I was hoping someone would answer your post cause it is kind of interesting. Perhaps it is because you have laid a lot of requirements on simple grass. I'm not sure there is one type that meets all of your desires. You may want to research the hybrid bluegrasses though some say the newer elite varieties of KBG are just as heat tolerant. Mixed with tall fescue appears to be popular with sod producers in the more southern parts of the transition zone. Overseeding bermuda with rye is a traditional southern golf course technique for green winter cover, but is expensive and can be hard on the bermuda. What level of maintenance, cost, and effort are you willing to go to to achieve your desires? The shepherds will wear out the grass if left in a small space. There is no grass that can tolerate that kind of wear without intensive maintenance. You may want to find out what grass is used on football and soccer fields in your area. Chances are that will be the most wear resistant. How do you intend to maintain the turf?

I've had the Honda HRR for maybe 6 years, and I've struggled with the mohawk or uncut strip of grass ever since I got it. I've been told that I'm not mowing frequently enough, the blades are not sharp enough, the wheels may be out of balance, etc. Basically I'm doing something wrong, not the mower. I've taken it to 2 different shops and both say there is no issue with the mower. After reading this thread and another similar (but older) one, I realize that this is a common issue for Honda. How can it be that the mower I thought was the best in industry does such a crappy job at mowing? (rhetorical) Thanks to all of you who posted such insightful comments. Unfortunately I'm stuck with a bad mower, which I bought to replace my Husqvarna (with Honda engine) because I thought it would do a better job.

Thanks for the posts, I appreciate your input and suggestions. I looked at the JD 2305, and it will be a couple thousand more with similar attachments I'm looking at on the x720. The x720 is already in the "a couple thousand more" category for me. Plus, the x720 may be one step up from what I really need, the 2305 is definitely much more than I need. Used JD x400 series is a good suggestion. That's how I started this journey. I've since convinced myself that I don't want to spend that much money (although it would be a few thousand less expensive than new) on a used tractor. elfii, the price you mention for the x540 seems high to me. I've got a quote for an x720 with 54" deck, 54" front blade (with kit for angling and down pressure), rear quick-tach weights and tire chains for around $10,500 final price including tax (including a $600 discount on x700 series through my job - no, I don't work for JD). I configured a Kubota BX1850 with similar attachments and came in at $12,286 list price. If I assume a price reduction off list and tax off-set each other I'm still at roughly $1500 more for the BX1850. I agree the BX1850 is more tractor, but it's not for free and as I stated in my original post - I'm not impressed with my local Kubota dealer. Thanks again for the suggestions. I feel like this is a situation where there is no "right" answer, just a matter of choosing what feels like the "best" answer.

A layer of grass clippings over 3 inches thick will heat up and generate an unpleasant odor as well as harm any plants that touches, but less than that usually does not get that hot, so if the grass clipping mulch is kept to a layer of less than 2 inches, and kept a couple of inches away from plant stems, there should not be a problem. In a good, healthy soil those clippings should be fairly quickly digested, and incorporated into the soil, by your soil bacteria, much better than you could ever do that.