MOWING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS! 10 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE BRUSH HOGGING

We're tackling a section of our property that is very soft, wet ground and full of very thick, tall grass. Our aim is to mow the entire thing down so we can plant crops there to attract deer (we're following a plan laid out by Jeff Sturgis). We'll be using a Rhino Ag cutter on our John Deere 2038R, but last year we tackled this section with a Dirt Dog cutter on our Summit TX25.
While we cut we'll give you the best advice we have for successful and safe brush hogging.
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This video is for entertainment purposes only. Good Works Tractors (Good Works Lawn & Power, LLC) cannot be held responsible for content found in any video. Always reference your owners manuals, use extreme caution, and proceed at your own risk.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Hope you enjoyed! If you have brush hogging tips to share, please comment below! Looking for information on the products in this video? Click these links: Rhino Ag Cutters: tinyurl.com/4tb8ykt2 Dirt Dog Cutter: tinyurl.com/yrp7ej5j Rhinohide Canopy: www.tractorcanopy.com

[@redclover51]

In unfamiliar or limited maintenance areas, I always keep the loader bucket a few inches above ground level to find those hidden objects, tree stumps, rocks,abandoned fencing, etc.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Good call, thanks for sharing!

[@freidrichnietzsche6643]

Do the same here with my jd 5055e Also, great point about going slow & the machine easily do the work and allows for more time to react to things.

[@paulhenry8174]

Thanks for the tip. My yard looks like that with rocks. I’ve been mowing high and slow then pulling boulders before mowing close. Still haven’t gotten the mowing close. Too worn out, too many other projects. I did just hay rake cut field, did a great job at bringing up all the stuff that laid down and I got a bunch of loose hay for stock.

[@71160000]

Set your loader flat on the ground. Lift it an inch or so and then tilt the front of the loader up a couple of inches. If you hit an obstacle you'll see the loader lift up to go over it and you'll know there's something in the way. It'll also bend tall brush down so the tractor can drive over it more easily. Doesn't seem to affect the brush hogs ability to mow the brush fully.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Yes, depends how flat your area is. If real bumpy, you may dig in your bucket edge too often. Adjust as needed. Good advice!

[@stevejohnstonbaugh9171]

Were i in your shoes I'd get that brushog and tractor on a good flat surface, drop the tail wheel to it's lowest position (highest cut), and level the brushog and tractor as one unit with your 3 point screw. There is no benefit to hogging that low unless the next step is to apply glyphostate. If you raise your hog up to the highest cut you'll pass over the rocks and stones, you will get a much better chop and distribution of the cuttings because they won't be trapped under the deck, your plants will grow thicker and eventually crowd out the brambles and your field will look a lot better. Give it a try. You won't be sorry. :) Good luck!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I did apply gly as the next step and planted a food plot. There were no rocks or stones. This was more like a muck field, lowland.

[@markveldhuizen]

Good rule of thumb. Every time you have to hop off the tractor for a new, cold beer, clean the debris off the grille. 😂

[@bioniclife]

I bush hog foreclosed properties occasionally. Running with the loader low helps find all the stuff I miss on the walk-through. The other issue is vegetation that has gone to seed. Keep an eye on engine temp. Seed will accumulate on the pre-screen and limit air flow through the radiator. I wipe it repeatedly but also, I keep a slave tank w blowgun to give a quick blast and clear while in the field. Though cleaning of screens and radiator when I get home.

[@hacksskillsmods8916]

I grew-up driving tractors, by the time I was 16 I had 10 years of experience, yes, I started at 5 y.o. with my dad pushing the peddles and I just steered.. After that for 30 years I was hardly ever on one, but it's kinda like riding a bicycle. A lot of the things you cover in your videos are second nature to me. But in most of your videos I Lear something to go with what I already know and tractors have changed some in the last 30 years. So, thank you for the good advice for those who don't have the lugsury of prior 10 years experience and for the new things I'm learning.

[@ProductiveRecreation]

I finally upgraded and got a Woods BB60.30 brush hog delivered a week ago, and set it up on the tractor last weekend. Night and day different from my 25 year old (and deteriorated) standard duty cutter. The front to back pitch is important. Same applies to lawnmower decks as well! I'll add that I like having the tail wheel adjusted so that it is just off the ground (1/4"-1/2") when the cutter is at cutting height and pitched correctly. I don't want weight on the wheel all the time, only when necessary because of the terrain. With respect to the radiator and overheating, its important to clean the external grille, as well as the screen that's under the hood right in the front of the radiator. When I mow tall grass that's going to seed, I sometimes have to stop and clear my radiator screen every 10 minutes. I always watch the temperature gauge carefully when mowing!

[@dennisreed7181]

I have sheared a shear pin mowing over a fire ant pile. We have a high clay soil and the grass & weeds were tall, so I didn't see the ant pile. So, now I use the bucket push down the weeds and ant piles to about 4" above ground.

[@davidregis592]

Very true about hidden dangers and unfamilar terrain. Tall grass can hide sharp terrain changes and all the other things you mentioned. Even after maintaining a property for two years, we still occasionally find T-posts, concrete blocks, bricks and steel barrel hoops as we clear and clean-up areas. Couple all that with a vernal pond and drainages, you have to be alert and cautious.

[@jamesyates5191]

Great video on safety and management of the equipment.

[@dpistone10]

What a great video. I cut this height of weeds in my backyard and many of my neighbors backyards as well. I live in Lancaster California but our weeds where very dry and not wet like yours in this video. I was a little shocked that you handled it that well being so damp. Awesome tractor work there Courtney. 🚜🚜🚜🚜🚜

[@trainfire28]

Great job, thanks so much.

[@brooster87]

Good stuff brother. Thanks for great videos always.

[@beldavius]

Just did one of my pastures last night and it looked a lot like that little plot! Slow and steady for me, especially on the hilly parts. I like the tip about the angles. Hadn't thought about that, I have mine adjusted to be mostly level, but I think I'll lower the front a little bit to help my tractor out. Wish I had a hydraulic top link! Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Thanks for watching!

[@Iowaflyboy1]

Great ideas, I was using a flail mower on my mini excavator and hit an old logging chain in an overgrown field. Minor damage but it spooked me a little.

[@keithhimstedt6870]

Love Jeff @WHS great video and start on your land. Good Luck with the whitetails

[@firemanj35]

Great tips today! That was a lot of material to be putting through the mower, but it looked to handle it well.

[@jimmysimpson4542]

A tip I tell folks is, as you said, leave the bucket on. But also curl it up and lower it to a couple to a few inches above the ground. I call it my mine detector. Will locate stumps and rocks before I run over them.

[@kylerayk]

Great tips for mowing! Save some tall stuff for the twin spindle cutter and the M4!

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha...well not in this area! Same spot I got that setup stuck a few weeks ago :)

[@StumpkillerCP]

Seeds/chaff/grass fibers is such a problem covering my radiator and oil cooler behind the front grill that I added a push-button hood release so I could hop off and check under the hood easily. Not so much a problem for short fescue, but mature grasses are a dust producer. I let our pasture go to seed a couple times annually so I can dethatch afterwards to use as chicken coop bedding & nest-box lining and the chickens love the seed heads. We formerly raised sheep and the pasture is still good orchard grass, Timothy, birdsfoot trefoil and some white clover still hanging on. Also a "food-plot" when I leave the lower gates open . . . or not.

[@user-qd2bc5xr3h]

Great video

[@justanotherviewer52]

Best advice - a brush hog is not a finish mower. Thanks for the video.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Haha, definitely!

[@kdegraa]

My dad once mowed the lawn with his tractor and the slasher. The lawn mower was broken. The end result was horrible.

[@Gilikemail]

Great video! I'm getting ready to head out and tame a couple of over-grown pastures and you gave some great advise.

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Have fun and be safe!!

[@Schneester]

Another reason to keep your bucket lower is if you are in tall grass, it will prevent the grass getting wrapped around your driveshaft.

[@chadbinette3201]

Im jealous, I've watched whitetail habit solutions for years and good works tractors for years , I've always wanted to be a position to have Jeff Sturgis come out to my property in Maine. If he even comes that far I dunno but someday.

[@DM-fz3ly]

Hi Courtney, could you share what type of hearing protection you use?? are they bluetooth? Also a suggestion would be to introduce yourself at the beginning of each video... Just a quick "Hi this is Courtney Scott with Good Works Tractors" would be my suggestion. Cheers and thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@dino-luck]

What do you use to successfully broadcast clover? I'm will be doing around 5 acres of flat but bumpy lot and want to cover it fully with white dutch, last year I tried mixing with limestone and fertilizer and some grass seed and used a tow behind and all it did is created these 4' paths where I drove it because the seed was so fine. Been trying to find something for my 1025r that actually will broadcast clover properly.

[@charlesmartin8047]

It's interesting that Rhino Ag uses a flared T-Bar as opposed to a round stump jumper

[@MrVreez]

Great video! Thanks! Question--what about lowering the bucket when mowing in areas you are unsure of in terms of rocks? Would that help to locate them before running over them?

[@MrVreez]

Oh, I see that addressed just below. Thanks

[@FREEDOM-sd9my]

Is it a good idea to run your loader close to ground level just in case of an object protruding in the ground so you don't hit it?

[@Haulingforaliving]

Hey good works , i mangled my tie rod on my JD 1025r ordered a new one $680 later the castle nuts dont seem like they should be tighen down 100% should they be tight crushing the rubber gasket or just far enough to fit the pin in then let the pin hold it ? I cant find anything anywhere

[@itsaRiot]

We need a reversible fan for these tractors. I have the same problem plugging up the screen on my tractor. The big tractors have it so why can't these?

[@Zanderthelab]

Yeah I mow down goldenrod too cuz I’m allergic to it. Suck it up buttercup!!

[@derekdreke4990]

The biggest thing to remember is tractors and equipment can be very dangerous! I mean it's good there are videos these days but just take it easy and be safe

[@jimmyharper6655]

Time for some controlled burning!

[@markschwerin1794]

Really the bucket never been in my way

[@aysolar]

why doing all the reverse? Why not do circles through the middle like a regular lawn mower?

[@shawndickmann8215]

How would a Del merino flail mower handle that?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

I think I'd be taking partial passes. It would do it, but flails want to cut low to the ground, so you'd have to go very slow too. Lots and lots of debris to chop up.

[@Itsa_Mea]

Good video idea. I'd like to see a flail mower cut this exact scenario and compare to the brush hog.

[@bishopcorva]

I'd be concerned about seeds, seed hulls, leaf bits and airborne dry grass dust clogging the radiator vanes to set in motion a overheat scenario or possibly with enough heat dried stuff that close around the engine that it may cause a surprise fire. Which itself would be at a highly critical moment that a fire would be the most damaging. Like in a dry grass field during the summer when the woods surrounding are also dry, grass fire turned woods on fire. Or your tractor catches fire in the barn. Just ask corn, wheat, soybean growers, or farmers in general about the idea of a tractor or harvester fire. Ask them the best means of mitigation for fire risk. Also if the exhaust pipe is routed under the tractor and you spent a lot of time going through high grass and such. Take the time to look under it and dislodge snagged grass and debris. Again, look up off roading fires from people driving through high grass and clumps of grass getting snagged by exhaust hangers, on the catalytic housing to cook until it ignites. Thinking about roll overs, that was a real thing for a friend. Mowing out shooting lanes and atv trails. Tried to get too much done in rapidly losing light. Went too far to the right on a trail, rear wheel went off the edge. Tractor rolled twice and landed turtle on its lid. If not for the re-installed roll bar, only way we'd have found out what happened was to stumble across the tractor probably later in the week. As it was he still had a broken arm, many cuts, bumps and bruises but for all that and the mile walk back. He was able to tell us.

[@Ramblin_Rob]

Good video. BTW, that's a Grub Hoe not a pick ax😁

[@sbcmike2765]

You have any work out tips? I see you looking like Patrick Swayze.

[@MikeOrazzi]

Here's a new one for me, someone reported one of my brush hogging videos as "Reported as harmful for destroying nature." I mean, wow. Really? Have they ever mowed a lawn?

[@GoodWorksTractors]

haha. that's new to me too!

[@markschwerin1794]

I could of take a hay mower , and been done in 10 minutes

[@lancewheelock8102]

need to have pto shield fastened... should not be spinning

[@GoodWorksTractors]

Those chains break all the time

[@papahop32]

Be careful doing this as I almost ran over a newborn baby deer clearing a field. Freaked me out big time!!

[@harrydardio8774]

You talk too much. More cut less talk

[@bigdaddy4197]

You type to much. Just watch no type.

[@Zanderthelab]

You should get a Ventrac.

[@Itsa_Mea]

Have you priced them and the attachments? If you already have a tractor and don't need to go up a 30° incline it's not practical for a homeowner to own one.

[@Zanderthelab]

@@Itsa_Mea you must not live in a wet environment lol. Yes I’m aware how much they are.

[@Itsa_Mea]

@@Zanderthelab I do. But you must not of watched Tractor Time with Tim's video from 2 days ago!? Lol

[@Zanderthelab]

@@Itsa_Mea where he went through the pond?