Zach's FY16 RENO-Rye to Zeon Zoysia

[Main_sail22]

So I have been cutting with the reel, and now all the tips are a light brown...way more so than anything even close to the pic above. I am thinking the guy didn't really sharpen it like he was supposed too...or didn't sharpen them at all. Kinda pissed but what can ya do. Ill upload a pic when I am back home.

[Jayhawkmba]

Cut a strip of paper? I think your hunch is reasonable.

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[Main_sail22]

So after fighting with the toro Gm, I have found that I need to completely rebuild the carb and send the reel to get re sharpened. This is really starting to become a bigger hassle that what it's worth so I am thinking about returning it to the owner (he said that would be fine). Additionally, I only have 3800 sq ft of mowing space and this mower is just a bit to cumbersome for such a tiny job.

My neighbor has a Fiskars manual reel that he says he really enjoys, so I am thinking about giving his a test drive...I ll let ya know the outcome.

[Main_sail22]

Here's a pic of the toro GM's last job on the lawn...believing the problem stems from an unsharpened blade.


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[Spammage]

You need to adjust the reel to bed knife clearance and probably sharpen (or at least backlap). The grass is getting pinched and not cut. I'm guessing that the reel won't cut paper either. Zoysia is tough to cut. I think Fiskars even has a disclaimer about cutting zoysia.

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[Jayhawkmba]

you're having a hell of time getting established! (I feel for you)

I've never had a manual but I can't imagine it being too successful. you need weight - the more means stability; with stability comes precision. with zeon being so 'cushy' ...you'll be floating along with a 20lb device.

the last guy that ground mine (tru-cut) said zoysia dulls a blade a bit sooner.

[Main_sail22]

UPDATE: So, before reading JAYHAWKS last post, I used the neighbors Fiskars manual reel, and to my surprise, did quite well. Though it is obviously a bit more labor intensive, it made a nice clean and even cut (even in my super thick zoysia)so I went out a bought one of my own. The only problem, is I cannot cut the grass at 1" as it is way too thick so I am currently cutting at 1.25". I will probably take this endeavor on in the beginning of next growing season. I'm ok with this decision especially since the past 3 weeks here have been in the triple digits.

[Main_sail22]

Took a few pics of the yard after a 1.15" cut. I have recently taken plugs from the side yard and transplanted them to the holes caused by dog urine....still training the dogs to use the side yard. Anyways, I don't feel the pics do the yard justice, it's really come a long way.



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[Spammage]

Looks good Zach!

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[Main_sail22]

Thanks Spammage! Constant work in progress...

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[Spammage]

Just don't get too impatient. Zoysia certainly likes to take it's time, but in the end it will be worth the effort.

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[Main_sail22]

I have been posting pics of the back, but very few of the front because the front is not doing nearly as well (due to what I believe was caused by me racking up thatch way to early and probably damaging the grass). That being said, it is beginning to spread. As spammage said above, it just takes time as zoysia is not nearly as fast recouping as Bermuda.




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[Main_sail22]

Grass is growing quite strong through the summer. Thought I would share a pic or two on how tight the blades grow to one another.

[KB in MD (21740)]

Grass is growing quite strong through the summer. Thought I would share a pic or two on how tight the blades grow to one another.

no pics?

[KB in MD (21740)]

How do you like the Fiskars? I'm loving mine but we have a very small lawn. What are you keeping your HOC at?

thanks

[Main_sail22]

KB, sorry for the pic confusion, when I initially uploaded them it showed, but I just looked at the post again and weren't there. Anywho, it's fixed.

I love the Fiskars mower, it has done surprisingly well. I too have a small lawn, roughly 3800-4000sq ft and my toro GM1000 was way to much machine for that small of a yard.

I am currently cutting at around 1.15"...one notch above the 1"mark on the Fiskars mower.

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[probasesteal]

Looks good.
I'm really interested to see green up next spring.

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[Main_sail22]

Probasesteal,
I too am interested in seeing when it comes out of dormancy and the color it takes next year. I plan on scalping in late spring, letting it recuperate then verticutting...should be interesting.

[probasesteal]

My area of zoysia limps out of dormancy. Hopefully you fare much better.

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[Main_sail22]

I'm hoping so as well. I just put down some alfalfa pellets to push a little more deeper green into the lawn. This will be my second app in two months

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