Grooming Mower or Rotary Cutter- Can't make up my mind

jtsande · Feb 1, 2018

Hello all, first post.

I recently bought ~14 acres in north central North Carolina and am in the process of buying a tractor (Kubota 3901) and mowing implement to maintain the ~9 acres of it that is cleared and in pasture. I'd like to buy the tractor and the mower at the same time and I keep going back and forth on whether to buy a rotary cutter or a grooming mower. I work in ag and my coworker who grew up on a farm says a grooming mower should do it fine based on the pictures of the land I showed him, but the dealer thinks I should go rotary mower. So here I am.

The land has been sitting for some time (1 year tops). It's currently about 98% rough grass ~6-8 inches tall. The other 2% of the area has sporadic patches of tall brush that is no thicker than a pencil. Being winter, this brush is dry and very brittle-I can snap it with my hand. Once I get the land tended I plan to keep it cleanly cut, cutting it every 2-3 weeks at most. For regular maintenance of the lawn and for a more crisp finish, a grooming mower is a no brainer. Correct me if my thinking is wrong, but I feel as such:

While this initial mowing might be a little much for the grooming mower, after this first cut I am going to be regularly mowing it. I know grooming mowers can handle relatively tall grass and some light brush while a rotary cutter is meant for heavy brush, small trees. Since most of this land is tall grass, it'll get knocked down in this first mowing. The small patches of light brush might test the grooming mower a little bit, but if I keep it slow and am cautious I should be able to get it cut without any major strain to the implement or the tractor. I feel a rotary cutter is too heavy duty for even this initial mowing, and in subsequent mowing when I'm seeking a somewhat manicured look, the rotary mower just isn't going to deliver long term.

What do y'all think? In my heart I think a grooming mower is going to suit me better long term. I just want to be sure I'm not going to destroy it with this initial mowing.

mcfarmall · Feb 1, 2018

If you want your place to look like a park, get the finishing mower. If you don't care, get the rotary cutter, they don't do all that bad and you'll be able to reclaim lost ground elsewhere on your property.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

jtsande · Feb 1, 2018

mcfarmall said:
If you want your place to look like a park, get the finishing mower. If you don't care, get the rotary cutter, they don't do all that bad and you'll be able to reclaim lost ground elsewhere on your property.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

Appreciate it. The end game is to have it look like a park or a standard well groomed residential lawn however many years in the future that may be.

My main concern is stressing out a new mower and a new tractor with these little patches of brush, but from what I am reading there seem to be many people who push the limits with their grooming mowers by using them like rotary cutters. I'll just be pushing it for this initial mowing.

RjCorazza · Feb 1, 2018

I maintain 6 acres of lawn, mostly with a zero turn but occasionally I cut it with my 7 foot rear finish mower. I have used the RFM to cut high brush / grass in other areas and it does fine. Sounds to me that a quality finish mower will do what you want.

ovrszd · Feb 1, 2018

Finish mower or Flail Mower. Cut quality is much superior to a brush cutter.

If there are no hidden obstacles, stumps, rocks, etc., to worry about I advise the finish mower. Flails will do a great job but are higher maintenance with many more moving parts than a finish mower.

Let us know what you decide.

Welcome to TBN.

leonz · Feb 1, 2018

I will add this about flail mowers for you.
If you invest in a finish cut flail mower you will be able to recut all the mowed material in very small clippings and they will compost more quickly and rot into ground without leaving a huge patch of cut grass and brush that the finish mower or rotary cutter will not chop up.
Once you get the cut down to 2 inches it will not take long to mow every week or every other week.

bkrgi · Feb 1, 2018

First thought here is buy a Flail mower...will serve all your needs and provide a great cut

Slowpoke Slim · Feb 2, 2018

Can you just rent or borrow a rotary cutter for this first mow?

Then you can use your new finish mower for regular upkeep.

Are you sure there's no hidden surprises laying in the grass, ant mounds, gopher holes, rocks, debris, etc?

jtsande · Feb 2, 2018

Appreciate the replies, everyone.

I had never considered a flail mower mainly due to the maintenace liabilities behind them, but leonz does make a good point in that they'd be able to dispatch a lot of the clipping and debris once cut. The plan with all this tall grass is to get it mowed and then drag the field to disperse some of the junk and help it break down.

As for everything else, I'm fairly certain there are no hidden obstacles hidden below the grass. I've walked the property numerous times trying to get a feel for it. The area is not very rocky, but ant hills and gopher holes could be present. No debris, the previous owners seemed to designate the woods along the edge of the property as their dumping ground....washers, ovens, metal sheathing, you name it.

I think I'm going to go ahead with the finish mower and cut it at 4" this time around. Take it slow and steady around the real high patches. In subsequent mowings as growth begins to start up in spring I'll gradually work it down to a 2-3" cut. If I get out there and it seems to be too much I can always borrow a brush mower from a friend. It would be an inconvenience, but it is an option.