Is there a mower that will cut briar and not get tangled up?

[johncotexas]

Other than goats, is there a way to mow greenbriar or other tough vines where it won't tangle up in the mower? What about flail mowers or disc cutters? Any luck out there or other ideas?

[oneokie]

Brush hog. Flail mower will work if you give it time to chop up the vines instead of wrapping around the shaft.

[motdaugrnds]

I use a DR Field & Brush Mower with 8 Hp and electric start engine. I am 68 yrs old with arthritis in my right hip. I can handle this mower with little problems. Anything it can push over, it can "mulch" up.

I use it to mow near head-high brush and trees up to 1-1/2" diameter. (I tip it up just a little and it cuts the tree trunk and leaves the tree.)

I also use it to mow my orchard grass (to then hand rake and haul to the loft for our goats' winter feed).

I have had this mower for nearly 15 yrs and have only had "maintenance" work done to it. Not costly at all to operate and still runs great.

[TxMex]

The trick with almost any kind of mower on that type of vegetation is to mow slowly and give the blades time to chop. If you don't have acres and acres of the stuff I suggest getting a used push mower....ie. cheap. Go slowly and you should be fine. You may have to tip it up and set it down onto the briars...again...slowly. I mostly use a good hoe on briars now and keep my file handy.

[Old John]

Yes! I have a DR Brushmower too. I have the bigger 15 Hp Pro model. It has electric start. They are great for cleaning out briar patches. And you can push over and chop up those huge multuflora rose bushes that might be overgrowing your trees & woods. They sure make cleaning up brushy pasture or woods a lot easier.
I've had my DR brushmower about 7 years, with never a problem with it. I'm 70 and I handle mine just fine. You let the "machine" do the work.

[Lazy J]

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

I use a DR Field & Brush Mower with 8 Hp and electric start engine.

Originally Posted by Old John

Yes! I have a DR Brushmower too. I have the bigger 15 Hp Pro model.

Wow, someone actually bought one of those. Glad they are working for you.

Jim

[Rick]

A European Sythe with a weed blade will drop pesky brush to it's knees. Levels stuff the Husqvarna with a Diamond string balks at. Mow the rest.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Originally Posted by Lazy J

Wow, someone actually bought one of those. Glad they are working for you.

Jim

If the owners didn't have over 1,000 posts I would accuse DR of planting testamonials!

[HermitJohn]

Interesting, the only problem plant I've had trouble with when using Yazoo is fescue. No problem with briars and other stickery vines.

If you mow fescue young and green, no problem. And no problem after its set seed and gets sort of half dead and brittle. But at one stage where its still green, but very tough and fibrous and it will wrap around blade shaft and stall engine. At that stage it would make decent rope if woven together. I try to keep most areas I mow short where this isnt a problem, but always some spot that doesnt get mown. Then I have to carry utility knife with me to cut it off the shaft and it takes work to get it cut off. Bout same as getting big wad of twine or wire around shaft on your brush hog.

[Kazahleenah]

not sure about a mower, but don't try a rototiller,, they get tangled up fast! (and for the record... NEVER try burning the grass off said tiller either)

[ronbre]

i have cut briars and brambles as well as brush and vines with our zero turn mower at the highest setting, justg mows em down..also our D R Trimmer and our brushhhog (latter will take down small trees too) D R has a beaver blade attachment also that is basically like a circular saw for larger trees..up to maybe 5 or 6"

[Tricky Grama]

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

I use a DR Field & Brush Mower with 8 Hp and electric start engine. I am 68 yrs old with arthritis in my right hip. I can handle this mower with little problems. Anything it can push over, it can "mulch" up.

I use it to mow near head-high brush and trees up to 1-1/2" diameter. (I tip it up just a little and it cuts the tree trunk and leaves the tree.)

I also use it to mow my orchard grass (to then hand rake and haul to the loft for our goats' winter feed).

I have had this mower for nearly 15 yrs and have only had "maintenance" work done to it. Not costly at all to operate and still runs great.

DH has a 14 HP 2 cylindar DR & LOVES it! It goes thru everything. Saplings- 2 1/2", vines, fallen limbs, and unfortunatly a turtle.

[jbowyer01]

I thought there was a thread a while back about DR brush mowers? It didnt seem to be a great product from what I read but more ifo on it would be appreciated since DH and I are trying to decide on one.

[Chuck R.]

What we use is either a 6ft Brush-hog behind my Kubota, or a “Steel Brush blade” on our Stihl FS 130 brush cutter. On the Stihl we also use a clearing saw blade that works well on heavier stuff like sumac when we don’t want to hog a 6ft swath.

Steel Brush Blade:


Clearing Saw Blade:



Chuck

[highlands]

Originally Posted by johncotexas

Other than goats, is there a way to mow greenbriar or other tough vines where it won't tangle up in the mower? What about flail mowers or disc cutters? Any luck out there or other ideas?

We use bush hogs. About 250 of them. You know, the kind that goes oink. They eat briars, thistles, burdocks and all sorts of other 'weeds'.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa

[Tricky Grama]

I agree that a bush hog will cut gr briar but quite often its growing where da sun don't shine & tractor can't get. So DR mower is a Godsend. New ones are pricey, we bought ours used & its been like new-maintenence + replacing bolts, etc only.

[ceresone]

One thing that WONT work, is my 17hp Cub Cadet-with a 54" deck!! Tried to mow Wisteria Vine. I cut and sawed for 3 hours to try to free blades.

On the Dr--do you have a blade? my strings dont perform so good..

[Wisconsin Ann]

We use 2 types of mowers, atm. The bush hog on the back of the tractor, and 2 sickly bar mowers. One is the type that attaches to the tractor, but is off to the side (that's good for down hillsides off the side of the road/pasture) and the other is a walk behind.

Not sure they make them new anymore, but you can rent the walk behinds at many tool/garden/farm stores. Ours is a Toro. Artificer uses the thing to cut through the heavy rose and raspberry brambles we have all over the property. He goes through with that first to make sure there aren't nasty drop offs or big stumps in the way...then I go through with the bush hog on the tractor.

My preference would be for goats, hogs, or a couple of highland cattle...but the fencing is an issue right now.

[Terri]

I use my riding mower: it will take down blackberries that are 3 feet tall.

[Old John]

Our DR Brushmower is 26" cut and has a steel weed blade, with the opposing corners turned up. But for cutting brush we have a steel blade that is 1/4" thick and it is reversible. When one side gets dull you take it off & turn it over, for more sharp cutting. It saves down time. I haven't worn a blade out yet. The tachometer on top says the engine is running 3300 rpm. I guess that's the engine rpm.
It is quick work for tall weeds. I run in 2nd gear all the time. 3rd gear walks me too fast.
But for brush I run it in 1st gear. It'll chop up small trees, 1 1/2 to 2" thick. It leaves a spintery topped stump. Nope, It's not for sale.
I'm really happy with the job it does