Export thread

Photo of ditch please advise!

#1

Z

zadok

Okay I know this is re-run but we are moving here so i posted the photo of the only slope. Rest is pretty much flat. Only .7 acres so quick job.. aside from a significant amount of weed-whacking..

Ditch "big" slope is 22 deg measured with inclinometer. On road side: 12 deg.

How should I mow this? I'm thinking run a ZTR along the road side, up from the (wet) bottom of the ditch, like one pass @ 48". And then now the 22 deg "big" slope with a small walk-behind, and then the ZTR for the rest of it. I'd keep the ZTR away from the slope like maybe 2 passes of the 22" walk-behind.

Other would be run the ZRT "down" the ditch and up to the road size, running back to the driveway. Worry would be bogging down the ZRT in the ditch. If that were to happen, not good!

Ideas??


ditch-view_sm.jpg


#2

P

platefire

Sounds like a good plan. Main thing is to prevent ruts in center of ditch where it stays wet longer.


#3

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

zadok said:
Okay I know this is re-run but we are moving here so i posted the photo of the only slope. Rest is pretty much flat. Only .7 acres so quick job.. aside from a significant amount of weed-whacking..

Ditch "big" slope is 22 deg measured with inclinometer. On road side: 12 deg.

How should I mow this? I'm thinking run a ZTR along the road side, up from the (wet) bottom of the ditch, like one pass @ 48". And then now the 22 deg "big" slope with a small walk-behind, and then the ZTR for the rest of it. I'd keep the ZTR away from the slope like maybe 2 passes of the 22" walk-behind.

Other would be run the ZRT "down" the ditch and up to the road size, running back to the driveway. Worry would be bogging down the ZRT in the ditch. If that were to happen, not good!

Ideas??


View attachment 70538
Click to expand...
That slight slope is nothing for a zero turn. Run it.


#4

7394

7394

Tiger Small Engine said:
That slight slope is nothing for a zero turn. Run it.
Click to expand...
run a ZTR along the road side


#5

Ozcub

Ozcub

Ok , it looks like a new estate/development , I would fill the ditch with a heavy gravel about a metre/yard wide to stop wash away
Large river pebbles would look nice
That would solve a large part of your problem
Oz


#6

7394

7394

The ditch (swale) would be "Right of Way" for underground water / gas etc & not actually owned by homeowner.
Can't make changes like that without written permission. But homeowner is to care for it.


#7

Ozcub

Ozcub

I would be gaining permission and monetary input because if they do not do something to alleviate a wash out the "right of way" will become a mini Grand Canyon after a decent rain


#8

7394

7394

I'd be shocked if it was permitted to fill the swale with gravel. That would look bad.

Once grass starts growing, it will be fine. Just have to avoid the bottom when wet, or push mow hat part only.


#9

Ozcub

Ozcub

Like I said , large river pebbles would look nice
Lets hope you are right "7394"


#10

7394

7394

Be curious to hear the outcome of this. That swale is not that deep.


#11

D

DHook

Ozcub said:
Like I said , large river pebbles would look nice
Lets hope you are right "7394"
Click to expand...
Which is okay until the mower picks one up and puts it through the windshield of the neighbor's car.


#12

G

Gym123

zadok said:
Okay I know this is re-run but we are moving here so i posted the photo of the only slope. Rest is pretty much flat. Only .7 acres so quick job.. aside from a significant amount of weed-whacking..

Ditch "big" slope is 22 deg measured with inclinometer. On road side: 12 deg.

How should I mow this? I'm thinking run a ZTR along the road side, up from the (wet) bottom of the ditch, like one pass @ 48". And then now the 22 deg "big" slope with a small walk-behind, and then the ZTR for the rest of it. I'd keep the ZTR away from the slope like maybe 2 passes of the 22" walk-behind.

Other would be run the ZRT "down" the ditch and up to the road size, running back to the driveway. Worry would be bogging down the ZRT in the ditch. If that were to happen, not good!

Ideas??


View attachment 70538
Click to expand...

A few things come into play for a situation like this- weight & height of the person and track width of the wheels. If the center of gravity is outside of the wheels, it's easy to tip- I found that my Ariens wants to tip on lightly sloped ground because I'm a Clydesdale but siting lower on a ZT mower, I doubt the 12° side would be a problem but at my weight, the 22° might.

The easy way- add a bracket and mount a counterweight that can be adjusted in/out for the slope, on a pipe that's about 2'-3' long with about 20 lb on it.


#13

D

Davenj4f

zadok said:
Okay I know this is re-run but we are moving here so i posted the photo of the only slope. Rest is pretty much flat. Only .7 acres so quick job.. aside from a significant amount of weed-whacking..

Ditch "big" slope is 22 deg measured with inclinometer. On road side: 12 deg.

How should I mow this? I'm thinking run a ZTR along the road side, up from the (wet) bottom of the ditch, like one pass @ 48". And then now the 22 deg "big" slope with a small walk-behind, and then the ZTR for the rest of it. I'd keep the ZTR away from the slope like maybe 2 passes of the 22" walk-behind.

Other would be run the ZRT "down" the ditch and up to the road size, running back to the driveway. Worry would be bogging down the ZRT in the ditch. If that were to happen, not good!

Ideas??


View attachment 70538
Click to expand...
Easy. I regularly cut ditch banks twice that angle. As long as it is dry, of course. Cut either way, but would look better if cut lengthwise.


#14

Ozcub

Ozcub

DHook said:
Which is okay until the mower picks one up and puts it through the windshield of the neighbor's car.
Click to expand...
LARGE river pebbles as big as a potato , some one needs Specsavers if they run over those


#15

T

TobyU

I would wait till it was dry enough to ride my zero turn or whatever mower I was using up along fairly close to the middle discharging grass one way, basically cutting half of the ditch then I would come back the other way blowing the grass the other way and then I'd probably have to blow a little bit off the street back into the grass.
But if it's dry enough it shouldn't be a problem and I don't care if it is a problem as long as I don't get my mower stuck.
If it creates some kind of rut then I guess they'll just have to come out and fix it because they screwed up with the grading to start with! Lol


#16

D

DinosaurMike

I rolled my Toro 30" rear engine rider one time on the hill alongside my driveway. No injuries or damage. I replaced that with a Troy-Bilt 42: tractor and never had an issue. I never measured the hill so it really does not help the discussion. I had the hill reduced when the landscaping crew was here doing hardscaping. My Husqvarna 42" likes it fine.


#17

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

DinosaurMike said:
I rolled my Toro 30" rear engine rider one time on the hill alongside my driveway. No injuries or damage. I replaced that with a Troy-Bilt 42: tractor and never had an issue. I never measured the hill so it really does not help the discussion. I had the hill reduced when the landscaping crew was here doing hardscaping. My Husqvarna 42" likes it fine.
Click to expand...
Guys that mow commercially for a living use zero turn mowers all the time on hills and slopes successfully. Look around and see the nice patterns they leave.


Footer Links 1

Top