Clearing a path... any tips besides bush whacking?

[Meredith_Clark]

I have a lovely little farmette and I’m fortunate that my neighbors allow me to ride on the 65 acres of farm land around me. However, depending on what crops grow it can be difficult and sometimes I have to ride against the road. My farm is a rectangle, and as of now I can ride on all but one long side. That side has a fence line to one of my pastures and goes up against the woods.

When we first moved here 4 years ago we mowed down that fence line but it’s definitely become overgrown. Not over the fence, but I can’t ride between the fence and the woods.

We have a small tractor (with a mower, bucket and forks), a chain saw, and other tools. As a new “farmer” I’m not even sure where to start, but don’t want to make this harder than it has to be!

Any tips? I’ve attached a picture of part of the fence line.

[goodhors]

Mowing is a constant job to keep things clear. At least once a year in fall, though more often is better.

You might bushog the fenceline, but then you have to clear out the stumps, stubs that have spikes sticking up to prevent puncturing hooves or tires. I would dig or shorten to ground level, any sizeable stumps, and even the very hard bush stubs. Then spray them with herbicide to prevent resprouting.

Your bushog will not cut things to the ground, there are always stubs left when cutting brush. I have found hand walking the ground is the best way to find those stubs, stumps, mark them. Maybe cut them shorter, before someone gets hurt on them. You might want to hire or rent a stump grinder to get rid of them. A backhoe can help dig things out too. All of it is work.

If the ground is not badly overgrown with hardwood type bushes, bigger trees stumps that have left exposed, heavy, tough roots, after stub and stump removal, you might consider renting a rotary tiller to go over that ground and smooth it out. The rotary tiller has been very helpful to us in getting our fields improved, getting rid of holes left by pulled bushes.

[Lucassb]

Our back fenceline was pretty overgrown and I was concerned it was going to start impacting the fence itself this year, so we hired a guy who does forestry mulching. The machine is quite efficient and leaves a path which is nice to ride on - it eliminates the problem that @goodhors mentions about stumps. https://lrslandservices.com/forestry-mulching

[goodhors]

Wow, that looks so neat! Wish there was someone like that around us!

[Simkie]

I find a set of long handled loppers to be really useful. Get back in there with gloves and loppers, cut stuff off at the ground. Then mow regularly (and/or spread chips.) If there’s bigger stuff, you can identify and use the chainsaw.

[bdj]

Loppers and a weed whacker will make a decent dent in it to start and then you can probably get in there with a mower if it hasn’t been left wild too long.

[Lucassb]

@goodhors

Wow, that looks so neat! Wish there was someone like that around us!

They do amazing work. They were recommended to us by a neighbor and the machine is impressive as heck.