BIGGEST NOOB MISTAKE With A Zero Turn Mower (Clippings!!)
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2022
- Today I wanted to share with you guys a helpful tip when it comes to efficiency with a zero turn mower, and that is where to put your clippings! So many times I see people shooting grass clippings on the driveway and landscaping beds, and there's no need for it!
You can massively increase your productivity, reduce your cleanup time, and have a beautiful looking lawn with these helpful mowing techniques!
The takeaway: mow from LEFT to RIGHT if going vertical, FRONT to SIDEWALK, if mowing horizontal. This will keep a) clippings out of the bed, and b) keep clippings off the driveway. Hope this helps :)
What is your guys technique for mowing a lawn? Do you do a perimeter pass at the end of mowing the lawn too? Let us know in the comments down below!
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How do you guys approach mowing a lawn and controlling clippings?!
Check your Gmail tomorrow! I'll send an email and I refer to this post.
The answer? Bagging all the time. It's also the best option for fescue for me.
Grtz
Without shoot damper ya gotta k, turn properly.
Only way
Always turn with chute inward. Even if it means a lot of backing up
I've always, made a outline, depending how many beds an where placed, maybe even two outlines too bring it out, but I never chute towards a house or vehicles, " depending " but I run over lawns 2 times maybe 3, different heights
On sensitive properties, a recycler kit.
I’m a one man crew and have picked up a lot of speed by reducing or even eliminating the need to use my blower after a cut, as you have described. Professional work does need to hit a standard but exactly how the results are achieved is up to you. High lift blades, regular weekly service, shoot blocker, straight lines and pay attention, I get more customers each year.
I've only done this for 10yrs. So ofc they are more people with experience over me. However, It's inevitable about grass being in the garden bed. I shoot it into the yard always, but when I mow, I turn off the yard on the side walk to keep a uniform straight line and not with all the swerves he has displayed. Grass and debris will get on the sidewalk and driveways as long as the sun rises. Point being, it's inevitable. And the blower has to be used regardless for a clean look. So why waste all that extra time and sacrifice the integrity of the lines in the yard to avoid getting grass where it already has to be cleaned
My clients refuse weekly service. Makes mowing their lawns a pain.
Excellent video Brian! Attention to detail is the hallmark of a professional. Quality is about optimizing the outcome in the most effective way. I really appreciate the educational objective of your videos Brian.
Very good technique for speed and efficiency. That's the way I do it. Thanks for reinforcing it. It makes good sense and brings out professionalism in the work.
Brian. Me as a small solo operation take many tips and tricks from every video I have come across from you not just from what you may be going over/saying. But by watching your videos first without any sound only going off the title then with sound. I've Found I'm answering my own questions and still taking something from the video. Awesome! Keep it up.
I like it Steve!
Very well said. All you new guys listen up. Great tips! Good job Brian
I agree , very good tip on keeping clippings off the side walks ...
Thanks brother, I'm starting my solo lawn business and this video is 🔥
I was today years old when I learned all these new words. I love it!!! Everything have their own “language”. Example I just watched couple of guys playing call of duty it was like a whole new world. They had their language and their strategy. Watched car dealers speak of the market mind blown. Watched someone talk about heloc mind blown as well. ❤️❤️❤️when someone has a interest in something their passionate about I love listening. Sorry I’m just so mind blown and happy. Lol
I have now applied various advice with my Honda 2417 ride-on mower, especially turning. With damp weather I had traces every now and then. past tense now.
I now do 15990ft² in about an hour, with collection tray.
It's those little things that make the difference.
Great job showing and telling, yes it makes sense,I am learning thanks again for showing telling have a good one see ya next time see ya bye.
Brian, been watching you from Toledo for about 4 years now, appreciate your advice, I'm struggling with my new stand-on, on small properties and scalping xD. I have had the technique of shooting clippings onto the lawn for 10 years though, solid advice!
Hey! Fellow Ohioan here brotha! So one thing to avoid scalping when cresting an incline, if possible lift the deck up a little bit then let it back down once you’re past the crest! Idk what mower you have or if you can but that’s what I do On my scag VRide2
Thanks Brain great tips my son began is lawncare business last year.
It does help to hear it again, thanks.
Edge last and it won't stain the concrete when you run over your edges with the mower especially on rainy days. Also, it's about four passes on your fourth pass, you can shoot it any way you want and it won't hit nothing. Those shoot blockers really make life easy. I want to add one to my mower soon. Also, the last perimeter pass is definitely a must! It cleans up your turnaround marks
Hey Brian Hey Rob have a great day guys love your videos dad just told me about doing all this , I forget alot of stuff since my strokes thanks Brian & Rob have a great day guys.
Great video Brian, that exmark looks like a wright stander . We dumped our wright mowers now running toro grandstands . Guys love the platform comfortable ride. Wrights platform keeps your ankles in a tough position.
Great video for homeowners who have commercial mowers. 👍
Hi Brian. Another awesome video. Thanks for the tips. Keep up the good work.
Great tips Brian. Saves time and you can get more lawns done. You can use that same technique even with the walk behind, but it does take a bit longer.
Great video Brian!! Yes I finish up with a edge pass cleans up those hooks from turning around.😂
One of two outline cleanup passes depends on the size of the area. A small area doesn't look good with two perimeter passes whereas a large area looks fine with two. Also depends on how the tracks from turning around played out. I have noticed that angle cutting an area that already has an angled border such as a swale or property line normally takes two perimeter passes to clean it up.
Before I got my chute blocker I'd do two perimeter passes shooting into the yard giving me 8 feet, then do my stripes, it really helped to keep the clippings off sidewalks and driveways.
Thank you I have had to pay attention to that as I have moved to the Midwest from Idaho where we bagged everything
Yes on the perimeter pass we call it cleaning it up or cleanup! 👍🏻
Great video Brian. I now know how you mow so many in a day/week. 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Love the videos Brian learned a lot.
Love your channel. Always great tips for homeowners and commercial guys.
About to take the plunge into my first ever zero turn for residential use only. Your channel has really helped me along this journey.
These types of videos are priceless to solo folks like myself that never were part of a crew. Thank you! Sometimes in small yards and with an average to dirty driveway and the right customer I will come onto the concrete just to avoid the turn on the turf. I'm using a mulch kit so the tire marks on the driveway are the biggest downside but worth it to me. I'm also very low volume compared to you so a little extra cleanup for me doesn't hurt much.
Careful! Grass stains on the concrete is no joke
🙏🙏
I’m solo too, most of my yards are untreated so there’s a bunch of crabgrass and nutsedge. I use the driveways and streets to dry the grass and then blow the partially dried grass aft the lawn has been mowed. I do a two pass perimeter; my 72” lazer blows grass across 3 lanes. @brianslawnmaintence I now know how you guys mow so many lawns in a day. “Efficiency of movement “ awesome video bro.
Brian, love the content. Kept forgetting to subscribe til today. Keep up the great work and tips.
Neighbors lawnmower guy, blasts my cars with wet, 7am clippings.....doesnt give AF. w....t....f!!!!!!!!!!!!! so I appreciate the people who have some consideration for others and their clients
Great camera man good job Mr.Robb and keep your help Brian busy it's nice of you to let Brian explain things in your videos and name your business after him such a great guy to the special needs people like Brian
Dude , some of us have been mowing a lot longer then most .
I’ve also worked with many large n small lawn companies and have been self employed .
Here’s a different method and I even do this when I work alone .
Mow the whole perimeter with the discharge pointing into the yard but with a entire pass & maybe 2 passes if it’s a corner house or just some Yuge yard like we have in Texas . Then I’ll begin on one side and then depending where the sun rises n sets I’ll go up & down while making sure to properly over lamp the deck and make my turns towards the end so I don’t have to worry if I cleared the whole area and for front yards I’ll return to the middle and mow in a checkerboard pattern and ya won’t have to mow the whole part of the ends and you’ll ensure several things .
The clippings get shredded into a fine matter , the lawn doesn’t develop ruts especially if ya learn how to change up your pattern at every property .
Yet mowing isn’t what I do first by the way , I edge and flat top first and blow all of those clippings into the yard and even hedge clippings which they were needed would be done before ya use the weed eater so ya can have em get hit with the weed eater as ya walk counterclockwise in the beds so ya can edge and hit the clippings causing em to come onto the turf .
I also use blades that leave the clippings into a fine particle and I never use a straight blade that comes with the mower .
It’s a little extra time but ya reduce picking up stuff and hauling it off and later having to go to a landfill . The plus side to where your at is y’all probably get plenty of rain , but the folks in Texas have less rain and more heat .
I do the same process even with leaves present and you’ll have less to mess with .
My first stand on mower was a Great Dane Surfer 60” . I still have Er lol .
I do the same thing only sometimes I don't do the perimeter until I'm done. Also, I've noticed that if I mow away from whatever I don't want clippings going into, I do two passes blowing clippings into the lawn, then I go the other way and the clippings don't go any farther than those first two passes. That way I'm not mowing the clippings. Most of my lawns are done every two weeks (per the customer's wishes),so every pass leaves a lot of clippings that would build up if I kept blowing them into the lawn.
Great video man
Great video brother 👍
Great info.
Sometimes instead of putting the chute flap down at the end of s stripe, i'll keep it open and just 3 point reverse into the next stripe. I tell my new guys to do this if they don't want to take the time to use the chute blocker (takes four seconds one handed holding button down)
Chris here with Quality Lawn Services. We always do a finish perimeter pass!
Real good stuff!!!
I always do the same as you said, also I make a perimeter pass 1st and also finish with a perimeter pass. Regardless how I cut, presidential, horizontal, diagonal same process.
I forgot to mention I run qwikchute chute blockers on my mowers
Actually my new lawnmower gets delivered this week. They will show me how to use my mower, but not how to mow. Thanks for the tips!
Makes sense .....im still pushing a mower . But thank God it has rear bag ....but this tip helps . I'm learning . Thanks for taking time to make this video.
Question ...that ride on mower ....what make would recommend,
Looking to buy one use d or tractor ride on ....
Thanks in advance
Great little tip (and video!). Before UA-cam, this is stuff you had to learn on your own, so it's nice to see things like this help ones who need it. I would add, make sure you blow your clumped up clippings that tend to accumulate when your chute blocker is closed. I try to always avoid grass on walks and driveways and streets, but when you do, there can be lots of clumps down your mow line the side the chute blocker is on. I would much rather blow the clippings in the lawn than on a sidewalk cos grass sticks and can turn the concrete green.
Amen! And great tip.
Never had to worry about grass clippings . Why because I used something you don’t use it’s called a grass catcher very simple !
Hi Brian. How do you keep grass from blowing all over when mowing the parking area? Do you mow the whole thing with the chute blocker down? Many thanks!
You need to watch out for your Pivot marks. Your inside tire wasn’t Rotating when you turned back. Go back around your Perimeter to cover up those Pivot tire marks
Brian we find mulching is the best especially here in maryland. We have little if any clippings on the sidewalk, driveway and street. We've been Mulching for 31 years and never have a mess to blow except when we edge. Here in maryland the counties complain about the landfills being filled up. So we only mulch its good for the grass, landfills and the environment
I would love to get a mulching kit on our mowers, I always wonder how they’d perform with our grass type
we use chute blockers but try to keep from pointing towards beds and walks etc. Also when weed eating remember people go clockwise around the house to blow clippings away also
Brian, what setting do you usually cut at. My customers jump back and forth with high and lows. I try to keep it at the same length throughout the year. Especially since we didn't have much rain and high temps
Hey brain i have a grasshopper 52" and a 54" toro and always seem to struggle with keeping the clipping out the beds, i also dont have the chute blocker and would love to know if i could get one that fits my setups.
Perimeter pass after mowing does hide some small turn marks and freshen up the look i agree
I appreciate the video, thank you. What I'd like to know is where do you get those ear plugs you are using?
We used to do that many in tbe 80s, before zero turns. Lots of them had very narrow gates and could only get a local made mower called a blue bird through. All steel! The riders were allways snappers.
I cut huge property’s for a company mon-Friday and I always double outline and even double outline big landscape beds. But on a house like I cut for myself on the weekend I only do one. So it just depends on how big the lawn is
That grass barely grew. What do you do when the grass grows nearly an inch a day like now in Pa? The grass here is 8-10 inches in a week. Clippings are inevitable. Especially when I put my chute blocker down. It leaves major loads of clumped clippings. I’m double of not triple mowing this time of year.
Dang that’s crazy.
Honestly same rules still apply. Will it look like the lawn we did? Nope. But it’ll reduce your clippings on sidewalks and driveways by 50%, and I’ll take that ant day of the week.
I'm in pa too. Realistically when we're cutting 6 inches off of the lawn , if I avoid the sidewalk and driveway with my chute blocker I will be blowing clumps all day. Sometimes it's worth blowing onto the sidewalk and driveway to allow the sun to dry out the clippings for easier dispersion. I do cut the way Brian is showing but the only thing I avoid blowing grass on is the beds and cars. I would rather blow off concrete than blow clumps that are all over the lawn.
Yea grass here in pa is weird even if you don't get rain like it can grow 2 inches a day or it wouldn't grow at all
I'd try selling cuts every 3-4 days instead of weekly if that's the case. Sell it as a discount. If you cut biweekly for 60 dollars sell every 3-4 days for 35 dollars. I live in alabama. So our prices are definitely different. Our minimum cut is 0 dollars
I’ve a rear discharge Grandstand. I always stop with the front on driveways or terrasses. Almost nothing to blow after mowing; sometimes I don’t.
I always do a perimeter pass but mostly after I finish everything on the interior. Every golf course I've worked at called this a "cleanup" and it was performed on every tee box, putting green and fairway to eliminate the turn lines. Some lawns I'll do a perimeter sweep first to deter grass being cut and thrown onto sidewalks and landscape areas when I'm turning. But like you said the finish cleanup really does wrap up the service with a nice bow.
Cool video
I was interested in your comments about the direction of the cuts. I can see as a pro where time is of the essence, the need to control the direction of the discharge to make cleanups faster. However, I was brought up a pro ball field grounds keeper whose rule was to only go in the same direct every 5th cut; this reduces wear and tear on the same spots of the lawn especially where you turn around. So I change my direction from up and back one week, to left and right the next, and then diagonally in one direction and then a 90-degree different diagonal the following week. It may sound crazy but it reduces the wear on the lawn and eliminates forming permanent ruts. I realize a pro wouldn't have the time or where with all to do such elaborate cutting but for us weekend warriors it really makes for a nice lawn. You can see the difference after the first year of alternating the cutting routes.
I think most people alternate patterns every cut....
I alternate every week between horizontal, vertical and diagonal. On some yards and to lose long clippings, I'll do a horizontal combined with a vertical. Always do a perimeter cut first and at the beginning of season when yards are growing 6" a week, I do 2 perimeter trips to avoid throwing clippings in beds and on drive and street. Scag Tiger Cat 52" with a chute. 25 yards and 5 apartment buildings on my own and not a lot of time to walk around with a blower. Great tips Brian and hope everyone has a great summer.
I’m just starting out, I have a 42’ John deer 110 and soon to be a weed eater
What more equipment should I look into getting as a beginner.
Hey Brian! Can't wait to meet you at LAL this year! Got my tickets in August! 💪
Sweet!
My usual practice is two perimiter passes in a clockwise direction before switching to back and forth. This keeps most of the grass in the lawn. Then, I'll clean up with the leafblower.
This is when a set down rear discharge would come in handy.Only one ive ever seen was a Grasshoper mower.
Without mentioning you also demonstrated working the chute blocker without stopping and maintaining a straight line...that takes some practice and skill! Nice work!
Thanks sir! 🙏
Great video. Great tips. I do one pass inward than the rest outward in most lawns. We cut at 3.0 in va for tall fescue lawns
If your mower discharges on the right side, make right turns on your perimeter passes. If it discharges on the left, make left turns on your perimeter passes.
This may be a dumb question, do you blow the clippings in a pile and rake/bag them up? I cut a few rental yards for my father-in-law and just have a bagger on my mower (tractor style). The lawns aren't that big. Just wondering because I'd maybe like to expand to mowing yards other than his. Thanks...love the vids btw.
Love your shirts 🇺🇸
I understand what you're saying. I mow away sidewalk,street and etc. Just a note, some Cities can fine you if you're blowing into the streets. I've even heard of a state fining a property resident if they have dandelions in their yard. I live in Kansas and they fine you if you blow into the street. Great video though.
does the back and forth method work for large sections of yard, like 2+ acres? ive always worked from outside to inside, should i be trying the back and forth method?
Time is money. Got good tips saving time by blowing grass in. The blocker helps.
I shoot the clipping all over the place (on the grass usually) sometimes, on the driveway, really, it helps when theres so much, because it can dry on the driveway or sidewalk, many times because i need it to dry some, and dry out with the sun
I make two rounds of the perimeter shooting discharge away from edge, from that point on I go the opposite and shoot discharge towards perimeter, I always do circles because it's faster then back and forth.
If you’re going to be blowing off anyway what difference does it make? And who doesn’t edge every time? Maybe it’s a northern thing but you can’t skip a week edging st Augustine
Great video!! Do you ever use a catcher as well? I do appreciate all your tips!
We do not really bag here no sir!
Hey Brian great video tips! I've also seen Jonathan's at Florida Turf Pro. Both great videos! I personally like to park on the far left corner of the property. I first edge all walkways. Second I trim counter clockwise around the driveway and house and stop at the corners to get any obstacles that maybe out further away from the house. When I'm outback I get everything out back so I don't have to go outback a second time. After trimming the third thing I do is mow. I like to make 2 passes around the perimeter blowing the grass towards the center. However like Jonathan mentioned in his video I picked up on I like to put one mower wheel on the sidewalk and mow and blow all the debris from edging off the walkways. I see you ride the edge. I've done that in the past as well and noticed that the wheels would smash down my fresh edges. Try it out sometime. I too like to finish it off by making a finish up pass to hide any turn marks on the grass. After all that the last thing I do is blow everything off but following these steps it's really not that bad. How are you liking your Vertex? I'm a Ferris guy and love my Z3X 61" and Z2 52"! I saw an earlier video you shared where you demoed a Ferris stand on. Have a great rest of your 2022 season!
Thanks man! Yeah Jonathan hit the nail on the head. The Z3X is dope, I hope Exmark comes out with a larger Vertex, we shall see!
@@BriansLawnMaintenance what size is the Vertex you have there? Looks way better than that Staris they came out with!
Chute blockers are the best time saver's we don't have them on the mowers we use so we have to do 2 or 3 perimeter passes to keep clippings away from beds, sidewalks and driveways me myself start my patterns on the 3rd pass in and blow the grass in until my clean up pass and leave out on my second perimeter pass towards the driveway or the edge of the yard on wet day's so i don't mess up the pattern.
I always start mowing counter clockwise around the houses and buildings so it will blow the grass into the lawn. For the perimeter cuts in the front I will usually do a pass down and back. I try harder if it's gravel not to blow the clippings but itf it's concrete I don't worry, blower will leave it clean
Any suggestions for a reasonably priced chute blocker?
I notice you aren't tracing the rear wheels over the same track with each pass. Is that by design to limit impression on the lawn? Now thinking I've been making a mistake by tracing my tracks.
Mulch kit on one machine and blocker on another.
Perimeter pass are situational, too. Tall and wet, do 2 then mow as usual.
I use a cub cadet mulching mower. Ain’t gotta worry about which way the clippings go.
I am a new Zero turn owner and I’m have a very hard time not creating divots and actually spinning the tires in a turn no matter how slow and easy I go. I have a bad boy mower and I use it strictly on my own lawn. Any suggestions. I know there’ s a learning curve to these machines.
Perimeter passes at the start are a must. Turning with the discharge away from the house. Chute blockers.
We mow with mulching kit's in the south. I would ware my arm out with a shoot blocker.
It would drive me crazy to have different stripes on my lawn. Thanks for the tips though.
@ 9:49 the grass is growing like crazy? Haha. Come to PA youll see crazy growing grass
I use the mulch kit so no problems with clippings. I also don't do this for a living either.
what kind of blades yall use and if not all the same what setup under the deck
I do the first perimeter pass also. But doing the second one I don't do. However you are right it would help clean up the turn marks from doing your lanes. Also I know Brian mentioned it but anyone that does Lawn care for a living needs a chute blocker. Yes there a couple hundred dollars. But having one on my Gravely has saved alot of time. Time is money don't waist it.
I’ve yet to run into this problem with my walker 😆
I'm looking to buy a zero-turn mower. What is the purpose of a stand-up versus a sit-down and are there any advantages. I personally would think standing is just tiresome on your feet?
I'm doing it rite, thank you sir,don't have a shoot blocker though 👍☕️☕️✌️
Thanks for the tips. Saw you rocking the kujo pants. How do you like them? Comfortable? Durable? Does grass stain them? Thanks in advance
They’re honestly the best pant I’ve ever worn for lawn care. Breathable, lightweight. Can’t wait to buy more on their next production run.
I do 2 perimeter passes, then a follow up perimeter pass at the end
Always do a cleanup pass.
i have a Exmark Quest 55in cut. Is a shoot blocker made for that?
When. I am at a client house and I do that. I also use the mower to clean off the sidewalk and driveway.
Everyone has their preference. Mine is to go a different angle every week, don't like the matted down tire track look. As far a clippings on drwys and sidewalks, I try to keep it at a minimum, but what does get on will dry out on warm days and blows off fine. Great video and channel