Mowing Zoysia

TextronSaudi – posted 31 January 2002 11:00

Can anyone advise on the type of equipment for mowing Zoysia?

One of my customers has a sod farm here in Saudi Arabia which is producing Zoysia Tenuifolia. The sprigs (and the ground after harvesting) tend to grow in a very patchy manner and even the more mature grass waiting for sale/harvest has areas that are much thicker and higher. He has asked what machinery would successfully mow it occasionally to keep it neat.

A 20-hp ride-on rotary mower has ben tried but that still stalls the cutting blades on the higher, denser spots

I’d be interested in suggestions from owners of both large and small areas, as his customers also ask him what to use – and he currently has to admit that the only way he has found is garden shears and a large staff!

Greenkeeper – posted 06 February 2002 01:54

quote:Originally posted by TextronSaudi:Can anyone advise on the type of equipment for mowing Zoysia?

One of my customers has a sod farm here in Saudi Arabia which is producing Zoysia Tenuifolia. The sprigs (and the ground after harvesting) tend to grow in a very patchy manner and even the more mature grass waiting for sale/harvest has areas that are much thicker and higher. He has asked what machinery would successfully mow it occasionally to keep it neat.

A 20-hp ride-on rotary mower has ben tried but that still stalls the cutting blades on the higher, denser spots

I’d be interested in suggestions from owners of both large and small areas, as his customers also ask him what to use – and he currently has to admit that the only way he has found is [b]garden shears and a large staff![/B]

Re zoysia have you tried scarifing the thick areas so that you can then cut the zoysia ?

TextronSaudi – posted 06 February 2002 04:10

Not too sure what I’d achieve by scarifying – the nature of Z,Tenuifolia is a dense vertical growth at the surface – this is what seems to be causing the problems and “stalling” both reel-mowers such as golf grens mowers and also ride-on 20hp rotaries.

Any advice would be appreciated

Stu

TextronSaudi – posted 18 May 2002 06:46

Finaly think we’ve got the answer. A big (36″, 10 h.p.) reel mower. We tried out a Ransomes Mastiff, and it cut the clumps fine. Then the problem was to try to stabilise the machine as it went over the “bumps”!

By adding weight in the grass box, it stops the tendancy for the machine to “do wheelies”. We will probably use “outrigger riols” instead of the solid front rollers in the final solution. Also, the customer is going to have to buy a trailing seat for the machine, so his smaller operators can handle it (I’m 6 feet tall and average weight, and it had my arms aching after an hour when trying to control it “walk behind”!)

I’ll post back when we have more experience in the system – and advise how it’s going

TextronSaudi – posted 14 December 2003 07:55

With the optional trailing seat fitted, it’s all working well.

Initially a bit of a struggle on the turf that hasn’t been “manicured”, but once the Mastiff has been over it a couple of times, the grass is cutting well and we’re pleased with the results

Tracey Smith – posted 21 August 2004 07:23

We have zoysia tenuifolia in larger areas in yard that hasn’t been properly maintained for 5 about years. It is forming clumps or mounds that are fairly high (nearly 2 feet in around some plants and rocks). Can we cut it back manually or mow it? It is healthy and clumpy on the top and very “hollow” underneath. Any advice as to how to get this under control would be greatly appreciated.