Lawn MOwers
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@Snowy yep, although I get a work discount through BUnnings so will be interesting to see what (if any) I get off it...the kaikuya here is pretty thick, even the Ride-On struggles in patches, although I do need to replace the mower belt, which will help I expect.
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@taniwharugby said in Lawn MOwers:
@Snowy yep, although I get a work discount through BUnnings so will be interesting to see what (if any) I get off it...the kaikuya here is pretty thick, even the Ride-On struggles in patches, although I do need to replace the mower belt, which will help I expect.
Yeah. I use a 26hp tractor with mowing deck and even that can struggle with kikuyu if it gets long enough. It builds up into a mat which is great to walk on but incredibly hard to cut back once started. I made the mistake of a mulching mower a few years ago and created a bouncy castle effect out of the back yard (so use the catcher on the new machine). Lawn is back under control - although not so much fun.
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@Snowy funnily, although we built a bit over 3 years ago now, the area of lawn that was under the big pile of dirt that they cleared for our site and then used to slope the bit in front, it grows thicker and faster than the rest of the lawn. THe original parts of the paddock is pretty dry and the kaikuya is no where near as thick.
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If you want a really grunty mower the commercial lawn mowing guys tend to use Suzuki two strokes which are no longer available new probably for emissions reasons but are bloody powerful for their size. Have a look on trademe if you're interested, they are normally on rover bases.
I got given one the other night , they have four blades on this one two of them were munted but it lived up to its reputation . -
@taniwharugby said in Lawn MOwers:
@Snowy funnily, although we built a bit over 3 years ago now, the area of lawn that was under the big pile of dirt that they cleared for our site and then used to slope the bit in front, it grows thicker and faster than the rest of the lawn. THe original parts of the paddock is pretty dry and the kaikuya is no where near as thick.
That might be that the soil has effectively been tilled when it was turned over and the more nutritious stuff is on top I reckon. Had the same thing at our place and an infestation of thistle. Had to get all that out and let the grass cover it to stop it happening again.
@Jegga. Yep no substitute for power. Probably should have called you Jezza there...
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@Snowy said in Lawn MOwers:
@taniwharugby said in Lawn MOwers:
@Snowy yep, although I get a work discount through BUnnings so will be interesting to see what (if any) I get off it...the kaikuya here is pretty thick, even the Ride-On struggles in patches, although I do need to replace the mower belt, which will help I expect.
Yeah. I use a 26hp tractor with mowing deck and even that can struggle with kikuyu if it gets long enough. It builds up into a mat which is great to walk on but incredibly hard to cut back once started. I made the mistake of a mulching mower a few years ago and created a bouncy castle effect out of the back yard (so use the catcher on the new machine). Lawn is back under control - although not so much fun.
Kikuyu is shit, hate it, scratchy crawly, fast growing , harsh crap. .. that goes a horrible brown every time you cut it.
I have got rid of mine, killed it with some great spray, then resowed good grass. Still probably spot spray once a month to get rid of the regrowth, but that is becoming less and less.
Plenty of tips and advice for anyone wanting to get rid of Kikuyu and replace with a nice plush slow growing soft lawn.Plus my new mower pretty much just cruises though the new grass, I mow 1/3 as often ( I got slow growing grass) and it takes a third of the time to mow.
P.S Fuck Kikuyu grass.. grass being able to stall a mower is just wrong.
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@Baron-Silas-Greenback yeah I'd struggle to get rid of it, old sheep paddock, neighbours paddock is still a sheep paddock...when we had our annual frost this year, it killed all the kaikuya, alas, it grew back.
Only positive is it does give great green coverage in dry conditions.
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@Baron-Silas-Greenback I hate the stuff as well but we have 12 acres of it (and the neighbours) and 10 acres of native bush that I don't want to poison, so no way I can get rid of it unfortunately.
I would try and change the lawn where we are now but seeing as I am selling and I have enough to do, like wasting time on here, that won't happen either.
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@NTA for the parts that are native bush, probably not allowed to have stock in it.
On some properties in NZ, you might own say 50acres, and maybe 25 might be covenanted bush, so your stock arent allowed in, but you have to maintain fences to keep them out.
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@NTA Nah stock are a pain. We had sheep on the place but not any more. Fences are stuffed and neighbour was building - and now we will be.
I don't want them in the bush either, it's a designated natural area (by my choosing). We have kauri in there that are several hundred years old, etc. So stock are a nuisance, probably won't do it again, just geese, chooks, and will get dog.
Oh and I will kill possums - they really are fuckers in NZ. -
@taniwharugby Beat me to it. All applies to our place.
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So bit late to this but heard a feature on mowers at labour weekend. Consumer chose an electric as best in the field for first time ever
Pro's lightweight and was actually able to cut through longer wet grass than any of the petrol models
Cons - cost
The best lawnmower ever?
A buyer's guide to lawnmowers with George Block of consumer.org.nz. And for the first time in 55 years an electric rechargeable mower tops the list, but it will cost you an arm and a leg!
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So I went with the Ryobi/Subaru 190cc version...gave it the first test run today.
What I didnt realise was it has the mulcher plug too, which is gonna save me plenty of time (with my compost boxes at each end of the section) although it didnt like it much when I went over the thick kaikuya with the mulcher in, otherwise it runs smooth, barely flinched at any of the thick stuff, good on fuel (better than old last 2 stroke) and also is a little quieter too.
All in all, pretty happy...not quite enough to make me look forward to pushing it about as I do the ride on, but still
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@taniwharugby Be wary of using the mulcher on kikuyu. I mentioned it above:
" I made the mistake of a mulching mower a few years ago and created a bouncy castle effect out of the back yard (so use the catcher on the new machine). Lawn is back under control - although not so much fun."
In the end it was uncuttable, just keep feeding itself until it was inches thick.
