How much yard? Check how much play the pulleys have any play and youll want to consider replacing asap because the spindle bearing assembly can add up in price and then you start to run into thin or straight broken sections of deck so pay close attention to deck is my best suggestion. I got a sweet deal on my Toro zero turn but I had to rebuild the deck with added armor in places because of stress cracks/breaks and some bad bearings still worth it.just want you to be aware.
@Jrflickster said:
How much yard? Check how much play the pulleys have any play and youll want to consider replacing asap because the spindle bearing assembly can add up in price and then you start to run into thin or straight broken sections of deck so pay close attention to deck is my best suggestion. I got a sweet deal on my Toro zero turn but I had to rebuild the deck with added armor in places because of stress cracks/breaks and some bad bearings still worth it.just want you to be aware.
2 acres total, probably 1.5 acres worth of grass. Also, I've got no idea what any of that means . note to self, when raising kids, teach them about stuff like this. I'm assuming you're talking about this part? And making sure it's not going to snap off or something?
Agree with @genareddog I had a 1970s Estate tractor mower and I even gave up fixing it because of the upkeep cost and frustration and I'm telling you at 1.5-2 acres get a zero turn like I got mine is 51" and it takes Lindsay 30min to mow the backyard side front and both sides of our dead-end road in front of the house. Yes I said Lindsay... after she figured out how to use it I really don't use it at all anymore it's another one of her toys....
@Jrflickster said:
How much yard? Check how much play the pulleys have any play and youll want to consider replacing asap because the spindle bearing assembly can add up in price and then you start to run into thin or straight broken sections of deck so pay close attention to deck is my best suggestion. I got a sweet deal on my Toro zero turn but I had to rebuild the deck with added armor in places because of stress cracks/breaks and some bad bearings still worth it.just want you to be aware.
2 acres total, probably 1.5 acres worth of grass. Also, I've got no idea what any of that means . note to self, when raising kids, teach them about stuff like this. I'm assuming you're talking about this part? And making sure it's not going to snap off or something?
@silvermouse said:
totally unrelated to the tractor 🚜 but did you decide to plant trees
Yeah I decided not to. I have fixed wireless internet, and I'm right at the edge of the range for what the tower can reach. Trees where I wanted to plant them could block the tower which means satellite internet would be my only option out here, and satellite internet is not great.
A couple things to think about, @CalvinAndHobo . It sounds like you're not mechanically inclined / experienced. Nobody sells a mower that still has viable years left on it. If you are experienced and accustomed to maintenance and repair, you might get a couple years from it.
I mow a LOT. At least 5 acres. I have a John Deere tractor, 48" cut, and a Hustler Raptor 52" zero-turn. (I also have a 40hp Kubota tractor with a 6' Woods bush-hog, but that's another story. 25 acres with about 1/2 covered in trees.) When I took my old JD tractor mower to try and trade it, the folks at John Deere said "Wow, haven't seen one of those in years", because I'd re-welded and reinforced the deck in several places, changed spindles a time or two, and resharpen my own blades, keeping 2 sets of fresh blades to change out when needed.
The zero-turn gets most of the work, because you can cover the same ground effectively in about 60% of the time it takes with the tractor style mower. In fact, the only reason I don't have 2 zero-turns is because my wife couldn't get the hang of them and wanted another tractor. Now, it mostly just gets used when I'm working on the zero-turn, gives me the time to do what I need without rushing.
So, if what you want is to just be able to get on and mow, get finished quickly, and not spend a lot of time laying on the garage floor busting your knuckles, get a new zero-turn.
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Opened up our last two covered raised beds. Got a couple of good messes of collards, kale, and cilantro. Our seeds for this spring have been shipped. Looking forward to "green up".
Edward, I planted it every couple of weeks. Just a few seeds randomly in bare spots around other plants. In hot weather it bolts, in cool weather it lasts.
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Started chard, radicchio, escarole, buttercrunch lettuce, and red fire lettuce in flats and tarragon, parsley and lemon grass in peat pots. Going to snow this weekend.
Planted Sugar Snaps, Japanese Turnips, Watermelon and French Breakfast Radishes, and Mustard Greens. Limed and turned compost and manure over in six raised beds. Nice to be digging in the dirt.
Direct seeded pink onions, said to be a good keeping variety. Alas, ordered from Gurneys and they arrived later than I expected. At least they arrived, unlike the spinach seeds that were supposed to be in the shipment.
Comments
How much yard? Check how much play the pulleys have any play and youll want to consider replacing asap because the spindle bearing assembly can add up in price and then you start to run into thin or straight broken sections of deck so pay close attention to deck is my best suggestion. I got a sweet deal on my Toro zero turn but I had to rebuild the deck with added armor in places because of stress cracks/breaks and some bad bearings still worth it.just want you to be aware.
2 acres total, probably 1.5 acres worth of grass. Also, I've got no idea what any of that means
. note to self, when raising kids, teach them about stuff like this. I'm assuming you're talking about this part? And making sure it's not going to snap off or something?
totally unrelated to the tractor 🚜 but did you decide to plant trees
I would get something new if you’re not familiar with mechanics. Something like this could and probably will nickel and dime you to death.
Surprised @Stubble didn't suggest goats. See if he'll send you a male and female. Problem solved.
Agree with @genareddog I had a 1970s Estate tractor mower and I even gave up fixing it because of the upkeep cost and frustration and I'm telling you at 1.5-2 acres get a zero turn like I got mine is 51" and it takes Lindsay 30min to mow the backyard side front and both sides of our dead-end road in front of the house. Yes I said Lindsay... after she figured out how to use it I really don't use it at all anymore it's another one of her toys....
And yes that's exactly what I'm talking about
Yeah I decided not to. I have fixed wireless internet, and I'm right at the edge of the range for what the tower can reach. Trees where I wanted to plant them could block the tower which means satellite internet would be my only option out here, and satellite internet is not great.
A couple things to think about, @CalvinAndHobo . It sounds like you're not mechanically inclined / experienced. Nobody sells a mower that still has viable years left on it. If you are experienced and accustomed to maintenance and repair, you might get a couple years from it.
I mow a LOT. At least 5 acres. I have a John Deere tractor, 48" cut, and a Hustler Raptor 52" zero-turn. (I also have a 40hp Kubota tractor with a 6' Woods bush-hog, but that's another story. 25 acres with about 1/2 covered in trees.) When I took my old JD tractor mower to try and trade it, the folks at John Deere said "Wow, haven't seen one of those in years", because I'd re-welded and reinforced the deck in several places, changed spindles a time or two, and resharpen my own blades, keeping 2 sets of fresh blades to change out when needed.
The zero-turn gets most of the work, because you can cover the same ground effectively in about 60% of the time it takes with the tractor style mower. In fact, the only reason I don't have 2 zero-turns is because my wife couldn't get the hang of them and wanted another tractor. Now, it mostly just gets used when I'm working on the zero-turn, gives me the time to do what I need without rushing.
So, if what you want is to just be able to get on and mow, get finished quickly, and not spend a lot of time laying on the garage floor busting your knuckles, get a new zero-turn.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
^agree my zero turn was a life changer. Can't believe how many years I spent struggling with the tractor.
Opened up our last two covered raised beds. Got a couple of good messes of collards, kale, and cilantro. Our seeds for this spring have been shipped. Looking forward to "green up".
I'll have to try overwintering cilantro, didn't know it was that hardy.
Yep cilantro is some tough stuff. We had it survive 20 degrees uncovered.
Thanks, Rodger, I will try some this coming fall. Did you plant it in late summer or early fall?
Edward, I planted it every couple of weeks. Just a few seeds randomly in bare spots around other plants. In hot weather it bolts, in cool weather it lasts.
spotted last evening what is living under the pottery shed, next to the garden and compost heap (not my pic)
Wow!
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
I’m sure you won’t have a rabbit problem in the garden lol.
Winter Hazel is blooming and Red Winged Blackbirds are singing. It is 53° out, time to plant the Sugar Snap peas.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
--Audrey Hepburn
got a camera?
https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/
Looks great Chris
what a nice back yard, good work.
Started chard, radicchio, escarole, buttercrunch lettuce, and red fire lettuce in flats and tarragon, parsley and lemon grass in peat pots. Going to snow this weekend.
My kind of yard, no grass.
Don't let the wife know what you spend on guns, ammo or cigars.
Planted Sugar Snaps, Japanese Turnips, Watermelon and French Breakfast Radishes, and Mustard Greens. Limed and turned compost and manure over in six raised beds. Nice to be digging in the dirt.
Gnomification complete.
Direct seeded pink onions, said to be a good keeping variety. Alas, ordered from Gurneys and they arrived later than I expected. At least they arrived, unlike the spinach seeds that were supposed to be in the shipment.