Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Mowing dam and pond edges

I am looking for ideas on how to mow up to the water on my slooped dam and around the edges every where else.

I need something off set to pull with my tractor.

Any ideas?

You can use goats! They are self-propelled and do not even require the use of a tractor!

In all seriousness, I have no good advice. All of my mowing is on flat ground.

What is your slope on the dam? If you add that bit of info, you might get some helpful advice from some of the experts that do mow relatively steep dams.

Are you trying to mow while keeping your tractor on the flat area at the top of the dam? That is a different set of equipment requirements.

I live in Kansas and we frequently use prescribed burns to kill off trees and improve grass quality. In my conditions, it would be easy to create some good fire breaks and burn up the two slopes of the dam. However, we always have variable weather so I get to pick my weather and humidity conditions depending on the whether I want a slow burn or fast burn. In LA, your dam cover may be too wet and grow too fast that fire is not even an option for you?

Good luck on your dam maintenance. That is an important project for the pond, AND also might get you in trouble if it looks too unruly to your wife!

I use a sickle bar mower behind my tractor for the pond side of the dam, the backside I have left to grow wild.
I have brush hogged the back side a time or two in the late season with a skidloader mounted brush hog.

Flail Mower

Something like this?

I am looking at flail mowers.

I also have a 3-pt mounted sickle bar mower. It is 8' and can be angled to cut down the dam face or over the water. One positive is that these are light weight and can be used with a smaller tractor. One down side is that they are not as robust.

I use a walk behind weed eater with .155 line. Pond is only 1/4 acre though.