clover mowing question

[wtnhunt]

Have always used a hay mower or a bush hog in the past, but now have this new little kubota with a 5 ft belly mower that sure cuts nice and clean and can cut pretty low without scalping spots, I have considered using it.

The two current clover plots are one at only a little over an acre and the other at about a 1/4 acre. Would take a little more time to do with the mower, but would mowing with the mower be better for the clovers than mowing with the 7 ft bush hog with my bigger tractor?

[Randy]

We've always used a brush hog. Your other mower will work I'm sure, just make sure to not cut it too short.

[kidd]

i use a bush hog on mine

i would be afraid of cutting it too close with the belly mower

JMHO

nate

[LETMGROW]

Keep the heigth around 8" when you mow and you won't have any problem. The belly mower will do a fine job as the clippings will be cut more finely than a brush hog type mower is capable of. This is because the tip speed is normally faster on this type of mower.
Any mower should have very sharp blades so the grasses will be cut rather than broken apart. I sharpen a set of blades on my rotary mower very sharp just for mowing. I also have a set of blades I use for brush cutting.
You might have to modify your belly mower a bit to get the proper heigth, but that should be doable.

[dogdoc]

i use a brush hog and have never had a problem. I don't really matter what you mow it with as long as you can control the height---I like mine around 6 to 8 inches.

todd

[wtnhunt]

[ QUOTE ]
The belly mower will do a fine job as the clippings will be cut more finely than a brush hog type mower is capable of. This is because the tip speed is normally faster on this type of mower.


[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the insight here. This is what I was thinking. Might be worth the little extra time to cut with the mower, and think I can raise the deck to 5-6 inches to cut without any problems. My old bush hog is a heavy duty 7 footer with two very heavy blades that are not real easy to sharpen, it chops more so than cuts, and really could not cut as clean with the two blades as the mower with three blades even with sharp blades.

[ousoonerfan22]

Your finish mower will work well and you're right it will cut the clover better than the brush-hog.

[deerkillr777]

the belly mower is ur best bet casue of it cutting it up finer and i would just keep it raised all the way up that is how we di it woith out clover on our one path use a cub 156 with a 5 ft belly mower rasied all the way

[anderson3]

Biggest problem with a bush-hog type mower is running some stuff down with the tires. Depends on the machine.

I do not see any merit in mowing white clovers (i.e. ladino, new zealand, durana, etc.) at 6" high or more. I realize that others disagree. Those white clovers grow from a stem that creeps flat along the ground, and you would have a hard time hurting those growth points with a mower unless you scalp it. Tall clovers like Red, arrowleaf, etc. and also alfalfa are more upright and don't tolerate frequent close mowing as well.
Perhaps if I was from a warmer and/or drier climate I would have a different opinion...those white clovers certainly prefer some moisture. Cutting high could allow some of the shorter leaf stems to shade the ground. Up here, I want to cut clovers no higher than 4" in order to set the grasses and weeds back...they are a greater threat to my plots than my mower.