Ditch bank hedge row mower experience?

[Steve in IL]

Does anyone have experience with the various tractor mounted offset mowing systems? Looking to get something to help maintain ditches and pond banks, and cut back growth around fields and fence rows.

Looking for something that fits on the back of a 50hp-ish utility tractor (Deere 2240 / Ford 4000SU).

There seem to be a lot of different ways to do this, so I’m looking for comments from those that have run (and maintained) some of the options.

Thanks.

 

[stdsch40]

Sickle bar mower, 3pth mount works for me. No complaints other than it takes a bit of effort in mounting it. Hydraulic up/down, breakaway bar, angle up or down, cuts fast, cuts up to 1" dia. Mine is a newer model with 7' bar. The other nice thing is cuts grass so you can rake it for hay.

 

[crsutton81]

Does anyone have experience with the various tractor mounted offset mowing systems? Looking to get something to help maintain ditches and pond banks, and cut back growth around fields and fence rows.

Looking for something that fits on the back of a 50hp-ish utility tractor (Deere 2240 / Ford 4000SU).

There seem to be a lot of different ways to do this, so I’m looking for comments from those that have run (and maintained) some of the options.

Thanks.

We have had in the past a Woods brand model HS-105,I believe ,that we used to mow ditches and field borders with. It worked well being used on a International 674 or 684. Being it only had a 5 ft reach and a fair amount of really big canals and woodlines on the farms we tend, we had to hire out for a long reach cutter. Eventually we bought a Hardee LR40160 new and a Land Pride long reach cutter used. They both work well but they will need a heavier tractor than the options that you mentioned. We run these on a CIH 5230 and I would want much less for weight stability purposes. Hardee did make a smaller long reach version of the LR40160 to be used on sub 60 hp tractors. A friend has one he uses on a compact tractor and it does well. My suggestion is if there will be any tree limb trimming around field edges, go ahead and get a long reach mower. If not, a regular side arm mower will be satisfactory for general mowing so long as any mowing depths do not exceed about 7 or 8ft down a ditch embankment.

 

[Steve in IL]

Sickle bar mower, 3pth mount works for me. No complaints other than it takes a bit of effort in mounting it. Hydraulic up/down, breakaway bar, angle up or down, cuts fast, cuts up to 1" dia. Mine is a newer model with 7' bar. The other nice thing is cuts grass so you can rake it for hay.View attachment 98933

Interesting... And you find that it can cut some vertical brush without damaging the cutters? Was it originally set up for the bar's angle to be hydraulically controlled, or did you do that? We have a Deere 350 mower, that perhaps I ought to see what it would take to get that to work. Thanks.

 

[ET]

Interesting... And you find that it can cut some vertical brush without damaging the cutters? Was it originally set up for the bar's angle to be hydraulically controlled, or did you do that? We have a Deere 350 mower, that perhaps I ought to see what it would take to get that to work. Thanks.

A sycle bar mower Will cut anything that fits between the points on the cutter bar if you go slow enough. If you mow with it in the vertical position, remember the safty breakaway doesn't work in that position.

 

[ET]

We have had in the past a Woods brand model HS-105,I believe ,that we used to mow ditches and field borders with. It worked well being used on a International 674 or 684. Being it only had a 5 ft reach and a fair amount of really big canals and woodlines on the farms we tend, we had to hire out for a long reach cutter. Eventually we bought a Hardee LR40160 new and a Land Pride long reach cutter used. They both work well but they will need a heavier tractor than the options that you mentioned. We run these on a CIH 5230 and I would want much less for weight stability purposes. Hardee did make a smaller long reach version of the LR40160 to be used on sub 60 hp tractors. A friend has one he uses on a compact tractor and it does well. My suggestion is if there will be any tree limb trimming around field edges, go ahead and get a long reach mower. If not, a regular side arm mower will be satisfactory for general mowing so long as any mowing depths do not exceed about 7 or 8ft down a ditch embankment.

We used a HS105 mower to mow roadside ditches on seasonal roads. They were a tough mower that held to state employees most of the time.

 

[Timmycornpicker]

Does anyone have experience with the various tractor mounted offset mowing systems? Looking to get something to help maintain ditches and pond banks, and cut back growth around fields and fence rows.

Looking for something that fits on the back of a 50hp-ish utility tractor (Deere 2240 / Ford 4000SU).

There seem to be a lot of different ways to do this, so I’m looking for comments from those that have run (and maintained) some of the options.

Thanks.

If you don't have a lot of thick woody stuff to cut, that newer sickle mower with a hydraulic bar lift is a good idea. I don't think you have enough tractor for one of the side-mounted rotary (Bush Hog style) mowers. There are some smaller side flails that would work. I think Ferri is one brand. I highly suggest making a cage for the fender on the flail side of an open station tractor as they have been known to throw stuff and break cab windows.

 

[stdsch40]

Yes bought my sickle bar machine a few years ago, before that I had an 'antique' semi-mount JD sickle mower with a rear wheel, that worked well too but not as manoverable as 3pth, had a pitman drive stick. That stick would break at least once a year. Sold the tractor it fit on, so that mower went with it. I have a 3 pth rotary mower too, strictly for 'lawn care'. Guess what, the sickle bar works just as well for lawn care and I'd say uses half the horsepower at way faster forward speed. Also, yeah it will cut bigger than 1", if you give it time to cut by going slow. The one I have came with hydraulic bar lift. I forget the model but supposedly Italian made. Came with an extra cutter bar. When I hit something, rock, ant hill, the bar breaks away undamaged and all you do is drive reverse to reset. No need to get off the tractor. Keep any dogs and children well away from the machine!!!

 

[wh]

Been using a new holland 450 sickle mower for better than 20 years. Works great. Trim around ponds, ditch banks, field edges And along roadway. Any area that it will not reach gets sprayed with round up.