State only clears it when it presents a visibility issue coming out of our driveway, and we have to schedule maintenance. They really will only do it 1x per year if and only if it creates a visual hazard.
So if we are going to keep it relatively trim, we need to cut it once a month at least. And at 500’, it’s very strenuous to hit with the weed eater, let alone kind of dangerous.
Are there any special mowers, push or otherwise, that have batwings that can fit into a small ditch like this?
Otherwise do property owners normally just suck it up and weed eat it?
by fenwalt
29 Comments
Flail mower for a tractor
Goats
Gasoline and a lighter (I’m lazy)
i used a 3 foot hedge trimmer on a pole saw. Worked pretty good. DeWalt cordless
If it’s feasible for you..I would put a culvert system along the entirety of it, fill the rest in with gravel and soil, and seed the top with grass of your choice. After it fills in you could just mow it.
Just a thought
You need someone with a tractor and a box blade, or a maintainer. Reduce that slope to something easier to manage.
I’d personally use my tractor and a shredder with bat wings; I realize this isn’t an option for many.
Otherwise, mow the flat part and omit the bar ditch. Let the state do their thing.
Napalm, in the morning
A push mower would be faster than a string trimmer. That is a pretty inconvenient ditch
A zero turn with wide tires could do most of that, i know my hyperdrive with 26×14’s could, thats a full size commercial but you may be able to find a semi commercial with 26×12’s or 24×12’s which may worm for at least most of it
I’ve done steeper things with a high rail mower plow right through that
I do some ditches like this, I picked up a walk behind 36’ that has been able to handle some of the steeper edges like that in a retention pond.
Before I would use a pair of articulating hedge trimmers and just walk it.
Yeah a BCS would work. Little push tractor flail mower thing. You could also get a weed eater and throw a blade on it. There are all sorts of modifications for weed whackers, but a metal blade would definitely save you time. The flail mower you should be able to rent from a store
does it need to be trimmed / mowed at all? just put in a bunch of shrubs and leave it be
Rent a walk behind brush hog?
Fire! And yes I’m serious. Find out when the burn season is and torch the sucker.
goats.
California here. Have you tried fire? Really easy to use. Just apply a fresh coat every 6 months or so.
Swisher string trimmer or ego mower
Only cut it every other month, not monthly, not weekly. The ditch won’t be manicured, but hello, you live in the country. If the wife objects tell her to cut it. IMHO
Goat?
One of these walk behind string trimmers.
https://www.rona.ca/en/product/craftsman-163cc-wheeled-string-trimmer-25a-26r3b93-332015589
could you spray it with weed killer every 6 months? Not from your country so not familiar with laws
DR brush hog??
Prison chain gang..
I’ve done my fair share of roadside mowing with a Toro groundsmaster 4000d. It has wings, like you’re talking about that give it both reach and flexibility. Would be great for any larger swaths of grass/lawn you have elsewhere on your property also. Sadly, new they are the better part of a hundred grand. But you could check your local government surplus auctions.
Fire, for sure.
Let it get a little longer, then fire and follow with some salt. It should keep the weeds out for a couple of years.
Burning ditches is still common where I grew up. Where I live now is more residential, but burning ditches is still allowed with a permit.
Do a few minutes of research on the salt thing first. It’s supposed to make it really hard for things to grow. I’ve never done it, but I see it pop up in these forums sometimes, and I read about it in the Bible. Maybe check for legality, too, just in case?
Self-propelled push mower is an easy answer. If you get a decently light unit, you can go horizontally across most of the slopes.
If you can afford it, put in a culvert, cover with soil and sod.