Grass Cutting Machinery

Choosing the Right Mower

Rotary, Flail, Scythe or Brushcutter? Which Mower Do You Need?

You need a mower, but which one is going to meet your particular requirements? There are many types of mower from which to choose, including rotary, flail, scythe and brushcutter, with each one having its own benefits in certain environments.

Many factors need to be considered when selecting the best mower for the job you need to tackle. You’ll need to think about what it is you’re going to be cutting, the size of the working area, the nature of the terrain, and whether or not there are obstacles and landscaping to negotiate.

At Tracmaster, we’ve produced this guide with the aim of helping you differentiate between the different mower types, and to determine which one is suitable for which application.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on 01444 247689 if you would like to talk about any of these options.

Rotary Mowers

Maintaining British lawns for over 70 years, rotary mowers are design-classics employing one or more fast-spinning blades to cut back the grass, and to send clippings at high speed through a discharge chute, either directly onto the lawn, or into a grassbag or box.

Many rotary mowers can be used with a mulch plug, which, when inserted, closes off the exit chute, enabling clippings to be held under the cutter deck and shredded, before the resulting particulates are spread across the turf to act as a free, organic feed. Mulching is perfect for neat, frequently mown areas, but, if you’re dealing with the sort of long growth found in neglected outlying areas, a machine with a side-discharge function is recommended.

When it comes to propulsion, you can choose between push and self-drive, with the former suited to areas where a high degree of manoeuvrability is required, and the latter coming into their own on slopes, rolling ground and rough grass.

Most rotary mowers are petrol powered, but recent advances in lithium cell technology have seen a surge in the popularity of quiet, smooth running and environmentally sound battery-driven machines.

Rotary Mowers

Flail Mowers

For out-of-control grass, weeds, scrub and bramble, a flail mower is perfect.

Flail mowers employ a series of free-swinging, axle-mounted, Y-shaped blades operating at high speed, mulching vegetation as they tear through it. The blades are designed to bounce off obstacles, making flail mowers great for uneven, rutted ground.

Smaller, domestic-use flail mowers will often have a collection facility, while larger, pro-use models tend to leave cut material on the ground, where, because it’s mulched, it will quickly rot down.

The vast majority of flail mowers are walk-behind, but you can now get hold of cutting-edge, remotely operated machines.

Flail Mowers
Berta Flail Mower on BCS 780HY cutting long grass
BCS 740 Two Wheel Tractor with Berta Flail Mower attachment
BCS 740 Two Wheel Tractor with Berta Flail Mower attachment
BCS Power Scythe cutting long grass
BCS 630 Power Scythe next to solar panels at a solar farm
BCS 630WS power unit with BCS Scythe Cutter Bar attachment cutting on a bank

Scythe Mowers

Also known as a sickle-bar mower or allen scythe, a powered scythe is the perfect tool for cutting tall meadow grass and overgrown wildflower areas.

Scythe mowers employ a scissor-like cutting action – the cutter bar has a series of triangular teeth, which move from side to side against a fixed lower blade, cutting at the base of the growth, rather than going over the top of it, as with conventional mowers. This makes scythe mowers particularly good for wildflower management, as they don’t smash seed heads, instead slicing the base of the stem and allowing the seeds to fall to the ground and germinate.

Also a good choice for haymaking and reedbed maintenance, powered scythes come in a variety of working widths, and are available as stand-alone machines, or two-wheel tractor attachments.

BCS Power Scythes

Handheld Brushcutters

A handheld brushcutter is a must-have bit of kit for anyone serious about maintaining neat and tidy grounds. They’re compact, lightweight and easy to wield, and they make it possible to trim areas inaccessible with a walk-behind mower.

Brushcutters are available with either ‘loop’ or ‘cowhorn’ handlebars, and many models come with both a line head and a metal blade.

Petrol is the predominant power source, but as with most garden machinery now, battery versions are becoming more prevalent.

Handheld Brushcutters

Wheeled Brushcutters

With engines three to four times larger than those on the most powerful handheld brushcutters, wheeled brushcutters take vegetation clearance to the next level!

Being so powerful and benefitting from expansive working widths, wheeled brushcutters will take down all manner of invasive growth over large areas with fantastic speed and efficiency, which explains why they’re so popular with smallholders and commercial landscaping contractors.

You can choose between push and self-propelled machines, with many models capable of accepting either a blade or a nylon-line cutter head. The line used for wheeled brushcutters is usually around 4.5mm in diameter, compared to the 2.4mm line you generally get with a handheld model.

Wheeled Brushcutters

Remote Control Mowers

Remote control mowers are a fantastic way to cut difficult to get to areas and banks. If the area is very steep, or inaccessible, then a remote control mower is the answer. The operator can be some distance away but still retain control of the machine.

In addition, remote control mowers eliminate operator fatigue from prolonged vibration exposure and save the operator from having to wade through bracken, brambles, and tough terrain.

Our range comprises the hybrid Bluebird mowers which feature a petrol engine for powering the cutting blade and electric motors for speed control. This is the best of both worlds as you can cut dense vegetation whilst maintaining excellent 360 degree control.

Remote Control Mowers
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Units 6-7 Winterpick Business Park, Hurstpierpoint Road, Wineham, West Sussex BN5 9BJ, UK

+44 (0)1444 247689

sales@tracmaster.co.uk

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