Brambles

[Countryboy]

I have just purchased a small woodland which has large areas of low growing brambles. I want to clear them before they get a hold. I have spent some time with a stihl brushcutter but it is taking too long to clear.

 

I am thinking of buying a DR Commercial 16-26 brushcutter mower and wondered if anyone had used one??

 

Regards

Countryboy

[Matthew Arnold]

We have a DR mower at work. We have the 13hp model which is enough for doing brambles and rough grassy areas. What is your budget as we have been looking at the 17 hp model with a 30 inch deck?

[Countryboy]

Budget is around £2,300

[Mozza]

Hire a mulcher for a day and blitz it

[Countryboy]

I have thought of hiring a mulcher but want to keep on top of the brambles etc. once I get them down. I assume they will grow again so want to keep knocking them dowm

[chazzer]

If you hire a mulcher and get the brambles down then if you keep on top of it your brushcutter should be able to do the job.

 

Charlie

[Countryboy]

How much is it to hire a mulcher for a day, not sure where I could hire one in Bucks/beds/herts borders

[WeeDee]

Have you considered a power scythe?

They do a nice job with bramble - slow action that does not blend the cut material to paste.

[Matthew Arnold]

With a budget of £2300 you should be able to buy this model. We have the older model and we used it to the point where the blade would just turn grass. The blade is extremely robust and will put up with smacking into flints.

 

DR Power Equipment - DR Field and Brush Mower - 14.5 HP Pro

[coppiceer]

I have thought of hiring a mulcher but want to keep on top of the brambles etc. once I get them down. I assume they will grow again so want to keep knocking them dowm

 

Brambles will become one of your constant problems, They certainly will regrow and the lovely little birds will drop new pips all over your wood. You might consider a regime of cutting back the worst of your bramble growth each autumn to about 6" and spraying the new shoots in the following spring before much else is shooting. This technique works well for me on an ex-farmland plantation but, being a new woodland to you, you should check this first spring to see if anything is growing under the bramble that you might want to keep safe.