Cutters & Shredders in Montgomery, TX

A mower trims grass short and leaves a clean, even cut. A rotary cutter, also called a shredder, is built for growth a mower deck can't handle — heavy weeds, brush, small saplings and overgrown fence lines. It carries a heavier blade and deck than a mower. That's the difference. It knocks down growth instead of just trimming it. Once your ground has gotten past regular mowing, a rotary cutter is the right tool for clearing it back. Browse our implements on j5tractors.com to see what's there, or stop by the Conroe store and ask about cutters sized to your tractor.

Yes, a rotary cutter is built to run over rough ground — ruts, stumps and uneven pasture edges that would beat up a regular mower deck. A cutter rides on its tailwheel and skid shoes, so it rides over small bumps and dips. That lets it take on rutted ground regular mowing can't touch. Go slow over deep ruts or stump pockets, though, so the deck doesn't bottom out. Keep well back from ditch banks and drop-offs, too. A grade is where you slow down. The operator's manual for your tractor and cutter is what to go by there.

A lighter rotary cutter is built for pasture upkeep — knocking back weeds and light growth a few times a year to keep fields clean. A heavier cutter carries a stouter deck and blades for small saplings, briars and brush that's gotten ahead of you. It takes more tractor to run. That's the trade-off. The heavier unit handles tougher material without slowing down as much. If you're just keeping pasture grass and weeds in check, a lighter cutter does the job. If you're clearing fence lines or ground that hasn't been cut in a while, step up to a heavier one. Match the cutter to the work, not just the acreage.

The best time to cut brush and clear fence lines is before new growth hardens off and gets woody. Once vines and saplings thicken up, they take more passes and more tractor to knock down. Spring green-up is when growth here really takes off. Getting ahead of it with a rotary cutter in late winter or early spring keeps fence lines and pasture edges in check. Waiting until summer means cutting through thicker brush and taller weeds, which is harder on the cutter and the tractor pulling it. A once-or-twice-a-year pass on fence lines and pasture edges keeps most ground in Montgomery County manageable.

Watch for what the blades can throw. A rotary cutter spins hard enough to sling rocks, sticks and wire. Check that the chain or rubber guards on the deck are in place before you start. Walk the strip first. Pick up limbs, cans and loose wire you'd rather not hit. Keep people, pets and vehicles well back while the PTO's turning. Near gravel, raise the deck a notch so the blades don't pick it up. Read your cutter's operator's manual before the first pass. It's what to go by.