What type mower for undeveloped lots

[jon f mn]

My son does lawn mowing and had been asked to mow some commercial lots that haven't been developed on a once a month basis. What type mower would be best? I was thinking a brush type because you never know what you might encounter and they are tougher. Someone else said a finish mower because they work better in grass. So which is better? He has a 60hp Kubota

 

[m16ty]

He will want a rotary cutter, or what they call a bushhog around here. It won’t make as nice of cut as a finish mower but will hold up a lot better.

 

[moresmoke]

Brush or flail. A finish mower will take a beating unless the lots are smooth and clean. In taller grass, a finish mower doesn’t always do a good job as it lays the grass over and the blades can’t pick it up to cut.

A flail will leave a nice finish, is somewhat tolerant of junk, but doesn’t do great with saplings if any and is usually limited in travel speed if you want a clean cut.

A rotary brush mower is pretty tolerant of junk, will cut small trees and leave the roughest finish. Finish can be improved by reducing travel speed and lowering cut height. Also when looking at rotary mowers watch the blade tip speed. The faster the blade tips, the better the cut in grass, but the higher likelihood of breaking something on a foreign object.

 

[T.R.K.]

Kubota tractor or zero turn? If he has a tractor, he needs a brush cutter. If the lot is smooth enough, he can cut it with a lawn mower. i'm guessing he has a zero turn.
But when we had customers cutting foreclosed properties with full commercial zero turns back in 2009, they tore up a lot of parts.

 

[300jk]

My son does lawn mowing and had been asked to mow some commercial lots that haven't been developed on a once a month basis. What type mower would be best? I was thinking a brush type because you never know what you might encounter and they are tougher. Someone else said a finish mower because they work better in grass. So which is better? He has a 60hp Kubota

I would also say a rotary cutter such as Bush Hog or similar. I’m guessing they want it knocked down, not a golf course cut. 60 hp should handle a decent size cutter.

 

[Tgrasher]

Using a "bush hog" with a sharp blade will leave as good a result as any and still provide durability against trash. His rear tires may be of concern if he can't see what lays in the grass.

 

[m16ty]

Using a "bush hog" with a sharp blade will leave as good a result as any and still provide durability against trash. His rear tires may be of concern if he can't see what lays in the grass.

Yes, cutting it every 2 weeks before it gets real tall a bush hog will make a pretty clean cut.

 

[super99]

I'd say a rotary cutter/ Brush Hog. IF there are any small trees growing in it, either cut them high or as low as possible so he doesn't poke a sharp stub through a tire next time across.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Each area is different. Depends how undeveloped they are talking. Undeveloped yet usually mowed with a lawn mower? or undeveloped next part of the swamp they will drain or forest brush they will clear?

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

I would never use my finish mower on a field/lot that I haven't used a rotary/bush hog on. I've used a sickle mower in places I wouldn't use a finish mower. Just my opinion, and it's worth every cent you paid to get it.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My son does lawn mowing and had been asked to mow some commercial lots that haven't been developed on a once a month basis. What type mower would be best? I was thinking a brush type because you never know what you might encounter and they are tougher. Someone else said a finish mower because they work better in grass. So which is better? He has a 60hp Kubota

I have a 6 ft woods finish mower. I find by adjusting the top link you can raise the front wheels of the mower and the rear wheels are still on the ground.
By cutting grass with the front of the blade raised instead of level, the front of the blade cuts the grass into smaller pieces instead of all at once making large chunks of grass. Try it.
You may need to mow it a second time with the blades level if you want a perfect look.

 

[RobCons]

If these are small lots like the typical 1/8 acre lots in subdivisions a walk behind brush cutter and good weedeater would be an option. If the lots are large enough to use a tractor on my first choice would be a bush hog.

 

[JOCCO]

Jon, I agree with the others but don't know the area he's in. Very small lots may be a walk behind then lawn mow.
Bigger lots use tractor and bush hog/ rotary, then lawn mow/finish mow if possible. Next is it small trees i.e. wood chipper/ stump grind? Inaccessible land for most machines use a brush cutter weed eater. Do walk the area and look for rocks, metal junk etc.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Jon, I agree with the others but don't know the area he's in. Very small lots may be a walk behind then lawn mow.
Bigger lots use tractor and bush hog/ rotary, then lawn mow/finish mow if possible. Next is it small trees i.e. wood chipper/ stump grind? Inaccessible land for most machines use a brush cutter weed eater. Do walk the area and look for rocks, metal junk etc.

 

[ss55]

My son does lawn mowing and had been asked to mow some commercial lots that haven't been developed on a once a month basis. What type mower would be best? I was thinking a brush type because you never know what you might encounter and they are tougher. Someone else said a finish mower because they work better in grass. So which is better? He has a 60hp Kubota

Before choosing equipment or quoting any prices, I would walk each lot as soon as possible with some hazard flags to see if the lots are smooth and level or if they are rutted and covered with rock, construction rubble, sharp tree stumps, old tires and abandon wire fencing. Keep in mind that all kinds of stuff can get dumped on vacant lots any time of the year. Maybe some inexpensive expendable equipment could be the best choice.

 

[DoubleR]

My son does lawn mowing and had been asked to mow some commercial lots that haven't been developed on a once a month basis. What type mower would be best? I was thinking a brush type because you never know what you might encounter and they are tougher. Someone else said a finish mower because they work better in grass. So which is better? He has a 60hp Kubota

I mow lots and acreage for a few contractors before they start or during their new builds. I use a 5 ft Land Pride rotary cutter on a 30 hp Kubota and a 6 ft cutter on a 60 hp Kubota depending on the job. I have a almost new 72 inch 3 point mower that has been sitting unused in the back of the barn for the last 10 years .

 

[Scott(Ks.)]

If those lots are in a new housing development use the heaviest brush cutter with a stump jumper you can find. The current vacant lots are the dumping ground from the last house built. My Dad graded and seeded new lawns for several contractors and mowing the vacant lots seemed to come with the deal. He mowed just about everything you can name. Sometimes the weeds and grass was over hood high. Once he looked up in time to see a power pole coming through the weeds. He had picked up the guy cable and it wound up on the mower spindle. Think trash, tires, telephone boxes, rocks......

Once a month might be better after he clears the lots the first time.

 

[flying belgian]

If those lots are in a new housing development use the heaviest brush cutter with a stump jumper you can find. The current vacant lots are the dumping ground from the last house built. My Dad graded and seeded new lawns for several contractors and mowing the vacant lots seemed to come with the deal. He mowed just about everything you can name. Sometimes the weeds and grass was over hood high. Once he looked up in time to see a power pole coming through the weeds. He had picked up the guy cable and it wound up on the mower spindle. Think trash, tires, telephone boxes, rocks......

Once a month might be better after he clears the lots the first time.

Just yesterday I mowed a commercial lot I seeded in alfalfa several years ago. I have been mowing it many years with no debris in there. Very first round I hit a rock the size of your head. Took out the knives on one disk. No other damage.

 

[Fordy20]

For longer grass, a flail will give the nicest cut with no grass winrows of dead grass. But, they are more expensive than a Bush Hog type mower and more easily damaged if they hit something like a rock (depending on the quality of the flail - light or heavy duty). All the road crews that mow ditches here use a flail. A finish mower is the same as a lawn mower only good if the lot is level - no scalping - and the gras is kept short.

 

[ss55]

My son does lawn mowing and had been asked to mow some commercial lots that haven't been developed on a once a month basis. What type mower would be best? I was thinking a brush type because you never know what you might encounter and they are tougher. Someone else said a finish mower because they work better in grass. So which is better? He has a 60hp Kubota

Two dumb questions:
Will a flail stalk chopper in working condition work as a flail mower?
Are sharp hammers necessary or will dull hammers work?