Anybody know about farm implements?

[lspencer534]

I have about a mile of three-rail wood fence on and around my land. Keeping the weeds, grass, and saplings cleared along the fence lines is a real chore, back-breaking and sweaty.

There's a fairly new invention called a fence trimmer or fence line mower. Two of them use cord of them for trimming, although it's .225 inches, which is pretty heavy duty. Only one made in the USA has a blade, but it's too expensive.

They work like this: The cutting head is towed behind a tractor (PTO drive) or ATV (lawn mower engine drive) I already have a tractor, so the 3-point hitch PTO is for me. When the mower meets a post, the cutting head swivels in and around the post, supposedly cutting with a 1/2 inch of the post.

Here's a short video of how they work:

YouTube (Short URL)

Here are links to the ones for sale:

3-Point Hitch Trimmer Mower: String Trimmer and Fence Mower | DR Power Equipment

https://www.palletforks.com/3-point-...ttachment.html

Both are about the same price, but the only reviews are on the manufacturer's web site. Although both of them have a one-year warranty, has anyone here even seen one or owned one? I'd love to ear your opinion.

[MrPeabody]

What about spraying it so the weeds don't grow in the first place?

(In before Mrvette says pour carburetor cleaner on it)

[99 pewtercoupe]

I thought this thread was going to be about hoes

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

What about spraying it so the weeds don't grow in the first place?

(In before Mrvette says pour carburetor cleaner on it)

Most farmers have given up on herbicides because they no longer work. Grass and other plants become immune to them, plus herbicide is very expensive: Dow Chemical "Remedy" brand is $91/gallon. Imagine what it costs to treat a few hundred acres. And it sometimes doesn't last even as long as mowing.

You could always use gasoline or oil or carb cleaner, but it's price-prohibitive in large quantities. Burning with propane is way too expensive.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

What about spraying it so the weeds don't grow in the first place?

(In before Mrvette says pour carburetor cleaner on it)

^^^^^This.

2-4D or Tordon 101, Tordon K, Garlon 3, etc. are all going to be great at killing woody brush, saplings, vines, etc. You probably want extended bare ground control, though. For your needs, get some Hyvar, spray it twice a year, and you'll have bare ground. It's made for utilities, rail yards, and other places where weeds are undesirable.

For what you are going to spend on that attachment, you can probably buy a little spray rig to mount on the 3-point hitch on your tractor.

[VatorMan]

My dad and Gdad used to use used motor oil. But, this looks interesting.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

Most farmers have given up on herbicides because they no longer work. Grass and other plants become immune to them, plus herbicide is very expensive: Dow Chemical "Remedy" brand is $91/gallon. Imagine what it costs to treat a few hundred acres. And it sometimes doesn't last even as long as mowing.

You could always use gasoline or oil or carb cleaner, but it's price-prohibitive in large quantities. Burning with propane is way too expensive.

Bold 1: Not true. This is the whole point of organic; people don't want pesticides in their food. Farmers use herbicides and pesticides not because they want to poison the planet, but because it works, and it increases per acre yield, and most importantly, is cost effective. If it didn't increase revenue for farmers, they wouldn't use herbicides.

Bold 2: Yes, you could, and that would work until a neighbor turns you in for dumping/pollution, etc. Get convicted of that, and your grandkid's probation officer probably hasn't even been born yet.

Interestingly enough, diesel is permissible in killing trees. It's used as a carrier oil for several different kinds of herbicides. Of course, you aren't supposed to go hog wild with that....just spray the cambium layer of the cut stump and call it a day.

[OddBall]

This guy bought one and gives you a review of how it did for him.

DR 3 pt Trimmer Mower Review on BX25D - YouTube

[Black94lt1]

My in laws had one of the walk behind DR trimmers and it was one heck of a cutting machine. They make some nice stuff, not sure if the price is always worth it.

[Dave]

Looks like it does a lousy job on the backside of the posts

[SQUIRMIN VERMIN 84]

Originally Posted by Dave

Looks like it does a lousy job on the backside of the posts

It's not meant to do the back-side of the posts, just the front (near), and sides.

Looks like he wasn't getting the cutter UNDER the fence line enough, but like he says, he has some learning to do.
DR has always been pretty innovative with their equipment but you pay for it too.

[Black94lt1]

Originally Posted by Dave

Looks like it does a lousy job on the backside of the posts

Looks like you have to make a second pass going the other direction if you wanted both sides to look good

[jh225]

It's dependent on how you want the ground around the fencing to look afterwards.

I can spray Cornerstone with Class Act added and it will kill anything it touches for up to 3 months depending on mix ratio and thickness of ground cover. If the cover is sparse, it may keep it at bay for an entire season.

But it's not something you want to use around fenceline in areas that you want to have a nice grassy look or areas that can be readily seen as it browns out everything. You obviously have to be careful using vegetation killer around livestock or even house pets.


Those machines may work somewhat, but you will still have to cut all that fenceline probably once a month if you want to have it look halfway decent.

Short answer is, there really is no magic bullet.

[mrvette]

Gasoline combined with used engine oil is the only cheap way I know of , to kill off unwanted vegetation......

Glad I have friendly neighbors, we all used to party together some years ago, but we all in our 70's now.....other than that aspect of it, I can't see the point to having large acreage just to maintain it......like my back yard up north, 60' wide 90+ feet deep 3 car garage with a go to hell work bay, and an all concrete back yard....wish I had that lot here in Florida....

[09CTSV]

I saw one which had three heads and the whole assembly rotated around the fence post or obstacle. It did a pretty decent job from the videos.
Of course it is in Australia.

YouTube (Short URL)

[69camfrk]

I would damn sure give it a try.

[04 commemorative]

Originally Posted by mrvette

Gasoline combined with used engine oil is the only cheap way I know of , to kill off unwanted vegetation......

Glad I have friendly neighbors, we all used to party together some years ago, but we all in our 70's now.....other than that aspect of it, I can't see the point to having large acreage just to maintain it......like my back yard up north, 60' wide 90+ feet deep 3 car garage with a go to hell work bay, and an all concrete back yard....wish I had that lot here in Florida....

All concrete back yard in Fla ?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

I saw one which had three heads and the whole assembly rotated around the fence post or obstacle. It did a pretty decent job from the videos.
Of course it is in Australia.

https://youtu.be/kOZbWikMxKQ

That's the ticket!

[SilverBullitt]

I just spray mine with some agriculture strength glyophosate stuff that I get at the local farmer's co-op. It will kill anything, to include grass, weeds, brush, poison ivy, etc. I usually spray my fence lines about 2-3 times per year, but that is mostly preventative. I now have about a 1-foot patch of bare dirt on either side of the fence, and nothing really tries to come up in there much any more. Works great, and I can mow right up to that bare area with my finish mower or my zero-turn without having to mess with any trimming.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

I saw one which had three heads and the whole assembly rotated around the fence post or obstacle. It did a pretty decent job from the videos.
Of course it is in Australia.

https://youtu.be/kOZbWikMxKQ

It's only $15,000USD....