I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

"Derek" wrote in message ...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

.................................................. .............................................

Derek yes they do collect the clippings, BUT, if you have a large 'lawn'
then you will have a large lot of clippings. Tip them in a pile and they
will rot into a slime. They need to be mixed with more solid stuff, such as
shreddings out of the shredder and paper from the office shredder. My
daughter and son in law had this problem with their large garden which is
mainly lawns with beds and a pond. They get over the problem by mowing
frequently which leaves the grass cuttings in a strip, then going over it
again with the blade set high so as to cause a 'wind' which scatters it as a
mulch.

We don't have that problem with our handkerchief lawn. Rake it up and put it
on the compost heap and stir it in :-)

Mike

---------------------------------------------------------------
www.hmscollingwoodassociation.com
www.rneba.org.uk

In article ,
says...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

Yes to the latter.Then you need to think of what to do with the
cuttings.

I strongly recommend you ask the specialist dealers in your area for
their advice. What machine to choose depends on factors such as the
area and slope of the land, how wet or dry it is during the cutting
season, how often you want to mow, to what standard, and how you (and
your family) will use the mown areas. You might contact the previous
owner about the machine he used, and ask what advantages and
disadvantages it had for your patch.

IME a good dealer will offer to demonstrate the machine he recommends,
on your land (no obligation). Another consideration, is does the
supplier provide servicing, will he collect it for servicing, and/or
supply you with spare parts.

Janet

On 24/10/2013 09:13, 'Mike' wrote:
"Derek" wrote in message
...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

Yes, but you will need to make up some compost heaps in the far side of
the garden to dump the clippings into. 2m cubes from old palettes.

.................................................. ............................................


Derek yes they do collect the clippings, BUT, if you have a large 'lawn'
then you will have a large lot of clippings. Tip them in a pile and they
will rot into a slime. They need to be mixed with more solid stuff, such

That isn't correct if you have enough lawn that you are adding a cubic
metre or more stuff at a time. The grass will ferment rapidly and can
get hot enough to spontaneously combust. I have had mine do it once.

About three days after a cut the peak internal temperature hits about
70C when you do it right. The crucial part is that you must make sure
you don't crush it down. An anaerobic heap will end up as disgusting
slime but a hot aerobic heap will eat sizeable branches of wood. It
smells a bit funny when very hot from volatile short chain fatty acids
(think BO) so you don't want it anywhere near the house.

Adding chunky stuff like hedge clippings makes it burn up a bit faster.
I have never bothered adding newspaper or cardboard. You will find
insane amounts of internet chatter obsessing about N to C ratios by
American armchair gardeners on the web.

You twill have the problem of what to do with your cubic meters of
resulting compost every year. I fling it on the borders and put any big
pieces of undigested branch back at the bottom of the next heap. Corn on
the cob husks resist being in my heap but not much else does.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:02:31 +0100, Derek wrote:

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

If you're serious, look at getting something like this used (and with
more hours, so less expensive):

http://farm.autotrader.co.uk/used-fa...trailers/2006-
iseki-sgx-19-thame-ffpa-8abef27a41a057be0141a670fbdf227f/makemodel/make/
iseki?featuredListing=true


I have one, it is rock solid and cheap to run (can use red), cuts and
collects even tall grass in all weather and has a very big grass box.
The box is important if you collect, because while you're emptying,
you're not cutting...

I had a Countax before, this is worlds better.

-E


--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

Emery Davis wrote in news:bcsajcFlho9U1
@mid.individual.net:

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:02:31 +0100, Derek wrote:

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

If you're serious, look at getting something like this used (and with
more hours, so less expensive):

http://farm.autotrader.co.uk/used-fa...trailers/2006-
iseki-sgx-19-thame-ffpa-8abef27a41a057be0141a670fbdf227f/makemodel/make/
iseki?featuredListing=true


I have one, it is rock solid and cheap to run (can use red), cuts and
collects even tall grass in all weather and has a very big grass box.
The box is important if you collect, because while you're emptying,
you're not cutting...

I had a Countax before, this is worlds better.

-E


I agree.

Have a look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXf0oQ-AYqY

A very nice machine. I have seen one in action, and with many, many more
hours. Serviced of course from new. The landscape sub-contractor to the
firm I used to work for uses one, street legal so can't use red and needs
MOT and tax. Unless ALL the work is done on private property and does not
go onto public roads.

Baz

Emery Davis wrote in news:bcsajcFlho9U1
:

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:02:31 +0100, Derek wrote:

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)


Have a look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXf0oQ-AYqY


I agree that looks like a nice machine but so it should at that price!

I mow about half an acre with a 36 inch cut Mountfield machine I bought
second-hand for £500 when it was two years old from the local garden
machinery dealer. It takes me about an hour to cut all the grass, some areas
of which are a bit fiddly. This machine is now on its third season and has
given no trouble at all. At my last home I used a 42 inch Hayter 18/42 (same
machine as the 42 inch Countax at the time) but that was just too wide for
the fiddly bits here otherwise I would not have changed, as apart from one
replacement belt and a new battery that was also no trouble over 6 or 7
years use. I maintain them myself regularly checking for slack fixings, tyre
pressure, blade sharpness, belt tension and blowing away the debris, plus an
oil change and filter clean etc. every year.

The main difference apart from the width is the way they pick up the
cuttings. The Hayter towed a sweeper, powered from a PTO on the mower. The
Mountfield discharges via a chute direct from the cutting deck with the
blades providing the thrust. I did find the sweeper left a better looking
lawn, but there is not much in it.

Both machines can be set to mulch. When the grass is cut regularly the
cuttings soon disappear, but let it get too long and mulching leaves it
looking a mess after cutting.

I agree that a diesel machine is cheaper to run but it would take me a hell
of a long time to save the difference in the machine cost!

As for composting the cuttings it has never been a problem. Okay I have a
lot of trees around so there is always some leaves mixed in but even at peak
mowing season I have never had the compost heap turn slimy! I do cover it up
though, with an old carpet, perhaps that's the answerer.

Mike

"Janet" wrote in message
t...
In article ,
says...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

Yes to the latter.Then you need to think of what to do with the
cuttings.

The greenkeeper at our local golf course used to dump his considerable
amount of cuttings in a very large heap not too far from the bowling green.
No problem except for the bowlers - they had to endure a horrible niff when
the heap smelled like silage.

Bill

In article ,
says...

"Janet" wrote in message
t...
In article ,
says...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

Yes to the latter.Then you need to think of what to do with the
cuttings.

The greenkeeper at our local golf course used to dump his considerable
amount of cuttings in a very large heap not too far from the bowling green.
No problem except for the bowlers - they had to endure a horrible niff when
the heap smelled like silage.

I use mine as weed-suppressing mulch, and in the compost bins. You can
never have too much of either :-)

Janet

On 24/10/2013 21:12, Bill Grey wrote:
"Janet" wrote in message
t...
In article ,
says...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

Yes to the latter.Then you need to think of what to do with the
cuttings.

The greenkeeper at our local golf course used to dump his considerable
amount of cuttings in a very large heap not too far from the bowling green.
No problem except for the bowlers - they had to endure a horrible niff when
the heap smelled like silage.

Bill

You get used to the smell of fermenting grass silage, but I would not
want it anywhere near the house. Provided you leave the stuff with
plenty of air in it the sheer bulk makes it go very hot inside.

I have seen the same done with the trimmings of pine trees and the
result even in mid winter with frosts was a big steaming hot pile of
composting pine needles emitting a fog that smelt of oil of wintergreen!

AFAICT the only compost heaps that go rancid are the cold ones for small
lawns where one grass bucket per week gets added and compacted.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Hi Mike,

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:30:17 +0100, Muddymike wrote:

Emery Davis wrote in news:bcsajcFlho9U1
:

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:02:31 +0100, Derek wrote:

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)


Have a look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXf0oQ-AYqY


I agree that looks like a nice machine but so it should at that price!


The price is exaggerated. My neighbour just bought one with 500 hours for
about 3500 pounds. That's comparable with new Hondas and Westwoods, but
much more machine for the money.

I mow about half an acre with a 36 inch cut Mountfield machine I bought

I wouldn't buy an Iseki for half an acre either. I may be wrong but I
read "very large meadow" as being larger than that! At your rate, it
would take me around 6+ hours to mow the lawn, and I've got lots of trees
to go around... (Yes, I do often wonder why I did this to myself... )
With the Iseki I'm done in under 3.

The main difference apart from the width is the way they pick up the
cuttings. The Hayter towed a sweeper, powered from a PTO on the mower.
The Mountfield discharges via a chute direct from the cutting deck with
the blades providing the thrust. I did find the sweeper left a better
looking lawn, but there is not much in it.


I like the way the sweeper left the lawn too, (stripes). It looks very
good even without stripes, though.

Both machines can be set to mulch. When the grass is cut regularly the
cuttings soon disappear, but let it get too long and mulching leaves it
looking a mess after cutting.with

If you have a large lawn, mulching simply is not an option. You'd never
get off the mower during high season. And it feels that way already
sometimes.

I agree that a diesel machine is cheaper to run but it would take me a
hell of a long time to save the difference in the machine cost!


A used Iseki (or Kubota) is competitive with many new machines, so
there's no question of amortisation. Anyway, you can't buy time.

As for composting the cuttings it has never been a problem.


No problem composting cuttings here, either.

-E




--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

Hi Mike,

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 15:30:17 +0100, Muddymike wrote:

Emery Davis wrote in news:bcsajcFlho9U1
:

On Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:02:31 +0100, Derek wrote:

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)


Have a look at this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXf0oQ-AYqY


I agree that looks like a nice machine but so it should at that price!


The price is exaggerated. My neighbour just bought one with 500 hours for
about 3500 pounds. That's comparable with new Hondas and Westwoods, but
much more machine for the money.

I mow about half an acre with a 36 inch cut Mountfield machine I bought

I wouldn't buy an Iseki for half an acre either. I may be wrong but I
read "very large meadow" as being larger than that! At your rate, it
would take me around 6+ hours to mow the lawn, and I've got lots of trees
to go around... (Yes, I do often wonder why I did this to myself... )
With the Iseki I'm done in under 3.


One mans "large" is another mans "normal" depending on where you live.
My first "ride on mower" consisted of three ex RAF gang mowers from a gang
of six, towed behind an old Bamford dumper. Turning circle was a bit of an
issue, otherwise it worked well.

Mike

On Fri, 25 Oct 2013 10:22:27 +0100, Muddymike wrote:

One mans "large" is another mans "normal" depending on where you live.

Truer words, etc.

My first "ride on mower" consisted of three ex RAF gang mowers from a
gang of six, towed behind an old Bamford dumper. Turning circle was a
bit of an issue, otherwise it worked well.

Working well is the main goal. A gang mower wouldn't work for me, but
it might be an option for the OP.

In the 25 years of doing the lawns here I've been through some changes of
thinking. In the beginning I mulched with a large rotary mulcher pulled
behind a tractor. Looked like hell but was fast, as there were virtually
no plantings at that point. Then I used inexpensive jardipro-type
machines on the theory (wrong) that they were cheap to fix or replace.
Moved through various machines and finally got the Countax with sweeper,
which worked well but was very slow (small capacity box) and also not at
all robust. Based on my 1 year of experience, the sxg19 is by far the
best solution I've come up with.

-E

--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

"Martin Brown" wrote in message
news
On 24/10/2013 21:12, Bill Grey wrote:
"Janet" wrote in message
t...
In article ,
says...

I have now got my very large garden, its mainly down to grass, not a
lawn, more of managed meadow, previous owner had a 'ride on'
Recommendations please, (and do any of them collect the grass
clippings?)

Yes to the latter.Then you need to think of what to do with the
cuttings.

The greenkeeper at our local golf course used to dump his considerable
amount of cuttings in a very large heap not too far from the bowling
green.
No problem except for the bowlers - they had to endure a horrible niff
when
the heap smelled like silage.

Bill

You get used to the smell of fermenting grass silage, but I would not want
it anywhere near the house.

I wouldn't want to get used to the smell in all honesty :-)

I used to feel sorry for the visiting bowls teams who encountered the pong
for the first time.

Bill

"Martin" wrote in message
.. .

I used to sail near a farm that leaked silage liquid into the lake.
Water plants grew to enormous lengths. I got fed up getting them
wrapped around the prop and moved to another harbour
--

Martin in Zuid Holland

Ah ! A prop sailer - far removed from a proper sailor - lol
You deserved all the plants you caught !!!

Pete