Light weight 3 point offset mower

[bikerdib]

I'm in the process of having a pond put in at a property I purchased last year. Three of the inner banks will be pretty steep and I will need some way of maintaining the grass/brush other than my heavy duty handheld weed wacker or my walk behind weed wacker (bank will be too steep for good engine lubrication). I don't expect to have it lawn manicured but want to mainly keep the grass and tall weeds knocked down to 6" to 8" tall. A sickle bar mower would be good but they are quite costly. DR makes a 3 point offset string trimmer but unfortunately at 16° up or down, it doesn't pivot downward enough. Titan Attachments has a similar unit but I think it would have the same limitations.

I'm looking for ideas.

 

[PaulL]

Depends what cheap looks like for you. I've been looking at something like this:
https://rima.en.alibaba.com/product...l_mower_tractor_implement_for_wholesales.html

There's a few flavours of them on alibaba. Shipping and import duties add a bit, but you'd be under $1,500USD perhaps. There may also be equivalent US made gear.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

You should think the other way. As you're having the pond built, all edges should gently slope, think boat ramp slope. That way no special mower needed.
Steep slopes will erode fast and always be a problem while gentle ones stay forever and the ground stay fast. I learned this from a friend who designed AND drove the dozers and stuff to make a LOT of golf course ponds, retention ponds, and reservoirs.
It's a lot easier and cheaper in the long run to 'do it right' now than to always 'fight' afterwards.

Let's say you can get that 'slope mower' for say $1000. I can buy a LOT of diesel( even up here) and make gentle slopes and the problem is solved. Otherwise, you now have to attach that 'slope mower' 1-2 times a month( PITA and TIME) AND maintain it( $$) AND store it( hmm, WHERE ?)... I'm getting too old to fight with implements. If the slopes are gentle ,you can go 'round and round' the pond with a MMM , probably already on for the rest of the grass cutting.

While it may not seem like a chore,2-3 years from now you WILL be cursing and saying 'WHY didn't I do it right ?'
Jay

 

[D2Cat]

What GreensvilleJay said is right on. Don't build a problem you have to work on all the time with special equipment. Do as he suggest, and eliminate the need.

Steep banks WILL slough of and your pond looses it's depth to it.

 

[rogerwh0825]

I have the same problem with a farm pond I inherited from my dad. I tried lots of solutions but none seemed to give satisfactory results. Then I bought one of those pivoting head shrub trimmers that fits onto the end of a gas trimmer. It works great if as you said you're just trying to knock stuff back and don't need it manicured. An extension makes it a bit more cumbersome to handle but also allows you to sat up on level ground.

 

[bikerdib]

I have the same problem with a farm pond I inherited from my dad. I tried lots of solutions but none seemed to give satisfactory results. Then I bought one of those pivoting head shrub trimmers that fits onto the end of a gas trimmer. It works great if as you said you're just trying to knock stuff back and don't need it manicured. An extension makes it a bit more cumbersome to handle but also allows you to sat up on level ground.

I do have one of those and have done that on one of my other ponds. The one I'm having put in is the biggest I'll own so at 63 years old I'm looking ahead to easier maintenance solutions. So far, a belt driven sickle mower seems the best solution.