Mowing your plot?

[bowhunter73]

How do most people mow there plot to 8 inches or higher? Never needed to worry about this before but what would you use to mow? Push mower- to low, Rider-to low, so I am guessing pay a farmer or use a weed whip  Or a pto brush hog

[LandDr]

3pt or pull behind mower...hydraulics get it up to the 8" height.

For a small plot, a person could certainly cut it by hand...sounds like a lot of work though!  Hopefull the deer will graze it down just right so you don't have to mow.

You are right...lawn mowers will scalp it too short and stress the root system.

Land Dr

[boogityn]

One of my plots is Whitetail Clover. I mow it with my riding lawn mower. I don't now what you have in your food plot, but if it's clover, don't be afraid to mow it 5 inches tall, as the summer rolls along the weeds you don't get with spraying, will burn out. the deer like freshgrowth. good luck

[BiggA]

If you have a smaller plot you could pick up a cheap mower at a garage sale or auction and put bigger tires on it hence lifting the deck giving you a taller cut.

[HD]

I just use my haybine and cut it high...then bailer up er for the cattle.

[LandDr]

BiggA...the larger wheels on the mower is a good idea.  That can definately give you the mowing height needed.

Be careful of objects shooting out from under the mower at your leggs since the mower is higher off the ground...shouldn't be much of that with just cutting the tops of the vegetation off, but catching a bigger rock or stick might create a little pain.

Maybe weld two or three of them together to pull behind the ATV.  :)

[Mayfly]

BiggA...the larger wheels on the mower is a good idea.  That can definately give you the mowing height needed.

Be careful of objects shooting out from under the mower at your leggs since the mower is higher off the ground...shouldn't be much of that with just cutting the tops of the vegetation off, but catching a bigger rock or stick might create a little pain.

Maybe weld two or three of them together to pull behind the ATV.  :)

Good point! Man that sounds dangerous as heck!

[BiggA]

Ya you would definately want to put some sort of rubber guard on the back just like your lawnmower has now but taller to match the wheels. A feww self tapping screws would hold it in place.

[deadeye]

This is what we use.  We also use it to make trails and keep them clear.  It has it's own motor and basically works like a pto driven brush mower.

[Big E]

My buddy made a homemade mower by welding two push mower decks together and welding skids on it 8" high. Pulls great behind a 4 wheeler. Before we had this I just weed whipped all of my clover plots and trails. It sounds like more work than it really is. If you have a good weed whipper you can do a lot in a hr.

[LandDr]

We need a picture of that welded mower set up!  Definately need a photo of that.  :)

Pull-behind ATV mower...rule of thumb when buying one...give it a good kick...

1. If it sings back to you like dropped silverwear, don't buy it.

2. If it kicks back and gives your toes some pain, that is the one to buy.

I have had both...mower described in option 1 did not last long.  Mower as described in option 2 is still going strong.

Land Dr

[deadeye]

Good advice on the mower strength test LandDr.  They definatly need to be strong.  Look at the picture and notice the slanted guards in front of the wheels.  Without these this mower would be in pieces back in the woods some place.  Only real issue is backing up in rough terrain.  The back digs in and you are stopped.

[Big E]

I'll get some pics of it this weekend if I head up there. It is pretty cool how he put it together.

[bowhunter73]

Lots of good ideas! At this point I think I will go with the weed whipper or the Deadeye delivery LOL

[huntingfreak_09]

we use a brush hog to mow our plots faster n easyer! imo

[Big E]

We need a picture of that welded mower set up!  Definately need a photo of that.  :)

  Finaly got a chance to get a picture of the mower my cousins friend made. I'll post it on the homemade implements post too.

[dakids]

3pt or pull behind mower...hydraulics get it up to the 8" height.

For a small plot, a person could certainly cut it by hand...sounds like a lot of work though!  Hopefull the deer will graze it down just right so you don't have to mow.

You are right...lawn mowers will scalp it too short and stress the root system.

Land Dr

I think you are wrong about the 8" height.  There isn't a farmer that cuts it that high.  If the alfalfa is left that high the stems will get woody and very thick.  And when winter comes and the plant goes dormant it will start to rot and kill the entire plant.  Might not kill every plant but the lifespan of the plot will be very short.  Most farmers cut it to 2-3 inches for a reason.  To get more tonage for the cows and to promote more new, HIGH quality, high nuitriant plants.  As the plant gets woodier it will loose most of its nutrient value.

 We cut ours as low as we can without hitting the rocks or dirt.