Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - How close is too close to the edge?

Many of you know my husband, Theo Gallus. I am asking for assistance in serious discussion my husband and I are having. How close to the edge of the pond is it safe to mow with a 42 hp tractor and a six foot bushhog? Or even a riding lawn mower?

I have been informed that I am not a pond expert. So I am asking you, the experts that he respects, how close to the edge of the pond is it safe to mow with a tractor?

We have 2 dug ponds built in 2001 and 2007. The banks were steep sloped when constructed. I know that we have snapping turtles and muskrats. We also have a breeding population of channel cats. Mr Gallus insists on mowing around the ponds parallel to the water approximately 6 inches to 2 feet from the edge with the bushhog and even closer with the riding mower. He sees no danger in doing this. I, on the other hand, seriously freak out when he does this. If the bank collapses, and he and the tractor go in the pond and he is trapped, I will not be able to get anyone there fast enough to saves him (plus he will have done a number on the diesel tractor). I bought him a sickle bar mower to use, but he refused since someone on the forum convinced him that I was trying to cut his fingers off by making him use it. (I grew up mowing hay with a sickle bar and still have all my fingers). I do hire and pay the neighbor kid to weed wack around the ponds twice a year. I also know that my strong reaction to him mowing so close to the edge stems from having a widowed neighbor die after he mowed too close to the edge of his creek and the bank collapsed pinning him under the tractor.

A tractor of that size can handle a flail mower, and there are many models that can mow off to the side of the tractor rather than behind it. I'm going to look at one this afternoon to mow my pond bank edges and I'll probably be coming home with it. If you search for Cosmo FRF 165 online you'll get an idea of what it is. With something like that, he can stay 5' from shore with the tractor and still reach everything with the mower. Because they don't use sharp blades, he doesn't have to worry about how many fingers he'll have when he's done.

Theo,

It appears that you are already in too deep that I can be of any help. Best Regards on getting yourself out of this one.

Perhaps, just suck it up.

Even with the riding mower, if the muskrat tunnel collapses, it won't collapse much, (a tire will sink down 6"-10") but the whole bank won't collapse due to a muskrat den.[/quote]

I get what you're saying about it not collapsing much going over a den, but when you are at close to max comfortable side slope, a six inch collapse under the low side tire can add a huge amount to the slope. just thinking out loud.

She does have a legitimate concern, especially knowing that Muskrats are present in the pond.

One thing I do like about the sickle mower is the bar can extend in over the compromised dam area, much less chance of surprise hollow tunnels six or seven ft out from the edge of the water.

That's a tough one Mrs Theo!

ME TOO !!!

Welcome Mrs. T.

Ah yes....the joys of retirement.

Time to take up pickleball...