[Pete1313]

Nice work ward! How deep did you set the blades?

 

[wardconnor]

Verticutting, 5/8" hoc, thinking of adding sand and talking southern. Soon you will install bermuda and move to the warm season forum. :-D

Did it help with the washboarding or too soon to tell?

Ha ha. This is really good. Thanks for the good laugh. Leveling with sand is a past project for me and is likely coming again in another week or so.

As for the wash boarding.. I think its too early to tell but.. I did reel mow after the initial 2 passes of the vertical cutter and cleanup and I did not notice any more of the wash boarding. Late Saturday I decided to go over the area again on a 45 degree angle 2 times. So I think its been cut up pretty bad/good. I still want to go over it some more with the manual thatch rake. I think it is going to fix the problem.

Plan going forward in next week or 2. Please chime if if this is too much or not going to work. Or if you think I am nuts.

Wednesday: Reel mow short as possible. Put down PGR
Thursday: Scarify lawn more with vertical cutter. Clean up tailings with rotary
Friday:Reel mow again short as possible and start spreading sand.
Saturday: Spread 2 dump trucks of sand and level with my drag leveler. Broadcast fert and PRG seed and drag in.

I also want to work on in a core aeration job in the mix as well but might not have time for that.

This is a VERY TALL order for myself. I am a one man deal. It could possibly be a little much.

Nice work ward! How deep did you set the blades?

I would say about 1/2". I wish it would go deeper and the motor could handle that. If I push it too hard the engine bogs down and cuts out.

 

[Roosterchest]

Saturday: Spread 2 dump trucks of sand and level with my drag leveler. Broadcast fert and PRG seed and drag in.

If the turf was too thick and you thinned it out, why overseed? Seems like you'll be back at the same spot again.

 

[wardconnor]

Saturday: Spread 2 dump trucks of sand and level with my drag leveler. Broadcast fert and PRG seed and drag in.

If the turf was too thick and you thinned it out, why overseed? Seems like you'll be back at the same spot again.

A little in the front. Mostly in the rear and side where there is no PRG.

I like the look more of the PRG than the blue. So that is ultimately why.

 

[g-man]

It is a lot of work. Mainly the 2 dump trucks of sand.

 

[wardconnor]

I am happy to report that the thinning out of my turf via the vertical cutting has fixed the washboarding issue. I anticipate that it will thicken up again and I'll need to do it again.

I'm preparing for sand either this weekend or next weekend. I mowed low and put down PGR. Not sure if that was counter productive.

The turf is growing so freaking fast right now. I've put down a lot of fert and humate lately. My PGR from last round had also worn off and it was evident. I mowed yesterday and today it was "long" again. With it being long.... I reel mowed today 15k of my 20k at 5/8". I'm trying to work it all down for the sand.

So many people stop and want to talk about the turf when they see me reel mowing with my TGM1000. The fella today told me that the yard needed to get the Good Housekeeping award or seal of approval or something along those lines. I just had to laugh. It's nice for sure but I still have more to accomplish.

I walked 3.6 (10.9 within last week) miles mowing and applying PGR. I downloaded an app that tracks me walking via the GPS.

I met with and talked to my local 9 hole golf. superintendent. This is by no means a nice course. Its a low budget course but he had some good stuff to say. He told me that the taller I cut (.75) the more and faster the thatch will build up. This is what was happening with me and my washboarding. It became so thick and thatchy. It doesn't however look like dead built up material. More like dense turf. Lately I've been at 5/8".

Here are the pics from today.

 

[wardconnor]

It is a lot of work. Mainly the 2 dump trucks of sand.

Yes... It is. I'm secretly excited.

 

[kolbasz]

what is your average cut time? I only ask because this is probably my biggest limiting factor as to why I cannot cut more. I am at about 1.5 hours for 13k with a 21". I am just curious if this is good or I am doing something very wrong. Just curious.

 

[wardconnor]

what is your average cut time? I only ask because this is probably my biggest limiting factor as to why I cannot cut more. I am at about 1.5 hours for 13k with a 21". I am just curious if this is good or I am doing something very wrong. Just curious.

That is probably about right. I do not know for sure. It takes a long time for sure. I cut my front 7500 multiple times per week. The rest of the grand total 20k I cut less often. The front takes longer than it should because I'm normally double cutting because I like my stripes fat so I cut them double wide. This requires mowing some of the same paths 2 times. That front 7500 probably takes about 45 minutes.

There are days I do all 20k. That normally takes about 2.5 hours possibly a little more. I have 2 mowers. Neither are wider than 22".

Before I started getting really serious and into it I cut around 2 inches with a 21" walk behind mtd push mower. Last year I bought a Honda 21" HRR216. This really cut down mowing time because of the self propel and it mulched so much better.

 

[Ware]

Looks great man. Congrats!

 

[J_nick]

Like SimonR said it's oddly satisfying to see the verticutting lines on close mown turf.

 

[wardconnor]

Picture taken 8/15/17

 

[ericgautier]

:clapping: :thumbup:

 

[RockyMtnLawnNut]

Wow! Looking awesome as usual. Good to know that the verticutting solved your washboarding issue.

 

[A_n_t_h_o_n_y]

Picture taken 8/15/17

Very beautiful

 

[Pete1313]

Picture taken 8/15/17

Very beautiful

Agreed! :thumbsup:

 

[Ridgerunner]

Picture taken 8/15/17

Very beautiful

Agreed! :thumbsup:

:thumbup:

 

[wardconnor]

August 17th 2017

For the record... I love Reel Low Bermuda. My shirt proves it.

 

[social port]

Am I correct to assume that spreading and leveling are nearly your favorite pastimes?
You look like you are in the zone.

Also, got any more of those Bermuda shirts?

 

[wardconnor]

Am I correct to assume that spreading and leveling are nearly your favorite pastimes?
You look like you are in the zone.

Also, got any more of those Bermuda shirts?

Yes... That's a safe assumption. It's just so rewarding and satisfying.

Yes I have 2 green Bermuda shirts

See this link for details.

PM or email me for order.