Thoughts on Maint. of Field

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BISCUT

BISCUT

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I have a back yard that is about an acre and half of opened space. I have 5 rows 90fft for septic system and the rest was cleared for lawn. BUT I've been waiting a few years for a friend to drop me the fill (usually free). He just went through divorce so it won't happen this year and may take a while.

The area is now full of brush; most of it is about 6ft tall heavy stalk green type vegitation. Not wood brush more like grasses and thick weeds. Weeds think enough an Echo SRM 2400 has a hard time cutting up with string attached to trimmer and not blade.

Looking to find out if there is a special application mower or cuter made for this type of situation. Hoping there is something for 1500 or less. Last few years it has gotten thicker and houses lots of ticks, mice, snakes, etc... Ticks are especially troubling. I have to check my kids all the time for them.

Any advice please send it my way. Need to get this taken care of.
 
I bought a Stihl FS 130 for a similar application. It has a bicycle type handlebar on board that snaps into a harness you wear. With chaps and safety wear, one can move at a good pace. The FS130 has the grass trimmer, three plastic blade end or you can use a metal blade for thicker stalks.

About $500.
 
Look into a used Gravely walk-behind mower with a 30" bush hog. It will take down pretty much anything, and they can be found on craigslist for a decent price.
 
Any neighbors with a small tractor? Get them to raze it down to 3-4" with their brush hog and mow it yourself in the future.
$40-50/hour is a fair price.
 
Rough cut trail mower....

Tows behind ATV or lawn tractor...

Can be offset to the side...

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/swisherreg%3B-44-in-125-hp-rough-cut-trailcutterreg%3B

Make sure it's a rough cut, and not a finished cut...
 
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What you really need to do is get a plan together on this acreage...

I just helped a friend with 350 acres, and will help do 400+ soon...

First, consider getting a soil sample analyzed,. Costs about $20, your state usually does it. Here in Virginia, Virginia Tech does mine.

Now decide what you want to do with the acreage, shade trees, flowering trees, ground cover, or whatever...

Leaving the brush will just result in brush, nothing will grow tall because too much competition.
Clearing it will result in bare land...

Start on the North side, mark off the evergreens, ceders, and pines you want to save.
This will block the wind, and is the slowest growing side.
On the South side, make the hardwoods you want to save. Fastest growing side.
Clear around them, and fertilize them.

Consider adding trees and bushes you want, that you like and think are pretty....

Once they get to 20+ feet, they are not in the way of mowing.
Remember, there are local, state, and sometimes Federal agencies that can help you plan and manage your forest / spread...

I put in some Virginia Birches,
the 300 acres of land I was working with was surrounded on three sides by water, something birches love,
and as they are an endangered species,
I needed Federal help / approval to obtain the trees, and to plant them...
 
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IMHO the DR mower cannot be beat, and was made exactly for your situation. Try to rent one as they are definitely pricey. I have literally spent miles of walking behind one over the years and it takes down everything from briar's to 2" trees. My father in law has one that is going on 13 years old and it is still as good as new.
 
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Originally Posted By: cchase
Why not let it grow up into forest?



+1. Some nice trees, maybe fruit trees, etc would be awesome.

The inlaws have a brush hog mower, big red thing. They have LOTS of tropical growth.

But unless putting a big unground pool way out back, I like the idea of some big oaks or something.
 
Consider the implications of tree roots in your septic field when planning your acre and a half lot.

Since you only mention herbaceous type tall weeds, once you knock it down and chop it up with whatever you choose (hired tractor/brush hog sounds cheap), can you just keep it mowed yourself?
 
Wait till fall, get a bic lighter and burn it all down. Keep garden hose out and call fire dept to let them know. Next year any grass you want to come up will look wonderful.
 
Originally Posted By: Recalculating
I bought a Stihl FS 130 for a similar application. It has a bicycle type handlebar on board that snaps into a harness you wear. With chaps and safety wear, one can move at a good pace. The FS130 has the grass trimmer, three plastic blade end or you can use a metal blade for thicker stalks.

About $500.



I have a good brushwacker but nothing I want to do every 2 weeks!
 
Originally Posted By: cchase
Why not let it grow up into forest?


Because the remainder of my property is beautifully wooded and my kids need some grass to play on.
 
Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
What you really need to do is get a plan together on this acreage...

I just helped a friend with 350 acres, and will help do 400+ soon...

First, consider getting a soil sample analyzed,. Costs about $20, your state usually does it. Here in Virginia, Virginia Tech does mine.

Now decide what you want to do with the acreage, shade trees, flowering trees, ground cover, or whatever...

Leaving the brush will just result in brush, nothing will grow tall because too much competition.
Clearing it will result in bare land...

Start on the North side, mark off the evergreens, ceders, and pines you want to save.
This will block the wind, and is the slowest growing side.
On the South side, make the hardwoods you want to save. Fastest growing side.
Clear around them, and fertilize them.

Consider adding trees and bushes you want, that you like and think are pretty....

Once they get to 20+ feet, they are not in the way of mowing.
Remember, there are local, state, and sometimes Federal agencies that can help you plan and manage your forest / spread...

I put in some Virginia Birches,
the 300 acres of land I was working with was surrounded on three sides by water, something birches love,
and as they are an endangered species,
I needed Federal help / approval to obtain the trees, and to plant them...


Matt,

I was a landscaper for many years though college and grad school. I do have a plan, Gazebo and some plantings all included. BUT I need about 300 yards of fill and a dozer for a day or 2. Around here (its costly) 300 yards delivered would be about 9k plus a small doxer is 800 a day plus usually 500 a day for operator. My friend, when he gets to it, will do for less than 2k. So in the meantime I'm waiting.

Temp fix to keep the stuff low and the ticks and snaked away and a place for my kids to run around on.
 
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Consider the implications of tree roots in your septic field when planning your acre and a half lot.

Since you only mention herbaceous type tall weeds, once you knock it down and chop it up with whatever you choose (hired tractor/brush hog sounds cheap), can you just keep it mowed yourself?


Jackpot!! Trees tear up your septic runs pretty quickly! I put in 5 rows of 90 feet; no reason to screw it up with tree roots.
 
Originally Posted By: BISCUT
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Consider the implications of tree roots in your septic field when planning your acre and a half lot.

Since you only mention herbaceous type tall weeds, once you knock it down and chop it up with whatever you choose (hired tractor/brush hog sounds cheap), can you just keep it mowed yourself?


Jackpot!! Trees tear up your septic runs pretty quickly! I put in 5 rows of 90 feet; no reason to screw it up with tree roots.


That's correct on septic tanks...another option is to plant ground covers to compete with the weed.
 
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