Mowing ..

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by Tonz

Passed a guy today who Id guess was professional yard lawn man by the equipment he had. pruning a hedge big thing over 2m tall.... few hours later all the clippings/prunings are over the footpath and he is smashing them with a mulcher(?) mower. I went around the block to watch again. Very impressed. He started with lots of prunings and finished up with bales of mulch.
Is this the norm these days?

I have a 4 cubic metre tipping trailer, the council transfer station charges $83.20 per metre to tip green waste. I tip about once a fortnight. I get in the trailer a couple of times a week with the chain saw and chop everything small. The load comes out as one solid mass of green waste. So the more I pack in the trailer the cheaper it is. If the council start charging by weight I'm stuffed!

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

I have a 4 cubic metre tipping trailer, the council transfer station charges $83.20 per metre to tip green waste. I tip about once a fortnight. I get in the trailer a couple of times a week with the chain saw and chop everything small. The load comes out as one solid mass of green waste. So the more I pack in the trailer the cheaper it is. If the council start charging by weight I'm stuffed!

Ive only been charged by weight at the tip. Square meterage would make a lot of savings for say a tonne of bricks over a tonne of feathers, feathers take up more space as they are not as dense.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

Passed a guy today who Id guess was professional yard lawn man by the equipment he had. pruning a hedge big thing over 2m tall.... few hours later all the clippings/prunings are over the footpath and he is smashing them with a mulcher(?) mower. I went around the block to watch again. Very impressed. He started with lots of prunings and finished up with bales of mulch.
Is this the norm these days?

The above has a couple of advantages.

One, it reduces the physical size of the clippings, helping them fit into a bag or bin easier.

Secondly, if you compost your clippings, having them shredded up helps it break down much quicker.

Thirdly, it can speed up the job. You have to pick your mark though, its not always practical.

I occasionally use the method to shred up weeds and light branches after a clean up.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Tonz

Passed a guy today who Id guess was professional yard lawn man by the equipment he had. pruning a hedge big thing over 2m tall.... few hours later all the clippings/prunings are over the footpath and he is smashing them with a mulcher(?) mower. I went around the block to watch again. Very impressed. He started with lots of prunings and finished up with bales of mulch.
Is this the norm these days?

Yes, in fact I blow all clippings off hard surfaces onto the lawn and pick them up with the mower. I rarely rake and pick up by hand. Even better when you have a catching ride on ;) Smarter not harder.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Yes, in fact I blow all clippings off hard surfaces onto the lawn and pick them up with the mower. I rarely rake and pick up by hand. Even better when you have a catching ride on ;) Smarter not harder.

Same, especially useful on shrubs with smaller leaves that are otherwise harder to gather up, Buxus, Euonymus, Ligustrum ect.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

That sounds about right. I don’t get how some lawnies will do a postage stamp sized patch for $20. By the time you sit down to generate an invoice you’ve lost money.

Yeah that doesn’t seem right, unless it’s next door to a job you’re going to do anyway.
One said the minimum charge was $60 which is more reason when you factor in travel time and everything

[mad2]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Yeah that doesn’t seem right, unless it’s next door to a job you’re going to do anyway.
One said the minimum charge was $60 which is more reason when you factor in travel time and everything

ages ago i was told that the cost for a first time job was an easy 3x that cost. and that wasn't just the one person either.

[Citroënbender]

Anything less than $60 for a regular mow and edge is taking the pee-eye-double ess out of competent lawnies.

That said, I consider blowing the edgings across the road to constitute an unprofessional job, whether over or under that figure.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Anything less than $60 for a regular mow and edge is taking the pee-eye-double ess out of competent lawnies.

That said, I consider blowing the edgings across the road to constitute an unprofessional job, whether over or under that figure.

Our local council would beg to differ.

[Citroënbender]

Same here. Also, I’ve taken over targeted weed spraying in my immediate area as they can’t seem to grasp the idea that kikuyu and other weeds sticking up from gutters and footpaths looks more hick than my front yard full of wrecks (which is at least properly mowed/edged).

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Our local council would beg to differ.

and Vicroads freeway contractors for that matter.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Same here. Also, I’ve taken over targeted weed spraying in my immediate area as they can’t seem to grasp the idea that kikuyu and other weeds sticking up from gutters and footpaths looks more hick than my front yard full of wrecks (which is at least properly mowed/edged).

Agreed, contemplated the same. The trouble is, a lot of it is Fleabane, which is resistant to glyphosate, meaning they could very well be spraying it but are not getting a kill, so it then fully develops, sets seed and starts all again. The only way to control it is to either pull it out or use an acidic herbicide like Slasher.

[roKWiz]

Would you be held liable for poison out on the footpath if a dog or someones cat took ill. (not that they should be stupid enough to do ti)

Don't know just putting it out there.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Would you be held liable for poison out on the footpath if a dog or someones cat took ill. (not that they should be stupid enough to do ti)

Don't know just putting it out there.

With Slasher?

It's now sold in Bunning's as an "ECO" weed killer. So if Bunning's deem it safe, it must be all good then..............right?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/p...ort=BoostOrder

Slasher is a knockdown / kill-on-contact product, so once its dried, it in theory has little to no residue. Considering the stench it leaves behind, I doubt any living animal would want to go near it.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

With Slasher?

It's now sold in Bunning's as an "ECO" weed killer. So if Bunning's deem it safe, it must be all good then..............right?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/p...ort=BoostOrder

Slasher is a knockdown / kill-on-contact product, so once its dried, it in theory has little to no residue. Considering the stench it leaves behind, I doubt any living animal would want to go near it.

Eco on weed killer is the same as “natural” on food or herbal medicine. It still contains chemicals(everything is a chemical) that can interact with your body and other medicines. They still have warnings, side effects and safety instructions.
I still can’t take slasher concentrate or diluted in my van, the smell is horrendous, I don’t tolerate it at all.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Eco on weed killer is the same as “natural” on food or herbal medicine. It still contains chemicals(everything is a chemical) that can interact with your body and other medicines. They still have warnings, side effects and safety instructions.
I still can’t take slasher concentrate or diluted in my van, the smell is horrendous, I don’t tolerate it at all.

I hate using it too. When I spray the nursery with it, the smell lingers for days afterwards, even with overhead watering effectively acting like rain, the stench still lingers.

As mentioned, its about the only thing that will take down Fleabane, but its also useful in dealing with algae, moss and liverwort that is a byproduct of the above-mentioned overhead watering and summer heat.

[Rallye Sport]

Heres my recipe for spraying fleabane, its actually the same mix I use whenever I'm spraying glyph.
Glyphosate at the label rate, a sticker/ extender like Pro film at label rate, add the water and check pH, then with a buffer correct to pH 5.
Haven't met a Fleabane I can't kill with that formula.
MCPA, Dicamba in pure form or a mix of both like Cutlass or Spearhead will also kill it stone dead. These two are probably the most effective, the plant will show signs of wilting within a couple of hours and are usually cactus within a week.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I hate using it too. When I spray the nursery with it, the smell lingers for days afterwards, even with overhead watering effectively acting like rain, the stench still lingers.

As mentioned, its about the only thing that will take down Fleabane, but its also useful in dealing with algae, moss and liverwort that is a byproduct of the above-mentioned overhead watering and summer heat.

What works on blackberries ?

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

What works on blackberries ?

Something with a Triclopyr base. It works a little differently to common herbicides and should do the trick. Mask up though its also a bit nastier than the common ones.

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/tric...weeks%29.%2010

[Citroënbender]

The “woody weed killer” type poisons with picloram and triclopyr. Best applied at low spray pressure and coarsely atomised (to minimise spray drift) or topically if it’s a small outbreak.

RS, you beat me.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The “woody weed killer” type poisons with picloram and triclopyr. Best applied at low spray pressure and coarsely atomised (to minimise spray drift) or topically if it’s a small outbreak.

RS, you beat me.

Thank you lads.I have a couple of isolated plants that I have tried Roundup on but the blackberries don’t seem all that scared of it.Just want something I can put in a small spray bottle and spot spray.I would try to dig them out,but they are growing in other bushes that I want to keep

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Thank you lads.I have a couple of isolated plants that I have tried Roundup on but the blackberries don’t seem all that scared of it.Just want something I can put in a small spray bottle and spot spray.I would try to dig them out,but they are growing in other bushes that I want to keep

This is what we sell for Blackberries, containing the important Triclopyr.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/23497315...iABEgImVfD_BwE

Looks like Bunning's sell it too -

https://www.bunnings.com.au/yates-25...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[roKWiz]

I've heard all the stories on Blackberry eradication from all the stock and cropper farmers around here.
The most effective method they tell me is to dig it out. Poisons don't seem to be effective long term.
The other biggy problem sheep farmers are up against at the moment is the hairy panic grass blowing across towns which is highly toxic to the stock.

[Citroënbender]

Just about every manual for control of woody weeds suggests mechanical removal as the ideal first step, then chemicals to either control regrowth or finish the job.

[DFB FGXR6]

A couple of extra parts for the Rover turned up today. In this case, replacement clutch and engine brake cables.

Clutch Engine Brake cable, Rover part 746-05020 -

https://bwmachinery.com.au/product/r...les-746-05020/

Clutch Cable, Rover part 746-05039 -

https://bwmachinery.com.au/product/r...les-746-05039/



Both are operation on my unit, but I guessed it would worth getting these while I still can. The Krohler powered versions also have a throttle cable, the "Rover" 910 engine had a fixed throttle position. Throttle cables are universal so I don't see the need to hoard one for a rainy day like the more specific brake and clutch cables.

[Citroënbender]

Is there currently an electric bolt-on motor of merit, that fits existing petrol mower chasses, and can take a disc type blade arrangement?

Genuinely curious.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

I have a 4 cubic metre tipping trailer, the council transfer station charges $83.20 per metre to tip green waste. I tip about once a fortnight. I get in the trailer a couple of times a week with the chain saw and chop everything small. The load comes out as one solid mass of green waste. So the more I pack in the trailer the cheaper it is. If the council start charging by weight I'm stuffed!

Wish they did that where I am, they been charging by weight for ages.

The stupid thing is green waste used to be free, now our local council charge over $100 per tonne.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Wish they did that where I am, they been charging by weight for ages.

The stupid thing is green waste used to be free, now our local council charge over $100 per tonne.

Launceston council charge $157 tonne for all regular waste,!but one of the garden centres has their own mulching machinery and they charge $15 for small trailer or ute.They are pretty good,don’t care how much can be loaded into it

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by cs123

I gave my JD L100 a mid life freshen up a little while ago.

Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen is my motto with mowers... and it was starting to show. Gave the engine a service and fixed some leaky gaskets.

Deck needed an overhaul as it was a rusty mess. So new blades, hubs and idlers as well as a paint.

image

New seat, repairs to the steering and paint the body

image

image

Looked around for a set of decals from JD without success, so fitted a standard warning decal

image

It also needed a new fuel tank and luckily Ben from the forums gave me one he had.

Things to do
- Fix the slow leaks in the front tyres. Might try some tyre slime first
- Brakes are munted. Hopefully just an adjustment

One of the worst mowers I have ever had, absolutely terrible.

I have had two of those thinking the first one was a lemon (bought second hand), traded it on a brand new one and it was the exact same.

Recently a neighbour asked me to mow his lawn while he was away for two months he said I could just use his Husqvarna Tractor Mower, I thought it would be the same as the JD.

The Husqvarna is an absolute beast compared to the JD.

I actually rebuild the spindles on the JD, fitted new belts, serviced it, cleaned it to within an inch of it's life and flogged it off on Marketplace.

I will never step foot into a JD dealership again ever.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Launceston council charge $157 tonne for all regular waste,!but one of the garden centres has their own mulching machinery and they charge $15 for small trailer or ute.They are pretty good,don’t care how much can be loaded into it

Well that's what councils used to do, collect the green waste, mulch it and sell the mulch.

Now they got greedy and they charge to dump green waste and then sell it back to you.

Mind you if you have unsorted waste it's nearly $500 per tonne.