: The Goof Off Lounge

• 

I just trimmed our 10 different ornamental grass clumps the other day. The chickens love the area behind the 3 grasses in front of the garage for dust baths and have been breaking the grasses all to hell. I use bungie cords to hold together 1/3 way up, then just cut off with big set of loppers. Enjoy those auto shearers!

 

[5Cent]

Thread 'Smoothing yard'

Jan 8, 2026

What's the best way to smooth out bumps, divots and general unevenness in your yard?

My wife dislikes how "bumpy" mowing can be. I don't notice it when i mow but i also buckle in and watching her is enjoyable.

Thoughts?

• Hedgelj
• Replies: 24
• Forum: The Goof Off Lounge

C

Thread 'Zero turn hacks'

Jul 17, 2022

Looking for hacks you guys have done to zero turns or mowers in general, going to making a 5 gallon bucket bracket/holder, and a trimmer holder. Looking for ideas and what other guys have done. With road frontage always have trash to pick up.

• Clay Showalter
• Replies: 9
• Forum: The Goof Off Lounge

C

Post in thread 'Lawn Equipment suggestions'

Sep 20, 2022

I got a Ferris ISX 800 52" the only zero turn with suspension, I love it and it should last for the rest of my life.

• Clay Showalter

• 

Post in thread 'Got a Skag...'

May 12, 2015

Nice purchase man! I am considering a zero turn for my place next year. We shall see.

• bowhunter1023

Post in thread 'Your yard, mowed it yet?'

Apr 11, 2014

Mowing takes me 7 hours from road to backyard at home with a zero turn, push mow, and weed eat. It's all I do from now until August either at home or my camp. I absolutely hate it.

• Buckmaster

Thread 'Help deciding on mower'

May 3, 2012

Well, I am pretty sure I am going to pull the trigger and jump on the zero turn band wagon. I have my price limit so I have really been looking at the Toro TimeCutter MX5060 with a 50" deck and the John Deere Z425 with the 54" deck. I really prefer the 54" deck but in all of my review readings the John Deere has had some negativity. To be honest, the Toro not so much so, it has nothing but good reviews. I am really torn here because I grew up with John Deere, and have had the one I have now with no real issues. Plus the John Deere dealership will give me $799 trade in for my current...

• deerjunkie
• deciding mower
• Replies: 56
• Forum: The Goof Off Lounge

 

[Creamer]

I saw the specific threads. Me ain't dum. lol

I was looking for a general thread and was surprised there wasn't one.

 

[Quantum673]

Not mowing for another week or so. Trying a new strategy. Wait to mow until after April 1st. Some reading I was doing over the winter suggested waiting to help control weeds. The logic they used was to leave your lawn a little longer over winter and early spring to help choke out weeds.

I also frost seeded in January before the snow we got. First time doing that here. Just getting really started getting things on track.

 

[5Cent]

I saw the specific threads. Me ain't dum. lol

I was looking for a general thread and was surprised there wasn't one.

Just thought the rug really tied the room together, man. Now they're all in the general thread.

No mowing for a few more weeks up here. Would like to replace the front Ztrak wheels with no flats.

 

["J"]

I’ve cut twice so far. The ornamental grasses I cut back in November and it’s already sprouting back up.

 

[hickslawns]

I was thinking there were numerous threads that touched on it. You're right though. I don't think there is a specific lawn/landscape thread.

Once you cut, seems like you aren't going to stop until the heat of summer. On my personal law , rentals, and business lawn I won't cut until I absolutely have to. Those lawns don't pay me. They cost me money. I'll mow a customer lawn, but not mine. . That first cut seems to stimulate and get things moving.

@Quantum673 let us know how the winter frost sending does. I've had good results. Almost better than spring seeding. Just hard to quantify if one was better than the other.

 

[md1]

I don't think we mowed but a handful of times last season due to drought, it was amazing.....ground is going to turn into a rock quick this year if our pattern doesn't change. Wind drying everything out fast between rains on top and no significant moisture underneath.

 

[Quantum673]

I was thinking there were numerous threads that touched on it. You're right though. I don't think there is a specific lawn/landscape thread.

Once you cut, seems like you aren't going to stop until the heat of summer. On my personal law , rentals, and business lawn I won't cut until I absolutely have to. Those lawns don't pay me. They cost me money. I'll mow a customer lawn, but not mine. . That first cut seems to stimulate and get things moving.

@Quantum673 let us know how the winter frost sending does. I've had good results. Almost better than spring seeding. Just hard to quantify if one was better than the other.

Honestly. So far I have not been impressed but it is still early. I would say I have a 30% germination rate. I do believe it will go up as we continue to warm up. I should have a good feel I. The next two weeks.

My biggest hope though is survival of what did germinate. I think that is where I will see the biggest difference. With our hot dry summers I think that earlier germination and root growth will lead to a better survival rate.

I spring seeded last year on fresh excavated topsoil. I bet I had 80-90% germination. Watered as necessary. August that shit was toasty. Hopefully this will fix that.

I will let ya know.

 

[giles]

We mow at 3.5" to help with the weeds and wind rows. I see the forst mow coming very soon for the driveway. Also need to get the leaves back off the yard.

 

[jagermeister]

Save the bundled cuttings of those ornamental grasses. They make for great structure for grassing-in ground blinds and layout blinds.

 

[Quantum673]

We mow at 3.5" to help with the weeds and wind rows. I see the forst mow coming very soon for the driveway. Also need to get the leaves back off the yard.

I keep mine 3.5” as well for that reason.

 

["J"]

We mow at 3.5" to help with the weeds and wind rows. I see the forst mow coming very soon for the driveway. Also need to get the leaves back off the yard.

I cut 2.5” here until August/September then adjust upwards based on the weather.

 

[Creamer]

Save the bundled cuttings of those ornamental grasses. They make for great structure for grassing-in ground blinds and layout blinds.

I used that last fall to help conceal my blind. Worked great!

 

[Johnny44]

I am mowing this weekend for the first time. Only reason is because I will be out of town and if I don't my wife will ruin my trip with, "I am going to mow. Our grass looks like shit. Blah blah blah."
Put down pre-emerg a week or so ago. 12-0-0 with dimentia (not sure how to spell it)

 

[bowhunter1023]

I mowed for the first time 10 days ago. Did a full once over of the mower, then laid down some crispy stripes. It helped mulch up all the leaves from my neighbor's pin oak in the front yard, and mulch up sticks in the backyard.

The Cub Cadet XT1 46" is on year 8 with 240 hours and still doing its thing. I have a 60" deck on my BX series Kubota that is perfect in the backyard when it's dry enough to run it (rear tires are ag tires, so I try to avoid tearing it up with those). I don't mind mowing in the spring, but I'm over it by July!

 

[Creamer]

I mowed for the first time 10 days ago. Did a full once over of the mower, then laid down some crispy stripes. It helped mulch up all the leaves from my neighbor's pin oak in the front yard, and mulch up sticks in the backyard.

The Cub Cadet XT1 46" is on year 8 with 240 hours and still doing its thing. I have a 60" deck on my BX series Kubota that is perfect in the backyard when it's dry enough to run it (rear tires are ag tires, so I try to avoid tearing it up with those). I don't mind mowing in the spring, but I'm over it by July!

View attachment 219252

At least in this area, by mid-July, we're usually in that drought period where the yard is a dusty brown mess that only needs cut about every three weeks.

 

[bowhunter1023]

True, then the sweet grass shows up and grows so fast, you can almost watch it grow!

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

I'm too old for this shit .... lime today