Category: Brush Clearing

There is quite a bit to be thankful for up here in the Pacific Northwest: great coffee, mild weather (usually), beautiful and varied natural scenery and, of course, a wealth of trails from which to enjoy all that nature has to offer. Whether you are on a mountain bike, in a pair of hiking boots or riding a horse, there are just so many trails to get out and experience nature not only in the Pacific Northwest but all over the country. We are all so truly blessed to have such easy access to nature throughout the entire U.S. Hiking along those miles of open trails up here in Washington, I often wonder how our parks manage to keep them clear through storms that push brush and debris onto the trails, to fallen trees that can block trails entirely. Our national, state and local parks are constantly working at trail maintenance [...]

Using your walk behind or ride-on field mower on a steep slope can be tricky business. The loss of traction and the sense of unease when brush cutting on a slope can make you uncomfortable. What’s more, the pull of gravity downhill along with the added safety risks to you and to the mower make it important to adjust your cutting style when brush mowing on a slope. Safety should always be a consideration when using a field mower but when using a field mower on slopes, it becomes that much more important. Here are some tips on how to stay safe when field mowing on slopes, as well as what to look for in a field mower if you need to cut slopes on a regular basis.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when field mowing on slopes:

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So Many Different BrushCutters to Choose from . . .

Many people think that all brushcutters are alike. Not so! Among the many different kinds brush cutters (or brush mowers) there are walk behind, string type and ride on brushcutters. Even among walk behind brush cutters there are different kinds, like rotary brush mowers and flail brush mowers. How are rotary and flail walk behind brushcutters different from each other and when would you want to use one instead of the other? Read below to find out!

What are the main differences between a rotary brush cutter and a flail brush cutter?

Rotary brushcutters resemble beefed-up walked behind lawnmowers, using a single blade that is rectangular in shape and is sharpened at the edges. This blade is fixed to a spindle and rotates parallel to the ground. Rotary brushcutters often do a great job of quickly cutting weeds and tall grass.

Flail [...]

Before You Start: Make Sure You and Your Field are Ready to Brush Mow

1. In some cases you may be using your field and brush mower to mow an area that’s a mixture of brush and invasive plants that you want to get rid of, along with native and ornamental plants that you would like to keep. In such cases it can be a good idea to walk through the area and make note of what you need to cut and what you want to keep. You can then mark the plants you want to keep with fluorescent ribbon, cloth or other material that is easily visible. To avoid accidentally cutting the plants and shrubs you’d like to keep, it will also be a good idea to find a field and brush mower that offers the most control possible, like Orec’s Samurai Walk Behind Brush Cutter, with its front pivot wheel and full slip [...]

The following brush cutting tips will save you time, energy, and hopefully the budget for your brush removal projects.

Brush Cutting Tip #1: Dress for Safety & Comfort. Be sure to dress for the weather while wearing as little loose clothing as possible. It’s also a good idea to wear brightly-colored clothing to make yourself visible to others.

Brush Cutting Tip #2: Give the area a walk-through before cutting. Areas that need brush mowing can be filled with stumps, rocks and trash. Make sure to go through the area to find and, when possible, remove these items. Your brush cutter will thank you for it!

Brush Cutting Tip #3: Mark any obstacles. Once you have done the walk-through, it’s a good idea to mark any obstacles that cannot be removed from the cutting area with fluorescent tape or cloth. That way you’ll see those stumps and rocks before your brush mower meets them. [...]