Flail Mower FLAIL VS. ROTARY (FINISH) MOWER - PROS & CONS

[Gavman]

I understand that it cuts much cleaner than a rotary mower. I geuss what I'm really wondering is can it handle waist high grass and weeds as well as a rotary brush hog.

 

[flusher]

Is there anyone who can explain the pros and cons of a flail mower to a finish rotary mower as well as the background of how the flail mower came about. I am looking in the 72"-84" range, normal grass, large acreage. I am guessing a flail mower doesn't clump the grass clippings as much. How about durability and operating and maintenance cost. Thanks in advance.

Coastalguy (with high grass)

Flails give a good cut and are relatively compact compared to a RFM.
The farmers around here used them almost exclusively to mow the weeds in the olive, almond, walnut, peach, nectarine and apricot orchards.

 

[DavesTractor]

You can also mow very low with a flail, which is done after harvest to blow to bits any nuts left on the ground. Less places for insects and such to over-winter. They do make heavy shredding flails that can cut 4" brush, but they are very expensive. I use a flail in our small pistachio orchard.

 

[IslandTractor]

I understand that it cuts much cleaner than a rotary mower. I geuss what I'm really wondering is can it handle waist high grass and weeds as well as a rotary brush hog.

I don't see why the flail would have any trouble so long as the tractor was powerful enough. Road crews use flails a lot to keep medians and roadsides clear. One point to consider is what type of hammer or knife is on the flail mower. "Hammers" are used for brush while knives are used for grass. I would imagine either would work with tall grass but that the knife would do a cleaner job.

 

[sparky2terra]

I am currently purchasing some land in northern Colorado that has about 10 acres of raw pasture area. The pasture is flat and treeless, has knee-to-waist high dry grass, and crumbly red-ish clay soil. There is some vegetation that is no larger than a 3/4 inch in diameter. There are "bread-loaf" sized rocks around the pasture that are at/near the soil-surface, and there are some critter-holes that need to be "filled". My goal is to manually rip out any of larger (> 3/4 inch diameter) scrub-brush, fill as many holes as possible, pick up as many rocks as possible, mow it all down, seed, fertilize, grow a grazing pasture for horses, and maintain it (mow) as needed from then on. I know I will not get all the rocks and critter-holes.

Now I'm trying to determine the tractor implements that I'll need to get all this done. I know that a rotary-mower will take it all down initially, but won't it tend to clump the grass later when I'm trying to grow and maintain a nice pasture? Also, I've read a lot about rocks damaging rotary mowers ... not to mention launching the rocks. I'd think a flail mower would provide a nice spread of mulch during the growing and maintenance phase, but how will it fair in the initial knock-down of the pasture vegetation? Again, I've read that the flail-hammers just swing out of the way when they hit a rock. Also, I'd think the pasture would just look better with a flail than a rotary.

What do most equestrian operations use for pasture maintenance? Will a flail cut too low for a grazing pasture such that I'll get dirty looks from the horses?

I'm just getting started and looking for any input.

Thanks.