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torxx

Rotary Mower recommendations

torxx
11 years ago

Need to upgrade my rotary mower for the back yard and was hoping for recommendations. I have hybrid bermuda (tif 419) and gave up using my reel mower on the back yard. Icontinue using th ereel (Tru Cut HR 20) on the front. I have a Honda HRR TDA with a GCV 160 (5hp) engine which definitely struggles to keep up with the Bermuda at well over an inch cut setting: 4th setting of 6 settings total. I guess I need more horse power? I have never been able to use the lowest setting due to the deck bottoming out too much. One reason I choose Honda is they will go down to 3/4 inch cut (good for bermuda), however, I haven't been able to keep the setting at th ebpottom two due to the lack of power in my opinion. It bogs down and will stall out frequently if the grass is not cut more than once a week. Once a week on the back yard is my goal, with twice a week cutting on the front yard with the reel mower. Thanks

Comments (3)

  • lbpod
    11 years ago

    WHY,on God's green earth, (and I emphasize 'green'),
    would ANYONE, (besides a golf course), want to cut
    their grass down to 3/4 of an inch???????
    I cut mine down to 2 1/2 once it reaches 3 or 4.
    We have had very little rain, but my lawn is the
    greenest in the neighborhood. And no, I don't
    water my lawn.

  • rager_w
    11 years ago

    WHY, because hybrid bermuda performs best when cut at 1" or less, duh. Bermuda grows horizontally when the right cultural practices are used. Weeds and fungus don't stand a chance at this height. I don't use any more water at 7/8" vs. when I used to cut at 1.5". It is very drought resistant. Have you ever seen hybrid bermuda at 2.5 inches? It gets very thin, stringy and weed ridden.

  • apprenticegardener
    11 years ago

    Before you invest in a more powerful mower, make sure the blades are sharp on the one you have and you are mowing with the catcher rather than mulching.

    Tif 419 is very dense and builds up thatch rather quickly, so sharp blades and picking up clippings is important.

    I suspect, however, that the real problem is that you have too good a grass for your terrain. 419 is meant to be kept low and mowed with a reel. Therefore, leveling and filling over a period of time may be the only real solution.

    Best Wishes--Carl