Flail Mower or Topper?

[Andy Collins]

Cutting and raking a flower meadow is not for the faint hearted, I've done it for several years. We have now introduced a flock of Hebridean sheep, which are grazing it down, fertilising at the same time. Stock proofing is electric fencing, and signage to warn the public of the responsibilities of dog control in the countryside. Do not leave the cut hay on the surface, it introduces far too much nitrogen back into the meadow. I think sheep are the best option. Small holders are often looking for alterntive grazing to rest their land, so worth approaching.

[difflock]

Except surely the sheep shite has the same fertilizing effect.

As leaving cut grass.

It was my understanding that to sustain a hay meadow, the fertility had to be suppressed by removing each years growth after seeding.

Like in saving hay neatly does, by shaking out the ripe and dry flower seeds, then removing the bulk of the nitrogen containing grasses.

Otherwise the grass specis will dominate at the expense of the wild flowers

[Andy Collins]

I get what you're saying, but going on "best practise", it's definitely bad to leave the cut hay lying, I guess the sheep poo is not so dense, and it's liberally sprinkled about as they wander around, giving a less concentrated level. Leaving the hay also stifles many of the wild flowers, allowing only the bay willowherb and sows thistles through. We are trying the grazing this year to see the difference it makes/doesn't make.

[Chris Sheppard]

Flail collector works well on some sites, especially if there's bramble through it too. We've even used it on smaller birch regen where it all would have needed gathered up after too. It's not so great on rougher ground though as the centre of gravity is a bit higher and also it's a bit more flimsy compared to the normal flail and doesn't like being dragged as roughly.

 

Problem would be finding one small enough for an AGT to handle, physically rather than power wise. The one behind the landini (28hp) is the smallest I've seen before but that knows it as it when it's full.

 

As well as the flail collector, there's a topper and a heavy duty flail sat in the shed too so the simple answer is there's no one perfect machine unfortunatley.

 

The flail mower comes out most often though, but does make for interesting raking.

[wrsni]

Sounds like another doomed "wildflower meadow" project then!

 

Anyway, for this particular job the topper will probably be the best bet, cheaper, easier to rake up, and the cut itself will be adequate.

 

For other work, well there's no such thing as a universal mower. Flail has some advantages specific to some jobs, but plenty of characteristics which would be a distinct disadvantage in others, not least, cost and hp requirement.

 

I think you'd need to have a very good idea of what sort of other work you'd be at before parting with the dosh, even within flail mowers themselves there are different types of flails to fit depending on the work, all running in to big money.

[Commando]

Hi Ty I have the Elite L 160 on a AGT850. It is a great tool but definitely doesn't cut as fine/close as a rotary topper. However as an 'all round' option I have found it handles everything (brambles, rushes and bracken) very well and is stable on slopes. I have tried the sheep option on our steep orchard but if the grass gets away from you ie clumpy, then they wont eat it down. I have an 8ft spring tine harrow that I use to rake up, this does a pretty tidy job with the added harrowing benefits.

[Ty Unnos]

Thanks all - sounds like there is no one answer. I know I will need the fail at some point but reckon I could use the topper for this job. I might try and borrow or hire one and see how I get on.

 

One more question. We will probably try and make hay off the same site next year. So a drum mower would make sense as an investment. But how would it cope with the wet / over stood grass from this year? I am guessing it is easier to rake if cut with a drum mower but what are they like on wet long grass?

[wrsni]

A properly set up drum mower will cut just about anything put in front of it, if it can't be cut with a drum god only knows what you'd go in to it with!

[midwales richard]

Hi. We have done a few jobs like this this year. We have a 35 hp compact tractor, cut with a 510 teagle topper then row up with a conventional Tedder. Picking up the rows onto a trailer to move to composting site is then quite quick and easy even if it is a little boring doing it by hand. Leaves a tidy job without needing to take any heavy kit onto the meadows. Using this technique we have gained "approved contractor" with our local meadows group!

[Craig.]

Ty, if your stuck with this give me a shout on pm, I think I`m quite close to you from memory reading old posts.

I`ve got both a flail and rotary topper, the flail take a fair bit of driving, but as others said mulches the cuttings more so not ideal for wild flower. If the grass is a bit longer the rotary should leave it in a swath, to help picking up.