Department: Turf
Used Honda rotary mowers to mow the Bowles Lyon Rose Garden, mainly the little strips and sections of grass too small to use a ride on for. For the big sections we cut around the edges two bands. Though there was a huge misunderstanding, Simon didn't realise I hadn't done this area before and I thought he knew that I had only been here three days and hadn't touched this area yet. So I had mistakenly thought initially that he wanted the big sections cut by hand too. So later I had to take the sidewinder up there and cut the big section I had started doing by hand.
There was an awkward shape which was a circle with two paths going off it. I mowed around the edges first. Then Simon advised to do half and half on the paths, it is where you go up one edge and then come down the other then turn and then back to the first stripe mow, along the edge of this in the same direction then down the other side along the edge of the 2nd stripe in the same way and so forth. For the circle he advised to take the longest distance first which was in the middle then to stripe up either side of this in the opposite direction, one had to remember which way one went in the first place for the middle line. It was unclear at the end if I should go round the edges again to finish up.
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| Photo 1: Half and half. |
Here is a good reference for striping up - http://www.better-lawn-care.com/lawn-striping.html#sthash.Ui3sDdwc.dpbs with illustrations.
As it says 'the dark side is the direction you mowed then the light side is the direction you are mowing.'
I went on the side winder aka the Toro (the brand name) for the first time. Simon went through the checks.
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| Photo: The sidewinder |
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| Photo 2: Checks - plastic container bottom is for the coolant. |
It was the same as the ride on mowers, I have to check oil, coolant, air filters, that the fan belt is taut enough. The engine was set at the back of the seat rather than in front.
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| Photo 8: This is for telling steepness of slopes - it is necessary to stay within the 20s for it to be safe, or it can tip over. |
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| Photo 9: Controls - round ball stick is for raising sidewinder and adjusting it side to side. Turtle/ hare is for revs, these need to be high (on hare) for cutting. There is also a turtle and hare at my foot - that needs to be on turtle for it to cut. Putting blades on is on the the top left. These are put on when sidewinder is still lifted up then set down. Handbrake bottom left. |
In terms of cutting I went round the edges two bands worth first then striped the lawn. When starting the machine I have to run it on low revs for a minute for the machine to warm up and before I stop.
