What If We Stop Mowing For 8 Weeks? - Ventrac Flail
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2024
- Comparing Results of Mowing Intervals - Ventrac Flail
The final part of our Flail Mowing experiment is complete, and the results might surprise you. We’re here at our corporate headquarters in Orrville, Ohio, to follow up on the four different mowing test plots we staked out eight weeks ago. The 4 test plots were maintained as follows: Plot one was mowed weekly, plot two was mowed every other week, plot three was mowed every four weeks, and the final plot was mowed on day one and today.
Chosen height of cut was 3.5 inches on the test plots and 2.5 inches on the perimeter paths. What we are observing today is what those areas look like before and after we mow them.
When running a flail over infrequently maintained areas, this is what you can expect as results. Aaron discusses and observes each plot before and after the final mow, evaluating weed concentration, grass color, height, and density.
Observed after mowing the once every 8 weeks plot - material buildup is more significant but finely chopped and evenly dispersed across the surface. And while the mowed once weekly plot has striking green stripes, it doesn’t have a perfect finish cut.
Aaron explains that the flail needs the grass to be a little longer than you might expect to work optimally. Therefore, he recommends for the most aesthetically pleasing weekly mowing, stick to your finish deck.
But if you’re looking for something to balance the workload with a rough cut finish, try mowing bi-weekly with a flail for a striking stripe and great results with half the workload.
Aaron’s final thoughts on the experiment are that managing rough cut areas like this is about balancing aesthetic vs. workload. Aaron asks whether you’re looking for 100% aesthetic appeal or time-saving. Or a good balance between the two?
A reminder that results are variable depending on soil conditions, rainfall, and temperature in your area.
Products featured in this video:
VENTRAC 4520: www.ventrac.com/products/trac...
MWMY FLAIL MOWER: www.ventrac.com/products/atta...
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00:00 Recap of Project/Property
01:53 Plot Before Final Mow
06:24 Mowing For The Final Time
07:40 Final Mow Results
10:15 How Often to Use Flail For Great Results
14:16 Mowing After 6 Weeks
16:12 What Other Tests Should We Do?
16:45 Other Types Of Mowers We Offer - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
A lot of folks mow their grass at 1 or 2". I mow mine at 4+". I have less burnout and few weeds. But getting folks to change is difficult because their mental image is a golf course (who make stunning investments in water and soil conditioners).
That's a really great point!
This is the reason I got a flail mower. I sometimes neglect the yard pretty badly and it is nice to know that once I get out there to mow it that the mower will have zero problems with long grass and weeds. If I manage to keep up on mowing the grass once a week not too many people would be able to tell what kind of mower was used.
That's what we love to hear!
The flail cut comparison helped me understand how and when to use the flail cut vs the finish cutting deck. This way I’ll be able help my customers decide how often to have their lawns cut throughout the year.
Thanks.
Happy to hear that it's helped you!
I'd love to see the flail mower vs the tough cut on the uncut area.
I will pass that along as a video idea!
I didn’t really know why you would use a flail mower over a conventional mower until now. This video was the first time it was ever explained. Thanks for the demo.
Thanks for watching!
Great test!
This test will help us make decisions regarding frequency of mowing our wildlife and pollinator habitats. Thank you for posting this!
You're welcome!
Can you test how the frequency effects soil quality and health? Would be interesting to see where the happy balance of regenerative mowing can help improve soil and mimic natural grazing of grasslands.
That's a great suggestion!
I've been anticipating this video. Thanks for having us along for this test. I'm still on the fence about adopting the Ventrac solution over a conventional tractor. No one offers demos in my area (western North Carolina). If you want to come hang out and use a tough cut mower and a finish cut mower on my steep/wet property and make a cool video I would be down with that.
slope solutions in Asheville, what part of WNC are you in
Good choice!
Hugely helpful as I get into bigger family property mgt next year
Great to hear!
Set up a flail mower with a mix of the Y blades and the other style blades
then see how it compares.
I think it should be a good mix.
Happy mowing
The reason we can't mix blades is because it throws off the weight of the rotating drum the blades are attached too. When this happens, it will shake the machine abruptly potentially causing damage because the drum rotates so fast.
It's worth noting, they used the Finecut (spade blade) Flail. You will have noticeably slower growth recovery with the Fastcut ('Y' blade) Flail. Something about the way the 'Y' blades cut the grass, stunts the recovery. I literally mow 1/2 as often with a 'Y' blade flail mower... and some places, 1/3rd as often.
I have 155 acers of woods and meadows. I use the Ventrac tough on ll of it. I do regentative faming for the wildlife. So I only mow different area at a time. By mowing with the rough-cut it keeps the tall grasses enough time to back quickly. I have honey bees and turkey as well and they both like buckwheat, The way that the rough-cut gust cuts and drops the grass is perfect.
Nice
I use a Ventrac everyday at a golf course in Nova Scotia. Lots of hills so we got a modified Ventrac, diesel motor block converted to gas. Anyway the diesel I was using before burns 4.5 litres per hour. The modified gas/diesel burns 6.5 litres per hour.
Thank you for sharing! So glad it works for you!
How do the mid weights help with the flail mower?
It's not so much an affect on the attachment itself as it is the tractor. Mid weights improve traction.
I would like to see you run over the uncut grass all year multiple times and see how much smaller the cut-off pieces become with each pass. And compare that with your finish mower that has the mulching kit installed.
That is a great suggestion!
Do a test comparing all your mowers in tall weedy conditions I was really surprised what that flail did on tractor time with Tim
Great suggestion!
Test recommendation: Same type of test except rear discharge deck vs side discharge deck.
I'll pass that onto Aaron and the Marketing Team!
Yes! We need a rear vs side discharge video!
He likes that word plot like he’s gonna turn that into a cemetery
a small piece of ground marked out for a purpose such as gardening.
How about using a reel mower on it ??
Good suggestion!
Dumb question for anyone at Ventrac, are y’all making an even bigger finish deck?
At this time, the Wide Area Mower is our biggest deck. Should that change, we will post it on here and our website!
Well Aaron if anybody was offended by this they just need to go hide in their closet because the rest of their day is just going to be too much for them I would have liked to seeing you go across all of it with a finish blade and possibly even the vacuum catcher just to see what the overall remaining Turf look like I've had clients in the past that once it done once a month and then they'll say they're having a party and they need it done the day before and then they cannot understand why it does not look as good
All these grassy areas could benefit from chickens, lambs, or cattle. How about starting a share program with local 4H Clubs or the Agriculture Extension? Such a waste to wear out equipment and scrap the grasses.
How much does the Flail mower weigh?
62" is 660 pounds and the 72" is 735lbs