Rotary Cutter Can a brush hog handle saplings and mow grass?

[cspot]

Once the saplings are gone you could mow everything with the finish mower if you plan on keeping it mowing it several times a rear. One thing to keep in mind that mowing saplings 2" in diameter is very rough on a bush hog or flail mower. I would prefer to cut them with chainsaw, so I didn't tear up my bushhog or flail mower. If you do cut them with a chainsaw make sure to cut flush with the ground so you don't puncture a tire. Small saplings can act like knives. This can even happen if you cut them off with a bushhog. The other option is to pull them out with the tractor. It works pretty well if you have someone who can hook and unhook the trees so that you don't have to get off the tractor. If you have alot to get rid of you might consider paying someone to come in a bushhog them off the first time and then you can maintain the area after that.

I would agree that you need a finish mower for the yard. If some of area you don't use for a yard but want to keep clean looking the bushhog will work. If you bushhog it every couple weeks with sharp blades, the bushhog will give a pretty nice cut (not as good as a finish mower though).

 

[Verticaltrx]

If you don't want your 'lawn' real short it could be done with a bush hog. I have mowed my lawn a few times this year with my 5' bush hog and it did a good job. The key is to cut it about 4" high, and do it often enough that you aren't cutting a lot at a time (leaving a lot of clippings.) I like to mow one round clockwise, then the next counterclockwise, this picks up the grass that gets pushed down by the skid shoes and makes a cleaner cut. Also, you must keep the blades sharp, something that's not always easy if you also use it for rough cutting around rocks and such.

 

[TripleR]

You did not mention how big of a field you need to mow with 2" saplings or the density, also how you want to maintain the field thereafter. If this is going to be a one time thing, I would pay someone to do it and spend the money on a good finish mower or flail.

Based on the information provided, I tend to agree with code54.

More information would be helpful.

 

[djradz]

How about borrowing or renting a brush hog for the one time you will need it to clear the land, then decide on what to use for finishing.

As others have noted, a flail mower will cut sapplings. In addition, most rear finish mowers have tough enough blades and drives that they can easily cut sapplings in the 1/2" or so range. So, if you've missed cutting for a while and gotten some sprouts, it won't be a problem.

 

[swmich42]

Thank you for your input. Decided to go with older brush hog, and used finish mower, both 6'.

I plan to bush hog about 4 acres, and about 3/4 mile of woodsy trails. I plan to maintain a "rough" rotary cut perimeter, around the 4 acres, within which I plan to plant. I also plan to maintain the trails with the brush hog, and once established, plant with annual grass.

The finish mower is to cut our 4 acres of lawn. I am looking at used Land Pride or Woods. Appears there are more LP's to choose from, so likely will go this this brand.

 

[Interlaux]

Trust me SWMICH your fixxing to love mowing. Your 4700 ehydro will pull either as fast as you can hold on. Once you get the feel with the RFM and instant direction changes you'll be able to knock out 4 acres and the close trimming in less than 2 hours. Does your cruise control work? I'll thinking about starting a poll in the JD owning about first gen ehydros cruise control - its the only problem I've had with my 4610. If yours dosent work I will say that it is a nice thing to have when mowing.

 

[dangerdoc]

Is there a brush hog, that can handle 2" dia saplings, and mow my 4 acre yard? Or do I need to invest in Finish Mower, and Brush Hog?

Have you considered buying a finish mower and borrowing a bush hog? Or even just paying someone to bush hog your yard once. With 4 acres and regular mowing, you will have need of that bush hog for about 2 hours once then let it sit and rust.

 

[IslandTractor]

Have you considered buying a finish mower and borrowing a bush hog? Or even just paying someone to bush hog your yard once. With 4 acres and regular mowing, you will have need of that bush hog for about 2 hours once then let it sit and rust.

I agree. If it is the same 4 acres you will be mowing and you will mow it at least a couple times a year, you could get by with either a finish mower or a finish flail mower so long as you go over that property once with a good bush hog or heavy duty flail. That is the sort of job that is much better hired out if it is not going to be a regular task.

 

[johnrex62]

Have you considered buying a finish mower and borrowing a bush hog? Or even just paying someone to bush hog your yard once. With 4 acres and regular mowing, you will have need of that bush hog for about 2 hours once then let it sit and rust.

I guess that depends on what is growing there. I have a couple acres that are infested with Giant Ragweed (aka "Bloodweed" due to the red sap) which grows to about 6 feet in a month or so and has a stalk about 2-2.5 inches thick resembling a grown sunflower stalk. Look at the stuff in the background of my pic, it is about 10 days old at this point and is kinda small cause it is in the shade of a tree.

Before getting my own tractor and cutter, I have been hiring someone to shred 3-4 times per year and it still takes all they have to keep it cut. The last time I used them I called when it was 4 foot tall and when they finally showed up it was over 8ft. They were not thinking about how this stuff grows and sent over a small unit to cut. It took 4 hours and kept overheating the tractor. The tallest they cut it was the first time when it was over 20ft and they sent their big Ford cabbed unit and did it in under 3 hours then. In years past, they came within a day or two of my call and were able to do it in a couple hours on their other compact tractors.

sigh......to make my story short If his stuff is like mine, he will have to mow at least weekly to be able to maintain it with a finish mower and the blades will take a beating. Miss a week and he will have to sharpen in the middle of the cutting if he doesn't break and have replace them.

 

[riptides]

If you want a nice looking lawn, you won't be satisfied with the job a bush hog will do. If the look of a hay field recently mowed is to your liking then a bush hog will do fine.

I don't agree, I'll see if I can post some hog pictures of my front yard when I get home.

I had a RFM, and had some "Garden", "Lawn" - "tractors", they are all gone now. Only the hog remains........
and my trust craftsman me-propelled mower.......