Rotary Cutter Brush cutting for beginners...

[LD48750]

So, one of the tasks I will have with my new piece of land is maintaining utility easements. Technically, I could wait for the utility companies to cut them, but I live there, they don't. 2/3 of my easements are buried gas lines, so they only come out if there is a big problem...almost never. The power line guys are only worried about the trees and the easement is wide enough they are not really an issue. My wife and I are in agreement that we have no interest in a 'lawn'. As such, I will not need a finish mower (I am pretty sure). If we did have something later it would be extremely small and could be easily done using a push mower.

That being said, the land is wooded and seedlings and saplings will pop up rather frequently. There are also non-easement open areas (see avatar photo) that we need basic maintenance.

I am looking for something that is user friendly. I love to work, but I am not a mechanic.

My question or request: Please discuss the pros and cons of the rotary cutter versus the flail cutter. The budget will only fit one or the other. I am especially interested in hearing from people who have used both.

Thanks!

You are correct, you have no obligation to maintain the easements.

I chose to for my own use (& to please the wife.)


Front....

Over the hill

I use a finish mower.
Have a bush hog to do "extra" clearing in the woods & swamp.

If I only had one, it would be a flail mower.
They can cut almost as nice as a finish mower or do almost as much as a bush hog depending on how you adjust it.

 

[Torvy]

@Torvey, my recommendation is a brush hog. You have no idea what is in those power lines and gas lines.. I mow them on our property and I am cleaning them up so the seat pucker surprises are fewer.. But i would not run a flail there. Rocks, stumps, you name it, its there. I think it would tear a flail to pieces.

As @DieselBound said, the rotary brush cutters are far more forgiving. Oh, you'll know it when you get on something.. but it wll survive. I took out a telco splice box that I did not know was hiding in the 10 foot tall stuff I was cutting.. that was quite the seat pucker surprise! Now I know its there and it will never happen again.. but that first cutting... you have no idea what is laying there.

Walk it.. its a good idea. Walking 15 acres and several miles of trails was a bit much to ask. I chose to cut it.. ran the brush hog high at about 6" that first time. Then dropped it to 4" where I cut now. 2".. and I would have lots of trouble.

Thanks! That sounds about right. I have driven the SUV over it and the new electronics really hate me. (kept slamming on the brakes for the weeds, haha) I wonder if dragging a log/fence post on chains (horizontally) would help to discover some of the hidden surprises. Eventually, I may plant something under the power lines (probably to hay). Cannot dig over the pipeline, though.

At some point I am going to need to do the math to figure out how long it will take to mow all of that. The good news is that I will be official retired and since no critter will be depending on me, I can do it tomorrow. That is especially useful in Texas summer as I will likely only be out there from 6am to noon at best. Too hot to work outside in the afternoon unless it is urgent.

 

[Torvy]

You are correct, you have no obligation to maintain the easements.

I chose to for my own use (& to please the wife.)


Front....View attachment 706846

Over the hillView attachment 706853 View attachment 706854

I use a finish mower.
Have a bush hog to do "extra" clearing in the woods & swamp.

If I only had one, it would be a flail mower.
They can cut almost as nice as a finish mower or do almost as much as a bush hog depending on how you adjust it.

Wow! That looks like a fairway! I am highly unlikely to ever try to make it look pretty. Knock down the noxious weeds and insect habitat. Make it more easily travelled. It is clear on part of the easement that the utility companies have not been doing their job. In some spots there were saplings/young pines that are at least a few years old.

 

[Torvy]

I hate using a RC'er. I have rocks and have thrown softball size ones over 50ft. When I traded my tractor I included it in the trade.

My approach is different. I have a few areas that I used to brushhog but am trying an annual cover crop. I am using Dutch White clover as it grows 6-8" high and is suitable for my climate. I see no reason to mow it and it will feed and attract deer. By letting it go to seed, it will reseed itself over time.

I was able to establish it by spraying with Round Up and after the grass died off, using my landscape rake to level things out and scratch up the ground (mostly sand). After seeding, I reversed the rake and used it like a cultipacker to lightly press the seed down a bit.

I planted it last fall and it has done well. I may overseed a bit in some areas this fall. Seed rate I used was 6-8 lbs per acre. $50 for 10 lbs for the stuff I got, but I have seen it for $150/25 lbs.

Not sure what will work in your area but something you do not need to mow would keep things simple.

I could see myself doing something like that eventually, especially under the powerlines. Not sure if alfalfa grows well in that soil, but I know I could trade a few hay bales for some beef, especially in years like this where it is dry up north and we get rain. My cousin runs over 1000 head in the Black Hills and they always seem to be buying or selling hay depending on the weather.

 

[shooterdon]

I could see myself doing something like that eventually, especially under the powerlines. Not sure if alfalfa grows well in that soil, but I know I could trade a few hay bales for some beef, especially in years like this where it is dry up north and we get rain. My cousin runs over 1000 head in the Black Hills and they always seem to be buying or selling hay depending on the weather.

Be careful what you wish for. Growing and harvesting alfalfa takes more and bigger equipment. None of which is cheap. The reason I suggested clover is that once it is established it should be done!!! No more work and no stuff to maintain.

Frankly, not sure if it will be successful at smothering out weeds but it is worth a try for me.

 

[Xfaxman]

Don't know your budget, but an out front mower is so much easier to use.
Paid 8 thousand for this used TORO 328D in May of 2014:

That is a 6' recycler deck.

This Toolcat is more versatile with FEL and 3 point hitch, new cost was 55 thousand in December of 2012:

Handles the 1800 pound, 7' brush hog just fine:

More pictures here: Toolcat 5610 F and 5610 G Series Pictures

 

[Torvy]

Be careful what you wish for. Growing and harvesting alfalfa takes more and bigger equipment. None of which is cheap. The reason I suggested clover is that once it is established it should be done!!! No more work and no stuff to maintain.

Frankly, not sure if it will be successful at smothering out weeds but it is worth a try for me.

Good luck with that...clover is good for bees as well, if you want another side hustle.

 

[mcfarmall]

Rotary cutter. It will cut those saplings and shatter/splinter the trunks and they won't be a problem. The bigger stuff cut 4 feet above ground and pull the stump out with a chain. Cut the 4 foot piece off and toss the stump on the burn pile.

 

[ch1ch2]

I think a RC is your best bet.
Buy a good one with the hanging chains. I was cuttingunder a pecan tree and the RC sent a pecan forward which hit the front tire and then hit me in the forehead. Knocked my hat off, and almost knocked me out and off the running tractor. I shut it down and took about 30 minutes to recover.
Be careful.

 

[FTG-05]

I think a RC is your best bet.
Buy a good one with the hanging chains. I was cuttingunder a pecan tree and the RC sent a pecan forward which hit the front tire and then hit me in the forehead. Knocked my hat off, and almost knocked me out and off the running tractor. I shut it down and took about 30 minutes to recover.
Be careful.

But did you get to eat the pecan???

Glad you're ok!