Do you use a consistent mow pattern, or do you rotate your pattern?

Jere39 · May 26, 2012

I've been living at my home for 27 years, and thus, mowing this lawn the same amount of time. in 1996 when I upgraded from a 318 to a 445 I started to notice I was developing a consistent pattern of topsoil compression under my wheel tracks as I was mowing the same pattern every week. So, I developed a three pattern rotation and found I was able to minimize the soil compression, and also develop a nice mowing pattern even without a roller/brush. Essentially I mow back and forth, and rotate my pattern by 60° each week so that I am back to original every fourth week.

My primary lawn is a near rectangle of 3 acres, about twice as long as it is wide. First week I'll mow back and forth the long way:

Next week I rotate my 60°:

Next week I angle my mowing 60° again:

Anyone else alter their mowing pattern? For similar or other reasons? Or is your pattern honed to consistent, hyper efficiency thru years of practice?

esnb74 · May 26, 2012

I mow about 3-4 different way. The edges get mowed the same most of the time, but other than that, I try to vary it up as much as I can. Almost always in straight lines.

BTW.... Nice place!

D-Dogg · May 26, 2012

I have 3 different patterns I use. Seems to work.

Cornhusker · May 26, 2012

depends on how much time I have. Typically I mow two directions. one direction is with the property line and the other is with the line of the house. its angled about 60*. If i have time I will mow it north south but it takes a lot of turning and short rounds. in the smaller areas I either follow the cul de sac or mow it so that I have the longest passes.

If I had more acreage I would be mowing 4 directions for sure...

larrybl · May 26, 2012

Same pattern here, but for varaition I Do the Front and back yards and push mower and weedeater in varing sequiences.

1. Weedeat
2. Push mow
3. Front
4. Back

These are usualy dictated by the time (Heat) of the day on which one is first.

HydroHarold · May 26, 2012

I don't really have enough "uninterrupted grass" to allow many different patterns and the terrain on part of it is difficult. On the hill part I can go the usual up and down but sometimes when the conditions are right (dry and firm ground) I do hang one cheek over and mow sideways.

My usual alternative on the flatter ground is to mow in overlapping circles. It makes an interesting look and the UFOs seem to spend a longer time over the house. Mowing that way though takes a good "inner ear" to keep from falling off the tractor after a while.

Harryc · May 26, 2012

Beautiful property you have there Jere. I don't get a choice of a mowing pattern because I live on a hill. It's up or down or nothing . :thThumbsU

X485SENoob · May 26, 2012

Harryc said:
Beautiful property you have there Jere. I don't get a choice of a mowing pattern because I live on a hill. It's up or down or nothing . :thThumbsU

That new X485 will help with those hills, HarryC.

mbrun · May 26, 2012

Yes I mow in three different patterns, but it takes a very conscious decision to do so. It is amazing how easily it is to fall into the same-old pattern. The shape of the yard just screams to be mowed one way. With the x500 being so much faster and more maneuverable it is not that big of a deal to try patterns that are just not time efficient.

Harryc · May 26, 2012

X485SENoob said:
That new X485 will help with those hills,

What hills?

andyb · May 26, 2012

Harryc said:
What hills?

I have three different directions I mow, but it's not always the same rotation. If the wind is blowing from the discharge side of the mower, I get coated in grass clippings. I'll use one of the other patterns that gets the wind closer to the front and rear of the tractor.

Hawkeye0282 · May 26, 2012

Like most I've got a few patterns, but my soil down here in my yard in Texas is has been soo neglected over the past several years I don't think it matters much. But I'm trying to talk to home owner into letter me spread quite a bit of top soil to help smooth out the yard. And alternating the pattern will become more important to me then I'm sure.

-B.J.

Mike Michaels · May 26, 2012

I try to change it up every week because the soil clearly shows signs of compression. Even my CC that weighed 200 lbs less showed soil compression. But it is hard not to fall into a bad habit and always mow the same pattern.

PA318Guy · May 26, 2012

Well I do at least 3 patterns and every once in a while I throw in the crazy spiral just for fun!

Haulin' Daze · May 26, 2012

I have only had the privilege to mow Haulin' Estates 4 times now (#5 tomorrow! :drunkie

. I'm still learning the best/most efficient/most fun way to go about it. Mrs Haulin" wants me to "go at an angle so it looks like the neighbors". Guess I'll be trying that tomorrow. If I mess it up, it self-corrects itself in a week! :fing32:

pbass78 · May 26, 2012

Jere39 said:
I've been living at my home for 27 years, and thus, mowing this lawn the same amount of time. in 1996 when I upgraded from a 318 to a 445 I started to notice I was developing a consistent pattern of topsoil compression under my wheel tracks as I was mowing the same pattern every week. So, I developed a three pattern rotation and found I was able to minimize the soil compression, and also develop a nice mowing pattern even without a roller/brush. Essentially I mow back and forth, and rotate my pattern by 60° each week so that I am back to original every fourth week.

My primary lawn is a near rectangle of 3 acres, about twice as long as it is wide. First week I'll mow back and forth the long way:

Next week I rotate my 60°:

Next week I angle my mowing 60° again:

Anyone else alter their mowing pattern? For similar or other reasons? Or is your pattern honed to consistent, hyper efficiency thru years of practice?

Man your property is freaking beautiful, one day I'll retire on something like that.

I have very few options on my lot, but try to alternate as much as possible as this sand rich Bermuda compresses bad.

Mike

blackfoot1 · May 26, 2012

My previous mower(JD 737 Z-Trak) weighed 1160 Lbs. It would compress the top soil and leave tracks because of the type soil I brought in(river silt).
With my present mower(JD-445), I now mow parallel to the street, then the next cutting I mow at near a 65° angle to the street. The third mowing, I mow at about a 65° angle to the driveway. This has worked out pretty well so far.

Cat385B · May 26, 2012

North-South, then East-West, SW-NE, NW-SE, and at least one crazy spiral during the year.

Diesel Powered · May 26, 2012

Alternate 4 ways, but not always in perfect order.

2008 Impala · May 26, 2012

I usually keep it the same. My soil is mostly clay so it doesnt compress too much. I do the 1st few passes with the chute facing inward to avoid getting grass on neighbors property.

Do you use a consistent mow pattern, or do you rotate your pattern?

Do you rotate your mowing pattern, or stick with a consistent one

Consistent, efficient, same pattern every time

I rotate thru a couple patterns

My pattern is totally random, I like to free-style

I don't remember from one time to the next

Jere39

esnb74

D-Dogg

Cornhusker

larrybl

HydroHarold

Harryc

X485SENoob

mbrun

Harryc

andyb

Hawkeye0282

Mike Michaels

PA318Guy

Haulin' Daze

pbass78

blackfoot1

Cat385B

Diesel Powered

2008 Impala

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