Roun & Round or Back & Forth ?

[creeper]

As Im mowing I often have tried different methods ,mowing in a straight line then turning around and mowing the next lane seems to be the fastest way. I have also tried turning a constant circle and it seems like it takes alot longer. Any way just curious how most of you did it or if you ever think about it? My tractor is a gear jammer and it still seems quicker to turn around each time.

 

[Scrounger]

I'm not concerned about time, but I do like the look on the property when I go back and forth. Sometimes I just do big loops, but I prefer the back and forth method. I like to try to stripe the lawn.

 

[JayC]

Well, since I don't got a ZTR it's round and round I go, when I stop nobody knows. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( just curious how most of you did it )</font>

I like to vary the pattern when possible, breaks the monotony and avoids leaving the tracks showing that you have if you mow frequently and the same pattern all the time.

 

[KiotiJohn]

I'm with Bird, and have read also that it's good for the grass to cut it from different angles. I go round and round some, the next time back and forth and the next time on a diagonal. I use this pattern with brush cutting and finish mowing both.
John

 

[Charolais]

I like the way my wife cuts grass. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I haven't cut grass in 15+ years and I'm happy with that too.

Don't know which way she cuts but it always looks nice to me. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I sharpen blades,change oil, put on belts and pour the gas in. When I have it ready for her to use I tell her "let er rip tater chip". /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Here's a discussion from 2003 on the same subject, which makes reference to yet another thread from 2002 on the same subject. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I like Gatorboy's method.

 

[fire72]

Depends on your equipment and your property. Back when I was mowing as a side job and using my commercial walk-behind mowers, it was invariably back and forth. I alternated direction of the stripes 90 degrees each mowing; side to side one week, front to back the next. Some guys also throw diagonals in for a four week rotation. Keeps you from establishing wear patterns and just looks nice.

Now that I've dropped the mowing business, I use a JD garden tractor for mowing my own place. It would take forever to try to stripe everything, because of the big loop or three point turn at the end of each stripe. So now I compromise: the front part of my hill that is right in front of the house and easy to see from the road gets striped, even though it takes extra time. Everything else goes roundy-round, since it's quicker and the lawn there isn't good enough to show off striping anyway.

 

[hwp]

I cross-cut my main lawns - the others usually get the counter clockwise spiral treatment. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[tillboy2001]

I'm a looper myself /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif With my hills, sometimes there's not much choice in how I can mow...so I just do what's easiest - which is usually making circles until I get to the center.