When you are cutting a field/yard...

Richard · May 23, 2011

How do you do it?

I have a field in front of my house, irregular shaped of course. Included in the area I finish mow, there is a row of grapes that I have to go around as well as a row of blueberry bushes AND a pond (usually dry though).

You can't see the pond. It's a depression on the other side of the grapes and the far side of the pond is the green line you see in the distance before the more rough grass.

So on the right of picture, I have a straight line, to the back of me another straight line however it's not a 90 degree turn. To the left of me is a tree line that forces me to curve left/right to dodge branches that are trying to beat me.

Although I cut with different patterns to simply make it different for myself, I DO find myself approaching a curved path ahead of me with the idea of "wasting" a couple cuts on that side to in effect, trim off the curves and to make it a more straight line.

So the upshot of this meandering post is to ask.... do you tend to maximize your cutting action ever moment you are moving and allow yourself to follow a curvy path (sort of like ~~~~~) or will you 'waste' a couple trips around the cut to straighten out the ~~~ curves to more of a straight line?

I guess I"m pretty retentive on trying to straighten out my curves on my straight runs however, I'll make all sort of convoluted turns back by the pond/berries/grapes and not think twice about it.

Richard · May 23, 2011

I might add... I'm not asking for any advice on how to do this... I'm just wondering if there are others who are retentive about trimming off curved portions of a run, even if it means wasting some of that pass going over precut grass.

ok, what this REALLY means is.... it's Monday, I've yet to start things here at work and I'm bored.

dave1949 · May 23, 2011

Richard said:
I might add... I'm not asking for any advice on how to do this... I'm just wondering if there are others who are retentive about trimming off curved portions of a run, even if it means wasting some of that pass going over precut grass.

ok, what this REALLY means is.... it's Monday, I've yet to start things here at work and I'm bored.

You have to be bored enough to calculate any difference in total miles traveled to attain the pinnacle of retentiveness :laughing:

I guess I would cut the curves out first like you do, just seems right.
Dave.

Western · May 23, 2011

I tend to try and "straighten" things out also and will back into corners to soften the curve.

I do think it sometimes looks good when you have some landscaping detail and cut with the same detail/form as the obstacle, kind of a more "flowing" look to it. can we say that on TBN:laughing:

RoyJackson · May 23, 2011

I follow the periphery (what you would call the "curvy part") of the yard or field for two passes. Then I'm beyond the any overhanging branches and I straighten the cut out (partial passes, if necessary).

Carl_NH · May 23, 2011

I with Roy - I cut the borders two passes in opposite directions each week then do a cross hatch pattern in the center. I have a ZTR so it makes end of row turns easy.

I also have irregular shaped areas and no matter what you cant cut a full swath every time. I like to maintain some pattern in the main areas for visual effect.