Most Efficient Pattern To Cut Fields

[drjay9051]

Since I got my flail mower I have been cutting different ways. Cut field in half and do one side at a time, start at outside and work my way inward in a pattern of rows or start at the middle and work outward following the fenceline.

They all seem to take about the same amount of time. Does break up the monotony a bit.

My friend assures me the most efficient way to cut is start in the center and work outward in a spiral. He claims to be able to show me a mathematical proof for this. I was never good at math.

Any thoughts on this? Assuming not going over same area twice what seems to work best for you??

 

[smstonypoint]

Post the proof if you can -- I would be interested in the assumptions regarding the shape of the area to be mowed.

Some here use a version of the Zamboni pattern.



Steve

 

[sixdogs]

Post the proof if you can -- I would be interested in the assumptions regarding the shape of the area to be mowed.

Some here use a version of the Zamboni pattern.

View attachment 339828

Steve

I didn't do the math but I've done the fields and this way works and saves time.

 

[JoeL4330]

Your friend may be right if your field is round or square ...otherwise. However, if you are cutting with a 3-blade mower (finish mower, say) you may find that when you are starting and trying to cut the small inner circles, you will not have a very good cut: grass blades will slip between the mower blades (sneaky devils)...I'm sure your math friend can explain.

 

[pacerron]

Since I got my flail mower I have been cutting different ways. Cut field in half and do one side at a time, start at outside and work my way inward in a pattern of rows or start at the middle and work outward following the fenceline.

They all seem to take about the same amount of time. Does break up the monotony a bit.

My friend assures me the most efficient way to cut is start in the center and work outward in a spiral. He claims to be able to show me a mathematical proof for this. I was never good at math.

Any thoughts on this? Assuming not going over same area twice what seems to work best for you??

It depends a little on the shape of the field.
I basically make a couple laps around the outside edges to give about 16-20 feet of clear turn room. Then it really doesn't matter much where you start as long as you don't have to reduce speed on the turns. On longer than wide somewhat rectangular fields, if you start in the middle and cut a strip; at the end either go right or left a distance that will allow turning back w/o reducing speed but still be able to see your cut row. Then cut to the other end and turn back toward the center cut in the clear space and go to the far edge of the center cut and go again. That keeps your width for turning the same each time until you finally finish the cut by overlapping the first center cut. Then if there is anything left you have to decide how far to go before going back. Near completion you always have some going over again since you can't turn sharp enough. On triangular fields you have to figure out the best segments to minimize turning and over cutting.
I'm like you in liking to cut in different directions, but there are some fields that just cut better one way do to the roll of the ground.
The biggest waste of time and tractor energy is if you do a stop and back up pattern to have no space between cuts. The second biggest waste is diagonal, in my opinion.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I like doing 5 or 6 passes around the edge of a field for turning room and then going back and forth with the way the crop was planted (can mow faster since its smoother). Then again a center pivot machine makes a big difference! If you only have a side pull machine, the less time you spend tramming at the ends of the field the better. I hate trying to make hard turns on 90 degree corners.

 

[Guesseral]

I always try and make it last as long as I can so I can spend more time on the tractor and not as much working on the honey do list!:cool2: The more time on the tractor the better the day!

 

[cletus99]

Seems like to me that as long as you're cutting grass the whole time and not having to back up or go over already cut aeas then it will take the same amount of time no matter how you cut it. You're cutting the same size field no mater what. If you're going the same speed what difference does it make.

 

[leonz]

Hello Cletus,

The ability to mow in a spiral pattern permits you to totally eliminate
stoping and turning and when you eliminate stopping and turning saves
a huge amount of time and a lot of fuel because the tractor is only
mowing.

The edges left in a field or lawn will take only a few minutes to mow down after the
initial mowing is done in the spiral.


starting at the center pemits you to take much less time as you are mowing a smaller diameter
in the very beginning and then mowing outward and permits you to overlap if desired as you are
unaffected by stopping and turning which takes up a lot of time if you are mowing by the row.


Driving in spiral take less time and covers the same area quickly which is eactly what the coast guard does in a search and rescue operation as it pemits them to cover a huge area while trying to spot a disabled vessel as the only limitation is the magnification/focal length of the spotters binoculars.
I know its a crazy explanation but it works.

GO BULL DOGS

 

[ksbrdmkr]

I use the mower width times MPH divided by 10 as my estimate for mowing time. This is about 81% efficient so if you know the size of field you see how well you keep to speed, overlap and turns. 5280ft/Hr x 10ft/43560ftft x 1 MPH = 1.21 ac / hr This would be for a 10ft mower at 1 MPH