Mower Advice

Definitely a commercial grade with at least 60/61" deck Scag, hustler, gravely, Kubota, and John Deere. My top choice would be scag turf tiger with kubota diesel diesel. Youre going to spend some money though

I have a gravely and really like it - there is a new brand that has come out called spartan that look really nice - definitely need a bigger ZT for that much grass

a gas turf tiger with 61 deck will be 10g's+
whatever you get OP get the biggest HP engine they offer
I mow 6AC with a 61 scag 35 HP Briggs

No chance:)...We have 10 acres but it isn't all cleared, so I'm sort of guessing on the exact size of everything. I currently cut my acre with a $179.00 push mower, it takes a solid two hours going non-stop. I have to get a long stretch of land cleared so I can get sun on my gravel road which is another problem altogether, which will probably at least double the amount of grass I have to cut on my property. My father has a worn out 10 year old John Deere lawn tractor that he cut his yard with; however, he has developed some medical problems that is making that very difficult for him. In a pinch I could use his for a while; however it takes two to three hours just to cut his grass with it, if I had to use it to cut mine and his I might be cutting grass for 5 hours every weekend, and I really don't want to be doing that. Whatever I buy I would like to get a decent amount of years out it, twenty years would be nice.

I have a 60" Kubota diesel zero turn and a 50" Dixie chopper gas zero turn

Both great choices but I love the diesel simply bc it never needs diesel. I can cut probably 25 acres on a tank.
The Dixie chopper will run out of gas before you finish the 5 acres.
Also the best thing for cutting around a pond is a tractor with a Bushhogg, it's nice to be able to back the Bushhogg over the water and cut everything.
With the mower you will have to keep the pond roundup or weed eated.

Go heavy commercial for sure. My Dixie chopper cost 8k in 2004 and it still runs like the day I bought it.

Yeah it not going to be the mower that gives him problems in the long term, will be wheel motors and hydro pumps mostly and eventually engine. Used to cut several properties in mallard lakes for a few years on a weekly basis and burnt up wheel motors and hydro pumps on both my super Z's. Guy out there that cuts his own yard that I would help every once and a while has a Dixie chopper that has had two engines replaced. Cutting more than 5 acres every week will take its toll on any ztr. 25-45hp tractor with 84" finish mower would be really good, just won't quite get the same perfect cut as a ztr. But on the flip side won't have near the wear and tear either and obviously has many other uses around the property

I strongly agree with lsu Mike.
Having grown up on a farm- IF your property exceeds five acres of mowing, if the terrain is rugged or if you regularly do chores demanding more horsepower, you've entered real tractor territory.

If all you plan to do is mow 35 hp and under is fine.
If you are thinking about adding implements later on I would start at 45Hp and up

Once you own a tractor you will find more ways to use it

I have both a ZTR and a tractor with a FEL. They each have their place. We cut a lot of grass and for cut you can't beat the ZTR for quality of cut. My tractor is 4wd and although it does a fine job it isn't a lawn mower. If you plan on cutting grass make sure you get turf or R4 tires. We typically cut the "yard" with the mower and use the tractor for the big open areas. I don't plan on getting rid of either machine anytime soon.

What about a small belly mower tractor?

Melvin is dishing out common sense wisdom

Much cheaper solution