Ditches play an important role in drainage and landscaping, but they can be a challenge to mow.
Having a ditch mower is vital when it comes to maintaining your property. Not only will it make the job easier, but it will also help you get the job done quicker.
However, if you don’t have a ditch mower and are looking to buy one, you may be wondering if a zero turn mower is the right option for you. In this blog post, we’ll talk about how to mow a ditch with a zero turn mower.
Contents
How to Mow a Ditch with a Zero Turn Mower
How to Mow Steep Ditches?
Mowing steep ditches can be a bit tricky, but with a bit of practice, you’ll be able to do it like a pro. Here are a few tips to help you out:
- Make sure your mower is in good condition and that the blades are sharp. This will help ensure a clean cut and reduce the risk of scalping the turf
- Lower the deck height as much as possible to reduce the chance of scalping
- Approach the ditch at an angle, making sure to stay on top of the turf. Do not try to go down into the ditch
- Keep the mower moving at all times and avoid going over the same spot more than once
- Change your cutting pattern to avoid crossing the ditch area and scalping the turf. This will help you avoid going over the same place twice and ensure that all turf parts are cut evenly
- If you don’t succeed at first, try again until you get it right
Are you ready to put these tips into practice?
The next step is mowing the ditch. When it comes to this part, you’ll need a lot of patience and some solid skills to get it right. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Step 1: Approach the ditch slowly and stay on top of the turf, if possible
- Step 2: When you get to the ditch, set your mower in neutral and let it sort of ‘fall down’ into the ditch. Don’t try to force it down there because you could end up damaging your lawn mower or even hurt yourself
- Step 3: Once you’ve made it through the ditch, turn your machine around and go back over the same path. Since this path will have fresh grass, it won’t matter if you cut over the same area twice. Your lawn mower blades are sharp enough to cut through both old and new growth, so take advantage of that
- Step 4: Keep moving at all times, and don’t stop halfway down the ditch. If you do, the grass on the other side will grow faster, and it’ll be harder to cut
- Step 5: Don’t try to cut corners when mowing your ditch. You need to go slow, so take your time and get through the job one section at a time
- Step 6: If you encounter resistance, stop for a moment, check your deck height, and proceed with caution. As long as you’re cutting correctly, you shouldn’t encounter too much resistance
- Step 7: Remember always to let the mower do the work for you. Don’t try to force it down into ditches or up out of ditches because this will only cause problems
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Precautions to Take When Using a Zero Turn Mower
You may not think much about it, but the blades on your zero turn mower are extremely sharp. Because of this, you need to use caution when operating your ride-on lawn mower to avoid any accidents.
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When it comes to ditch mowing, here are a few necessary precautions you should always keep in mind:
- Always be aware of the path you’re taking with your mower. This will help ensure that you don’t accidentally run into objects or drop down into a ditch without realizing it
- Drive slowly and use extra caution when approaching ditches. The last thing you want to do is damage your lawnmower or hurt yourself by speeding too much and dropping down into a ditch without realizing it
- Always look ahead and plan your route, especially if you’re cutting on an incline or decline. This is the best way to avoid getting caught off guard and accidentally riding over a drop-off like a ditch
- Watch out for rocks and other obstacles. If you hit one of them, it could cause severe damage to your deck or the mower blades
- Don’t mow wet grass. The first thing is that you don’t want to cut through standing water, resulting in problems with bogging down the engine on your zero turn lawn mower. The second reason is that your mower blades will get clogged with wet grass, which can affect the way they cut
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FAQs- How to Mow a Ditch with a Zero Turn Mower
How Much Slope Can a Zero Turn Mower Handle?
Zero turn lawn mowers can handle a lot of slopes, but it depends on the model you have. Generally speaking, most zero turn mowers can handle an incline or decline of up to 15 degrees without any problems.
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If you’re cutting on a slope that’s more severe than that, be sure to check with your manufacturer to see if your specific model can handle it.
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Why is My Zero Turn Tearing Up Grass?
It might be tearing up your grass because your deck height needs to be adjusted. The deck height should always be set just above the tallest blade of grass you’re mowing, ensuring that all clippings are cut precisely.
If your deck height is too high or too low, then there’s a chance that not all of the blades will get cut off.
Why Do I Get Resistance When Mowing My Ditch?
If you experience a lot of resistance when cutting your ditch, it might be because the blades on your zero turn mower aren’t able to reach far enough. If they can’t cut the grass all the way down, then you might end up with tall blades of grass sticking out of your ditch.
You should always check to ensure that your mower deck height is adjusted correctly to resolve this problem.
So there you have it. With a little bit of know-how and practice, you can use your zero turn mower to easily and efficiently take care of those ditches.
Be sure always to be aware of your surroundings, adjust the speed and cutting height accordingly, and stay safe while mowing – and soon, you’ll be an expert ditch-mower.
