Need A Larger Mower

Hi all,

I started a gardening business last year and this year have started advertising for more work. All is going well and slowly but surely the work is coming in. I live in rural North Lincolnshire and have been surprised by the size of many of the jobs I am quoting for.

I have been asked to quote for a large lawn cut and I have not a clue just how I would do it. I want the work, and if I go at it with my Hayter 48 I'll be there all week. Front and rear lawns need stripes so the Hayter will do nicely there, the rest is a bit more rough and amounts to 150ft by 100ft or there about. The client says previous gardeners spend 6 to 7 hours with a rotary mower every 2 or 3 weeks through the growing season.

Surely there is a better way of doing it - I've looked at cheap ride ons - read that as used and needing a bit of tlc. Am I right in thinking I am better off investing in a larger mower rather than plodding away each time with a smaller one? I have £500 to £600 at most to play with. Oh, the rough area does not need grass collection which is a bonus.

I've added a couple of pics of the rough area, gives an idea of the size.

Replies

Mitchel ingham March 22, 2016 at 7:10pm

No way did they do that with rotarys haha even a small ride on will be slow haha.

Maybe worth looking for a decent side discharge ride on
- Scott H > Mitchel ingham March 22, 2016 at 7:37pm
  
  Yeah, client says gardener took 6 hours a time to cut it - that's every two or three weeks, it's not for me!
Mitchel ingham March 22, 2016 at 7:14pm

Search for a member called Adam pilgrim he's in Lincoln does lots of lawns like this anp his company see what kit he runs
- Scott H > Mitchel ingham March 22, 2016 at 7:38pm
  
  Found him - his website suggests he has many lumps of machinery capable of doing the job, nice website too.
PRO

Geoffrey King March 22, 2016 at 7:24pm

I have 100'x100' bit of field to cut, it takes about 1-1 1/2 hours, with me walking medium speed, I have a mountfield with Honda engine 21" with mulching side discharge. Spiralling ever inward, no stopping,This is a Mountfield SP535HW got from Scrutons @ Foxholes nr Driffield and about your price range.

I've got about 3/4 acres overall, of in places quite undulating ground, it handles this with ease.
PRO

Seth Burgess March 22, 2016 at 7:29pm

To be honest this jobs looks like a miss. If you're just not setup for this sort of work investing for just one job (and you dont exactly have a decent budget to begin with to get a 42in SD mower that you can rely on). Looks the sort of size for a compact tractor/ front deck mower (i.e. 20hp+). Cutting it with a 48 is going to be slow, monotomous and hard on the machine.

I appreciate that it seems strange to pass up on a large job but if you're not setup for it stretching your budget for just one job isn't a long term strategy in my opinion.
- Scott H > Seth Burgess March 22, 2016 at 7:41pm
  
  I'm thinking there will be more work out there with larger grassy areas - we are really rural and I am wondering if I go forward with some kind of ride on I can advertise it as a service, plus the job will pay for it in 3 months or so.
  
  Yes, of course the other thought is what it would do to my Hayter.......
  - PRO
    
    Richard Gadsby > Scott H March 22, 2016 at 8:10pm
    
    Save a bit extra and look for a hayter condor Harry the cat normally has some. One of those would munch through it quickly.
    Don't get a "cheap" ride on. Read cheap as cr** for that kind of mower:-)
    I'm in Lincoln and do lots of commercial grass cutting like Adam does just in a slightly different way machine wise!
    Ask any questions you have someone will help!
PRO

Richard Gadsby March 22, 2016 at 8:13pm

Also if they are willing to pay the right price you can take the job earn a bit upgrade mower to go faster....... Then repeat well that's what I did:)
- Billybop > Richard Gadsby March 22, 2016 at 8:29pm
  
  definitely a ride on mower job...even a cheap one would be better than spending hours trudging along behind a pedestrian mower