How to Mow a Lawn With a Finish Cut or Brush Mower
Brush and finish cut mowers are valuable tools for cutting larger lawns. Brush mowers are powerful enough to cut through thick brush, tall weeds and slender trees, allowing easier future access for lawn or finish cut mowers. Cut heights usually vary from two to seven inches.
Finish cut mowers provide a groomed look and adjust to mow as close as one- half inch. These mowers are great for large landscaped areas, golf courses and football or baseball fields.
Finish cut and brush mowers are available in pull or electric start models, and come in a variety of deck widths.
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Things You'll Need
- Brush mower or finish cut mower
- All terrain vehicle (ATV) or small tractor
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Ensure your brush or finish cut mower will fit between all landscaping obstacles, including closely spaced trees, ornamental rocks or flower beds. Tight areas will have to be mowed with a smaller push or riding mower.
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2
Clear all debris from the mowing area, including small rocks, larger limbs and trash. If your lawn also doubles as part of your farm or as an area for maintaining equipment, check carefully for wire in the mowing area as it can wrap around and damage your mower's blades.
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3
Check the blades and sharpen if dull. Better Outdoor Products recommends sharpening blades after every ten hours of use. Replace blades when they become dull, usually once every year.
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4
Set your mower to the proper height for your lawn. Cutting too close can 'scalp' the lawn, killing grass or making it vulnerable to insects and disease. Save water during the summer by raising your blade height.
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5
Fill the mower with fuel and check all fluids, topping up where necessary.
Mow
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6
Mow when lawns have dried after rains or heavy dews. Wet grass can reduce your mower's efficiency and your ATV or tractor can leave ruts in soft soils and turf in wet conditions.
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7
Alternate mowing patterns to limit the amount of soil and turf compaction.
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8
Use wide turning diameters when operating a brush or finish cut mower to avoid 'jack-knifing' the mower and ATV or tractor.
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9
Mow tall grass twice. Raise the mower to cut at half the desired end height. Mow again at ninety degrees with the mower at the desired height.
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10
Consider brush or finish cut mowers that allow you to offset the mower behind the ATV or tractor. The offset gives you the ability to cut closer to water sources, under trees, into ditches or along steep drop-offs without fear of sticking your ATV in mud, losing your hat or tumbling over the hillside.
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Tips & Warnings
Check with your mower's manufacturer to determine the maximum grade your finish cut or brush mower should be used on.
