Best device for cleaning up fence lines

[foggybok]

I have miles of fenceline to keep clear. I can get close with the brush hog, but still need to clean up the fence line. Our riding lawnmower can get a little closer, but some of the weeds and the terrain will be too much for it. I have a small wheeled line trimmer that’s easy for me to use, but it doesn’t have enough ooomph. I have a nice hand held Stihl that does a great job, but I can’t handle using it for long periods. I’d like something like the wheeled trimmer, but heftier. The last one I used was hefty enough, but really awkward to maneuver. I felt like I was wrestling the darn thing… So does someone have an easy to use, mobile version of one of these things that can handle heavy brush and be easily handled by an old fart?

Yes, one alternative is to just pay someone…

[Bluey]

Spray fence lines where they are hard to get to could help.

Some preparations you can spray last three months or more.

Your county agent would know what products are best and safe for that in your area and how to apply them.

[Foxglove]

I share your pain . . . while I don’t have miles of fence line, what I do have is enough. We spray twice a year --but what I really want is what my neighbor has —he has a massive 'dozer (he’s a retired heavy equipment operator). When he’s bored, he does his side of the fence lines with it --very carefully. He can move or remove full size trees with that equipment. Maybe a little over kill --but seems like a lot more fun than walking the fence lines with a hand sprayer of Roundup. During COVID lock down, he made wonderful trails trough his 50 acre woods and invited me to ride over there --we share a fence line and I had a gate put in years ago to ride on the other neighbor’s 3000 acre field between deer season and crop planting. Seeing him out there (I think he’s about 80) reminds me of “The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.” --he looks exactly like a gleeful little boy playing in the sandbox!

[clanter]

A sickle bar mower would work

https://tractortoolsdirect.com/blog/…our-operation/

[tabula_rashah]

I have a lot of fence line to maintain too and I won’t use chemical methods. I got a heavy duty wheeled trimmer and thing is awesome. It is a little hefty to maneuver esp the first time because things were a little more grown up. But dang! that thing is wicked- the string went right through a step in post (oops!). Because my field is on a hill, I do cheat a little. I run it down hill then leave it at the bottom, go get my truck, put it in the truck and drive back up and then do the other side downhill too. It’s way to heavy to push up a steep hill

[ShotenStar]

If you have a tractor with a PTO, there are PTO driven swing arm fenceline trimmers. They work best on mostly level ground. My neighbor has one and it is effective. Not quite as tidy as an in-hand trimmer, but quite serviceable when you need to do miles of fence.

star

[goodhors]

Just ordered a 3-PT DR trimmer for the tractor. Has a 2yr warrenty. Hope it is as wonderful as the videos! Spring loaded to give going around trees and posts, with a guard to prevent beating on them with the string. Have to see how it does on our rolling ground. Even having to do a few places by hand will be easier than pushing the trimmer around every pasture and paddock fence!

I have used the push weed trimmers and they do a nice job. A big improvement from a stick trimmer. Just has been SO HOT this year, I did not want to go out and use it. Lots of fence here too and we got behind with the wet spring. We usually spray early, but it rained almost daily, the herbicide would have been wasted by washing off. Now it is big, tough weeds, so spraying won’t keep them off the wire. I had a lovely Craftsman trimmer, did a great job until it just wore out. I bought some used DR trimmers who also did a good job. They also got worn out enough that fixing was more than getting another used one. I am FINALLY done with used, fixing them. I am going to buy a new DR push trimmer, which I expect to last well with better care than those used trimmers had.

DR company is having a sale, ends today, July 30th. They have cut prices, plus free shipping, so a good time to order!

The DR push trimmers are now sold at TSC and have 10% off thru the weekend I believe. Comes out to the same price as buying from DR and waiting for it. Already assembled too, with a warranty.

Get the good string, heavy lasts longer. My favorite is the orange Swisher, cut lengths. That stuff is amazing! I have been advised to soak the string in water before use, puts more flexibility in it, less likely to snap off on a hard stick or stem. I think that tip is on the DR site.

[foggybok]

@Bluey

Spray fence lines where they are hard to get to could help.

Some preparations you can spray last three months or more.

Your county agent would know what products are best and safe for that in your area and how to apply them.

I’d rather not use chemicals

[foggybok]

@clanter

A sickle bar mower would work

https://tractortoolsdirect.com/blog/…our-operation/

Thanks, it might work on some sections, but maneuvering under the fence would be pretty tricky in most of the places and I definitely couldn’t get it around the front and side of my pasture (top of steep hill and no clearance for tractor)

[foggybok]

@tabula rashah

I have a lot of fence line to maintain too and I won’t use chemical methods. I got a heavy duty wheeled trimmer and thing is awesome. It is a little hefty to maneuver esp the first time because things were a little more grown up. But dang! that thing is wicked- the string went right through a step in post (oops!). Because my field is on a hill, I do cheat a little. I run it down hill then leave it at the bottom, go get my truck, put it in the truck and drive back up and then do the other side downhill too. It’s way to heavy to push up a steep hill

Is your self propelled? There is no way I could do this property without that and I’m not even sure that’s enough. The last one I tried was way to cumbersome. And you could only go forward…quite annoying especially in some of the narrow areas I have…

[foggybok]

@ShotenStar

If you have a tractor with a PTO, there are PTO driven swing arm fenceline trimmers. They work best on mostly level ground. My neighbor has one and it is effective. Not quite as tidy as an in-hand trimmer, but quite serviceable when you need to do miles of fence.

star

“mostly level ground” is the problem. It’s all hills…

[foggybok]

@goodhors

Just ordered a 3-PT DR trimmer for the tractor. Has a 2yr warrenty. Hope it is as wonderful as the videos! Spring loaded to give going around trees and posts, with a guard to prevent beating on them with the string. Have to see how it does on our rolling ground. Even having to do a few places by hand will be easier than pushing the trimmer around every pasture and paddock fence!

I have used the push weed trimmers and they do a nice job. A big improvement from a stick trimmer. Just has been SO HOT this year, I did not want to go out and use it. Lots of fence here too and we got behind with the wet spring. We usually spray early, but it rained almost daily, the herbicide would have been wasted by washing off. Now it is big, tough weeds, so spraying won’t keep them off the wire. I had a lovely Craftsman trimmer, did a great job until it just wore out. I bought some used DR trimmers who also did a good job. They also got worn out enough that fixing was more than getting another used one. I am FINALLY done with used, fixing them. I am going to buy a new DR push trimmer, which I expect to last well with better care than those used trimmers had.

DR company is having a sale, ends today, July 30th. They have cut prices, plus free shipping, so a good time to order!

The DR push trimmers are now sold at TSC and have 10% off thru the weekend I believe. Comes out to the same price as buying from DR and waiting for it. Already assembled too, with a warranty.

Get the good string, heavy lasts longer. My favorite is the orange Swisher, cut lengths. That stuff is amazing! I have been advised to soak the string in water before use, puts more flexibility in it, less likely to snap off on a hard stick or stem. I think that tip is on the DR site.

I’ve been looking at the DR trimmers and wondering if they are less cumbersome than the one I used before…

[foggybok]

@Foxglove

I share your pain . . . while I don’t have miles of fence line, what I do have is enough. We spray twice a year --but what I really want is what my neighbor has —he has a massive 'dozer (he’s a retired heavy equipment operator). When he’s bored, he does his side of the fence lines with it --very carefully. He can move or remove full size trees with that equipment. Maybe a little over kill --but seems like a lot more fun than walking the fence lines with a hand sprayer of Roundup. During COVID lock down, he made wonderful trails trough his 50 acre woods and invited me to ride over there --we share a fence line and I had a gate put in years ago to ride on the other neighbor’s 3000 acre field between deer season and crop planting. Seeing him out there (I think he’s about 80) reminds me of “The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.” --he looks exactly like a gleeful little boy playing in the sandbox!

ha ha, yeah bulldozers are fun! My brush hog will take down small trees with no issue, but I still can’t get right up to fence line in most places. A lot of it is too steep to parallel the fence without going over sideways.

[foggybok]

@goodhors

Just ordered a 3-PT DR trimmer for the tractor. Has a 2yr warrenty. Hope it is as wonderful as the videos! Spring loaded to give going around trees and posts, with a guard to prevent beating on them with the string. Have to see how it does on our rolling ground. Even having to do a few places by hand will be easier than pushing the trimmer around every pasture and paddock fence!

I have used the push weed trimmers and they do a nice job. A big improvement from a stick trimmer. Just has been SO HOT this year, I did not want to go out and use it. Lots of fence here too and we got behind with the wet spring. We usually spray early, but it rained almost daily, the herbicide would have been wasted by washing off. Now it is big, tough weeds, so spraying won’t keep them off the wire. I had a lovely Craftsman trimmer, did a great job until it just wore out. I bought some used DR trimmers who also did a good job. They also got worn out enough that fixing was more than getting another used one. I am FINALLY done with used, fixing them. I am going to buy a new DR push trimmer, which I expect to last well with better care than those used trimmers had.

DR company is having a sale, ends today, July 30th. They have cut prices, plus free shipping, so a good time to order!

The DR push trimmers are now sold at TSC and have 10% off thru the weekend I believe. Comes out to the same price as buying from DR and waiting for it. Already assembled too, with a warranty.

Get the good string, heavy lasts longer. My favorite is the orange Swisher, cut lengths. That stuff is amazing! I have been advised to soak the string in water before use, puts more flexibility in it, less likely to snap off on a hard stick or stem. I think that tip is on the DR site.

I just watched the video! That thing looks sweet! I could use it in a good portion of the property I think. Some of the fence would be hard to get to given terrain, but it would do just what you say, reduce the amount I need to do by hand. I think it would work great for most of my upper pasture and that would be a HUGE win. Hmmmmmm, do I pull the trigger on it?

[Bluey]

@foggybok

I just watched the video! That thing looks sweet! I could use it in a good portion of the property I think. Some of the fence would be hard to get to given terrain, but it would do just what you say, reduce the amount I need to do by hand. I think it would work great for most of my upper pasture and that would be a HUGE win. Hmmmmmm, do I pull the trigger on it?

Here is a video with a review of the DR PTO trimmer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi9i9or8w7g

[goodhors]

@foggybok

I just watched the video! That thing looks sweet! I could use it in a good portion of the property I think. Some of the fence would be hard to get to given terrain, but it would do just what you say, reduce the amount I need to do by hand. I think it would work great for most of my upper pasture and that would be a HUGE win. Hmmmmmm, do I pull the trigger on it?

Well the sale and free shipping ends today, July 30th! That is $200 savings. 2 year warrenty on everything I believe. Ask if you call. They have a 6 month return in item for money back. So I pulled the trigger and ordered. Been wanting one for awhile. Saw a couple at auction go for almost new prices, so did not buy them. I figured better to buy new and get the 2yr warranty, plus return if it did not work, to get all my money back.

I EXPECT the 3pt trimmer will be an excellent investment, one I will get a lot of use out of.

[clanter]

regarding warranties… check you credit card list of benefits…

as for pricing… there is also a price protection benefit… It Covers the difference in price between a qualifying purchase and a printed advertisement for the exact item for less at any retail store within 60 days of the original purchase date, if the claim is made within 10 days of the printed advertisement…

[goodhors]

Thanks Bluey for the Utube link. Interesting to watch a non Company video of the trimmer in use. The DR guys said the trimmer measured 5 1/2 inches from top of guard to the string holding ball on the ground. I am pretty sure the trimmer will fit under most areas of my wire fence. I guess Katy Kubota will get a lot more use in the low range gears with this trimmer behind! The video quick hitch is different, have not seen one like that before. My hitch is the regular tractor type, 2 arms and the top link on a bigger tractor.

My goal is to have all plant life off the wire to keep fence hot. Scalping is acceptable here. I can spray fences after that, go with a scorched earth look under fences during the growing season. As he said, it will make my life easier, riding the tractor instead of pushing the wheeled weed trimmer uphill. Ha ha Now I need a canopy on the tractor.

[tabula_rashah]

@foggybok

Is your self propelled? There is no way I could do this property without that and I’m not even sure that’s enough. The last one I tried was way to cumbersome. And you could only go forward…quite annoying especially in some of the narrow areas I have…

No not self propelled unfortunately and one hell of a workout- but still less of one than a regular string trimmer. Mine does go forward and back and the head you can adjust to any angle so it fits in all kinds of weird spaces.
Depending on how wet or dry your area is- one thing we do here as an organic method is to go through with a propane dragon and burn (we’re in an area that tends to be really wet in the summer so this isn’t a problem, obviously if you’re somewhere dry or with fire issues, this is not the solution for you lol) and then come back and spray the burnt area with an orange oil solution.

[foggybok]

@goodhors

Thanks Bluey for the Utube link. Interesting to watch a non Company video of the trimmer in use. The DR guys said the trimmer measured 5 1/2 inches from top of guard to the string holding ball on the ground. I am pretty sure the trimmer will fit under most areas of my wire fence. I guess Katy Kubota will get a lot more use in the low range gears with this trimmer behind! The video quick hitch is different, have not seen one like that before. My hitch is the regular tractor type, 2 arms and the top link on a bigger tractor.

My goal is to have all plant life off the wire to keep fence hot. Scalping is acceptable here. I can spray fences after that, go with a scorched earth look under fences during the growing season. As he said, it will make my life easier, riding the tractor instead of pushing the wheeled weed trimmer uphill. Ha ha Now I need a canopy on the tractor.

Well, reading the specs, I can’t use it. My tractor is too big. The top limit is 45 hp

I’d love to hear how you like it once you get it!