The creek doesn't play much of a role most of the time. When it overflows it does deposit a layer of topsoil from upstream. When that happens, I can get on it with the L3200 (R4's) sooner than I can with the smaller and lighter Ford 1210 (R1's). The water usually recedes in hours rather than days. That probably has an effect on how soft the ground gets. I've been on the grass as soon as a few days after it was under water without messing it up.
You can't tell from the picture, but the highest ground is the area around the house. That's probably more than 15' above the creek. From the base of that slope it is a gradual slope to the creek. The creek comes out of the banks between 0 and 4 times a year and usually gets no closer to the house than the intersection of the paved driveway and that gravel driveway to the shed. The house is way above any flood potential.
One thing that makes a big difference is deck width. Any large area needs a "manly" deck. If someone would be generous toward me in their will, I'd have a 7' deck and bigger tractor
I'm a sucker for equipment.
It took the same amount of time to do our original 2 +/- acres with a 5' deck as it now does to do 3-1/4 acres with the 6' deck. At roughly 25 minutes an acre with the 6' deck behind the Kubota, I just roll my eyes when someone posts a blanket statement that I can reduce my mowing time by 50 percent with a ZT. It would be more useful to see someone post measurable results like "I can do XX acres an hour with my model XXX". "I can do my yard in half the time" doesn't provide enough information without quantifying how much work is done and how long it takes.
I have either mulch or use the scorched earth technique around obstacles so the mower can cut most of what needs to be cut. Trimming is minimal. Unless I'm trimming the banks of the creek, I get by with a DeWalt 20 string trimmer and still have some juice left in a 5AH battery.
