Go Bottom Go Bottom

mowing around a pond

View my Photos
mautore
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2 NJ
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2010-12-27          175973

Does anyone have suggestions for mowing around a pond with a steep embankment? Prefer a 3pt. implement.

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



mowing around a pond

View my Photos
candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2010-12-27          175974

Moutore,

All of us have had to deal with this at one time or another.

I have a few hints and tips for you, but you'll need to apply these to fit your own situation.

1. Set your rear wheels to the maximum width allowable, so as to provide greater a stance.

2. Reduce your overhead weight to the greatest degree possible. Cab tractors have a higher center of gravity, making them less stable on slopes. Remove your fender mounted toolboxes, etc.

3. Increase your tractor's weight as much as possible below the center of gravity. Adding fluid to the rear tires is one method used. Adding wheel weights is another option. Adding weight to the uphill side of the tractor (away from the pond) is yet another method to prevent tipping......to a certain extent. Using an underslung belly mower is a great way to add weight to the underside of a tractor, lowering the center of gravity.

4. In extreme cases, where the slope is simply too steep to drive along the side of the pond, it will be necessary to drive up and down the bank, rather than make passes around the pond. In this case, it is always better to go downhill, nose first. When heading downhill, nose first, a belly mower is much preferred over a rear mounted mower, as you'll be able to get much closer to the water's edge.

5. Before traveling along a sloped bank, ALWAYS check for washouts, ditches, stumps, logs, animal burrows, or anything that could cause your tractor to tip. It doesn't take much of a bump in the grass to send you into panic mode.

I hope others will ring in with their suggestions.

Joel ....

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



mowing around a pond

View my Photos
greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2010-12-27          175975

Or just buy an offset mower

//greg// ....

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



mowing around a pond

View my Photos
hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2010-12-28          175993

Mowing around a pond can be risky. Gentle slopes are OK, but you need no distractions.
A case in point, a friend put his 400 series Deere in the drink, him along with it. The slope was somewhat safe, he turned to look at something and splash. It was probably three ft. deep where he went in, the guy next door helped the man out of the water but the mower was another matter. His son pulled it out with a 4 wheel dr. pickup, but it was in the water for a half day. He took it to the Deere dealer for a drain out, dry out, and I think some electrical parts. The mower works OK again but he leaves a strip along the pond that is devoted to whatever nature wants to grow there.
Frank. ....

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



mowing around a pond

View my Photos
auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2010-12-28          175994

I've used a Swisher mower (pull-behind, self-contained motor) that has an offset hitch along a fenceline, but it could let you mow an embankment without wetting your tires. Depending on factors like what's in the pond, you could spray at water's edge a herbicide that becomes inert once on the ground. ....

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



mowing around a pond

View my Photos
kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2010-12-29          176016

There are many variables depending on your needs and options. Funny, this is about the reason that got me here years ago.

If you have the gently sloping ponds you see on magazines covers, you have many options at low cost. If you have the type of ponds in my part of the world options are limited and cost of equipment is high.
How are they being cut now? Are they being cut now? If not are there trees to clear or work around?
Are the pond banks gently sloping or drop off rather steep angle?
Is the use of herbicides possible?
Are you able to operate tractor safely around the pond? Such as room and stable solid ground?

We have for about last two years worked with about a 50 year old pond to get it easy to cut around and nearly there. Still will cut it with an offset or some call a side mount (talking new $7,000 to the sky price wise) as we have those and they get equipment and ME away from the water. I only try to cut the very water line once at most twice per year but there were some solid trees there which means cutter must handle the spouts each time. That is very slow and dangerous work. You will have the cutter blades toward you. Got the idea! If your set up is about like mine cost wise hiring it done would have been lowest cost option as many farmers here run by our pond ever year with those cutters.

Give us as much info as you can and you will get better info. If a picture is possible of the pond(s) that would help. You mentioned 3 pth equipment, what size tractor hp and weight wise are you talking about? When you throw a 500 cutter out there a few feet you must have something heavy to hold it.





....

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



mowing around a pond

View my Photos
batman
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 20 Illinois
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2010-12-30          176038

Woods, Bush Hog, and Rhino all build 3 point hitch mounted ditchbank cutters. The Woods is very popular around catfish ponds. It is a big investment and you need a medium weight tractor but these products were made for this job. ....

Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo


  Go Top Go Top

Share This
Share This







Member Login