Grass cutting production times

[Snowboy]

Looking for production times for grass cutting. I realize it depends on the equipment used and terrain. Area is Turf and relatively smooth.

So Ive got a 60" Kubota Zero Turn 48" Walker (Id use that for trim work)

I have access to a small kubota Tractor and could possibly add a batwing mower to (cost might be prohibitive) it or I'd consider a Kubota Diesel 72" Zero Turn or a Kubota or John Deere Front mount mower.

Area that needs to be cut is 174'000 SQ FT or 3.99 Acres or 1.61 Hect acres

Place needs to be cut and trimmed there are pine tree's along one side 1000' and a fence line there too. Small building and Tennis court.

8 hours with 2 ZTRs or Front mounts?

Thx,
Dave.

[John DiMartino]

Depending on how much trimming needs to be done,and any slopes too steep for ztr,I think your way off.I would do a place that size myself in 3-4 hours at the absolute most.2 guys I would think 2 hrs.I'd cut smooth turf at 5-8 mph,eithe my 60 or 72" deck would cut over 2 acres an hr easily.My front yard is 2 acres on one side,smooth,and square, I can cut it in 20 minutes easily with my 72"diesel dixie chopper,Extremely tall growth it will take me 1/2hr as i have to double cut a few sections so no clumps.If there's a ton of trimming or edging,then that adds considerabley,but never to 2 men-8 hrs.

[Snowboy]

John,

The guys that do it now come in with a big bat wing mower and ZTRS. There is a slight berm as the place is a water treatment plant. MY ZTR is fast but not that fast 2 hours?
Here is a better idea of what it looks like.
Water Plant and Tennis Court (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=2625+erin+centre+blvd+mississauga&daddr=&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=r&date=09%2F03%2F12&time=00:16&ttype=dep&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=&tline=&sll=43.771597,-80.066482&sspn=0.004695,0.011179&ie=UTF8&ll=43.564444,-79.714404&spn=0.002356,0.00559&t=h&z=18&start=0)

[John DiMartino]

We are talking about 4 smooth acres here right? Weekly cutting,or cutting as needed,I assume.I know your 60" Z will cut that in 2 hrs TOPS! My 72" would cut that in 40 minutes if its open,and it looks to be open.How long to trim/edge/blow?

[Snowboy]

I've never been on the land before but there is a big raised chunk in the middle that's elevated 8'. So I'd have to cut the top then the sides and then the oter areas cut it like a u or else I'd scalp when I go down the burm.

Its in the public eye so about every week I imagine I'm not sure. I have not been able to get a straight answer out of the city if I can even bid it. I just get a bit of run around.

I'd say hour on a trimmer as for blow just drive down the walkway with the blades on chute facing opposite of traffic.

[DanG]

4 acres even with a ton of obstacles is less then 3 hours to mow by yourself with 1 60" z turn mower.even if you figure doing it at the normal 80% cutting efficency.

one of the cemeteries i mow is 6-7 acres pretty much open mowing and i do that in a little over 2 with my 60" exmark lazer z

[Snowboy]

Ok so extreme max 4 hours 2 with 2 bodies. The batwing and ZTRS must bust that place off in 30mins.

Maybe I got my math wrong on the size of the place and its bigger. I used the google scale on a print out which came out smaller then on screen. Bottom left says 50m or 100'. I used 1000' 500m's.

[Landgreen]

Keep in mind the quality of the turf. If its irrigated and fertilized you may run into excessive clippings. If its not irrigated and of poor quality, prepare for changing dull blades, cleaning air filters etc. (and a dusty operator lol) Make time for either in your bid.

If it's not open for bid then why waste your time?

[GMC Driver]

If it's not open for bid then why waste your time?



I dUNNo ?!? :wink

[John DiMartino]

Just give an idea,this section of my front yard is 2 acres,i cut it in 20 minutes with the 72" diesel chopper.I cut around 8-12 mph usually.I dont slow down if its thick,I just double cut it to disperse clippings.It looks better,and it faster than slowing down.This was cut at about 12 mph with the 72" Z,and sharp hi lift blades.

[Snowboy]

I dUNNo ?!? :wink

It's close by to me, its work and it brings in $$$. Working for the region is good money and they always pay me on time for the work I already do for them.

You have to chase work as it wont fall in your lamp if you don't go after it.

I'm used to the dust dry grass and changing blades with 1 other property I do for them. That's worked into the price.

No irrigation on this site its left up to mother nature.

Thanks for the help.

[Earthscapes]

I have to agree that your way over the hours. I have a 5 arce church thats not all to smooth, but really open and we get it done on an average of 90min. using 2 60" ztr's and that includes one guy stopping 10min early to trim.

[Snowboy]

I've never cut big are's like that so I had no idea it could be don't that fast and like I said they use a bat wing and some ztrs to cut it.

[John DiMartino]

A batwing for 4 acres.They are my kind of guys! Get as big a machine you can on there... I use gang mowers and my homemade batwings,but were cutting 50-60 acres+ weekly.

[Snowboy]

Yea that's why I was thinking this place would take me a long time to cut seeing as the roll up with all sorts of equipment. Bat wing is offloaded from a tilt deck / flat deck truck.

I used to work for a co that used National tractors with the reels.. Baby national for trim and then the mama. Nice cut just had to look back allt he time in case the belt came off the back reel. They also had a Ford Tractor with gang reels on it for cutting the Chrysler Plant in Brampton and then 2 Kubota F sereis for inside the yard.

[GMC Driver]

It's close by to me, its work and it brings in $$$. Working for the region is good money and they always pay me on time for the work I already do for them.

You have to chase work as it wont fall in your lamp if you don't go after it.



Dave,

What was meant is that because it is a municipal property, by law they have to release a tender to accept quotes for this work. To just go and submit a bid woudl seem to be a waste of time to me - unless you've got another in. This is the way any of that work is awarded around here.

As far as chasing work - yes I fully understand that it pays to pursue good leads. But you can also waste alot of valuable time chasing a 'lead' that doesn't get you anywhere, when you could be pursuing a more qualified lead.

[T-Zab]

But you can also waste alot of valuable time chasing a 'lead' that doesn't get you anywhere, when you could be pursuing a more qualified lead.


Thats important in any business, including snow. Both partys involved need to "pre-qualify" before any real effort or resources should be wasted. A simple phone call, or research on the net can usually eliminate wasted time and money. Most municipal/ gov. work (except in Chicago) will be posted in the paper for bid. At least here in the states, there is a "public notice" that needs to be posted in local news papers for 2 weeks.

[Landgreen]

Dave- I admire the fact you want to pound the pavement so to speak and go after new accounts. My business could have grown much quicker if I had more sales ambition. I think it's important to focus on a good lead. Hard to come by these days. I've always relied on word of mouth but with the mounting competition and a poor economy I have had to keep my eyes open for any new opportunity. My best salesperson has been my wife as of late. She is good at networking through the school, friends, etc.

[Snowboy]

Dave,

What was meant is that because it is a municipal property, by law they have to release a tender to accept quotes for this work. To just go and submit a bid would seem to be a waste of time to me - unless you've got another in. This is the way any of that work is awarded around here.

As far as chasing work - yes I fully understand that it pays to pursue good leads. But you can also waste alot of valuable time chasing a 'lead' that doesn't get you anywhere, when you could be pursuing a more qualified lead.

Ya no worries no offense.. Well see by law they are supposed to tender it out, but they do not always do this..

I get a call from the Region of Peel for driveway clearing on land they own, Got that work. I got another call in mid winter early spring for the grass cutting at the same properties as well as land they expropriated. I got that work to. I've asked my contact about the property in question here and last year I was told oh the works Dept looks after that, I told him a private contractor is looking after it. This winter a private contractor was plowing and salting the place, that didn't go anywhere. Hope this year is different.

The properties I was looking after for the Region last year might go out to Tender as the snow work I was doing last season went out to tender as well as a few of there Transfer stations. I ended up with a single driveway and someone else got all the transfer stations.

I tried to find out who got the transfer stations and what price and I was told the region does not divulge pricing information and all what I found on there web site was the price us pre qualified contractors bid for all of the properties.

Dave.

[GMC Driver]

I was told the region does not divulge pricing information and all what I found on there web site was the price us pre qualified contractors bid for all of the properties.





Dave - I think there is some recourse for this under the Freedom of Information Act. If it was a public tender, the numbers must be released. In situations where public works hired someone, it could be buried in budget statements - a call to your councillor may help you out.

[Snowboy]

Ohh ok. Well the other issue is its not the City its the Region of Peel which consists of the 3 city's Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon.

Not sure if each city pays the region and if they did it wouldn't make sense. Why doesn't the city just cut the properties and plow regional roads. I'll rock the boat a little later in the season as some tenders are coming out soon.