How long should it take to bush hog an overgrown field?

[LD1]

I wouldn't hesitate to do that job with my much smaller equipment.

Sure, bigger is gonna be faster and no concerns what you run over. But what you picture is exactly what a HD bushhog is made to do

 

[Jim Timber]

I wouldn't hesitate to do that job with my much smaller equipment.

Sure, bigger is gonna be faster and no concerns what you run over. But what you picture is exactly what a HD bushhog is made to do

Looking at the aerial, it doesn't look bad at all.

 

[Furu]

Oh I don't think you will have any trouble at all doing the job with your equipment. It will do it just fine.
My concern is the time and speed of travel/movement that some folks are quoting/stating, thus you might think you can cut/mow/accomplish it faster than is realistic. Don't overestimate how fast you can do it and screw yourself into doing it for free.

 

[Jim Timber]

Nope, I'm new to tractors, but not to business. Everything takes longer, so I plan accordingly on stuff that I can't spec with certainty.

In posting this thread, I'm just curious what to expect as I've never done it outside my own property. My place isn't comparable since I was removing large trees and grinding their stumps in between grubbing brush. It took a lot longer than doing strictly little junk will.

It's been a good discussion though. I appreciate everyone's input.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Perhaps you make first pass with cutter raised to 6-8" cutting height then make a final pass at lower height?

 

[CDennyRun]

Every time I have gone out to mow some new property it's not the live growing cover that determines the mowing speed, it's all the unseen holes, rocks, stumps, bed frames, engine blocks, barbed wire or other assorted things that can tear up the equipment. Heading out into an an unfamiliar field at 7 mph is the tractoring equivalent of the Titanic's first and last voyage! Check out your non-farmer's field well before you start!

Amen! Well said.

Chris

 

[hslogger]

I think a flail would be a better machine to have for some of your job. The reason they cost more is because they do more and do it well.

 

[Jim Timber]

I don't know that I can rent one, and buying one is out of the question for this.

 

[bfletch7441]

It wouldn't burn clean unless left to dry for a year. The stems are too thick.

View attachment 456571

Burn it now and the only thing that would be left is the brush. It'll make mowing a lot easier, and you'll be surprised what gets burned off.

Ben

 

[Gary Fowler]

Burn it now and the only thing that would be left is the brush. It'll make mowing a lot easier, and you'll be surprised what gets burned off.

Ben

Don't expect to go behind a burn with a bush hog for several months and lots of rain due to all the ash. If contemplating a burn, bush hog it first THEN burn it off. That will get rid of a lot of undesirable seeds, consume all the excess fodder and even burn off the sapling stubs a bit. Then it is ready to disc and sow your seeds and the ash will be good fertilizer. I accidentally burned off about half of a ten acre pasture once and the next spring the burned off section, greened up first and grass grew better on it than on the section that didn't burn.