The great thing about a hot, dry climate is the long, lush, green grass

[Grass Destruction]

Here in Southeastern Michigan, we've recently endured what most of the country has been enduring - blazing hot days with little rainfall. At a time like this, I sure am appreciative of the client who has its irrigation system in action.

However, some of my clients are killing my profit with excessive waterings and feedings. Granted, my 13 hp Metro isn't the highest-powered machine on the market, but it's only spinning two 18-inch blades, yet is still leaving clumps of moist grass which is often five inches in length before being introduced to the eXmark MicroMulch system. I've gotten to the point with a few clients where I'm just leaving the clumps lay, as opposed to double-cutting or using the blower to make them disappear. I figure, if I'm already having to run my mower in a lower gear and overlap considerably, how can I afford to run around and blow clumps of grass for an extra 10-15 minutes?

I know some of you will suggest to remove the mulch kit and let the clippings fly, but in my opinion the time saved there will be lost in blowing clippings from hard surfaces, as well as resorting to the practice of always cutting in the same direction to avoid launching all those lush clippings into the garden beds. I just don't believe removing the mulch kit to be the answer. And I'm not running my blades too low either. That's not the problem. The problem, as I see it, is over-zealous clients - God bless them - who feed their lawns five times per year and water seven times per week. Having already spoken with many of them on this subject, what am I left to do other than to just leave the clumps and hope they'll get the point?

[RRS]

It's all about the water. Take control of the irrigation with your full service contract.

[wingless]

Mine just gets cut more frequently, when required.

[Woody]

We're talking about a business here Brainless, not cutting your own crappy lawn with 40+ year old broken down junk that you picked up off the curb.

Grass Destruction: You need to lose the mulch system and side discharge instead. It is much faster to side discharge and double cut it than to try and crawl along, with wide overlaps, and still have it look like crap.

You are in this to make money. If you are creeping along, you aren't making squat. Side discharge, blast it out, and double cut.

[njnewbie]

To even consider double-cutting any lawn is a joke, unless it's a postage stamp sized lot. There's always an alternative method that won't have you cheating yourself from profits each and every time you cut a lawn. In my opinion there's only one practical thing you can do if this is a problem on more than a couple lawns (and if the lawns are big enough, one problem lawn could kill you):

Get a more powerful 17hp or 19hp engine. 13hp is too weak. I would scrap the engine (or possibly use it to construct a backup w/b later) and drop the money on a new 17hp engine (probably $800-1000; check out smallenginewarehouse.com). It's pointless to get a 15hp (usually standard hp on Exmark 36" mowers) for two reasons. A) You have a Metro, and I'm not sure how long you've been in business, but if you're worried about efficiency you should eventually upgrade to a hydrostatic walk-behind (Turf Tracer/Viking) rather than a gear-drive one (Metro). If you buy a Tracer, it will come with a 15hp engine. Swap the 17hp you'll have on the Metro with the standard 15hp on the Tracer. Put the 13 on a shelf or a 32" mower, or toss it in the dumpster. B) I haven't gotten the Micro Mulch installed yet on my Tracer, but from my experience with side-discharge at 15hp I wouldn't be completely comfortable mulching very lush lawns. I would upgrade to either 17hp or 19hp engine for problem-free mulching. And if you're comfortable with it, run two blades on each spindle; this should improve mulching performance although I've never tried it (and most dealers will be strongly against it... although they're also all strongly against guardless trimmers even though it's way better...I never understand their attitude that it will "wear out the clutch" and to never do it no matter what...I would just say "I wouldn't" and then laugh when they come back to me for a new clutch down the road). Another option I'd consider is bagging, but ONLY if you're already charging above the going rate and if the clippings from your lawns never fill more than one bag. Otherwise it's a waste of time.

[Brendan Smith]

Grass Destruction: You need to lose the mulch system and side discharge instead. It is much faster to side discharge and double cut it than to try and crawl along, with wide overlaps, and still have it look like crap.

You are in this to make money. If you are creeping along, you aren't making squat. Side discharge, blast it out, and double cut.

i agree totally. actually, i offer three choices to my clients. they can have me
a) side discharge
b) side discharge
-or-
c) side discharge.

don't get me started on bagging either. it is pure EVIL

[RRS]

I didn't read the whole post before throwing my picture out there.

Like the others have said, stop trying to mulch with 13HP. That's your problem.

[Woody]

Not to start a debate with Njnewbie (heaven forbid), but...

Double cutting will maintain the ability to make a profit when lawns are extra lush and thick. To mulch more than 1 inch or so is futile. No matter the horsepower of the mower, the underside of the deck will soon look like grass that has been put through a blender. To avoid making "grass soup" one only needs to side discharge and double cut.

The first cut is made at the desired grass height. The 1/3 rule should be followed here, but at times this is not possible. The second cutting is made with the deck raised 1/2 inch to 1 inch above the original cut height, and is made across the original cut direction (cross cutting). Double cutting in this manner will take an additional 50% or so in time because you can make the second cut at full speed. This will allow you to still provide a quality service while maintaining some profitability. Attempting to mulch in these conditions will EASILY double or triple your cutting times (200% to 300%) or worse!

Adding a more powerful engine works well for handling dry leaves in the fall, but is an exercise in stupidity for trying to mulch thick and lush growth, especially when trying to cut off more than the recommended length at a time. The blades and the deck itself have a LIMITED capacity, and adding a larger engine DOES NOT address this issue. Side discharging and double cutting does.

Side discharge and double cut as needed. Myself, I NEVER mulch. It adds too much time.

[highlander316]

discharge and get an OCDC.

[Grass Destruction]

Thanks for all the feedback

Woody, you're probably right about losing the mulch kit - at least in regard to production. Of course I've had a good percentage of my clientele marvel at the clean yard I've been leaving, as opposed to last year when I merely let the clippings fly. What's troubling is that I've been using the mulch kit all season and have only begun to experience problems with leaving behind clumps of grass during this recent hot and dry spell. I could understand if it were raining every other day. One thing though: Regarding your suggested method of double cutting at two different heights, remember that I'm running a fixed deck belt-drive and that doing so would require removing the blades altogether. Regardless, thanks for sharing your thoughts - I will take them into consideration.

RRS, thanks for the input, but I'm running solo this year and have my hands full with weekly mowings and other maintenance. As much as I'd like to gain control of everybody's irrigation system, it would be at this time more trouble than it's worth. Wouldn't it be great, though, if we had the ability to control each of our clients' irrigation with the touch of a button, except that button was in our own garage instead of theirs?

Newbie, the plan is to upgrade next season to a 52-inch turf tracer. Hopefully one of the 23hp engines, but I'd be pretty jazzed about upgrading to the 20hp engine, too. Some people have questioned why I'm not giving more consideration to buying a ZTR. But my physical condition is the best it's been in 10 years, and I attribute that to walking 8-to-10 hours per day. I lost 40 pounds my first year in business. I don't ever want to weigh 230again. And going to the gym sucks! Once I get a hydro, I figure I can take on bigger jobs with use of a sulky.