Cutters & Shredders in Spring, TX

There isn't one. A rotary cutter and a brush shredder are the same implement. It also goes by bush hog. That's just another name for it. It hangs off your tractor's three-point hitch. The PTO spins heavy blades under a deck to chop brush, saplings and tall grass close to the ground. Whatever you call it, it's built for one job. It knocks back growth that's gotten ahead of you. Browse our implements on j5tractors.com to see what's there for your place.

A single rotary cutter suits tighter work around trees, barns and fence lines, where you need to turn and maneuver. A flex-wing cutter spreads out wider wings to cover more ground in fewer passes. Then it folds back up for driving down a lane. Both have their place. If your place runs more open pasture, a flex-wing cuts down on the number of trips across it. If you're working smaller, fenced-in areas or spots with obstacles, a single cutter gives you tighter control. Either way, it's an implement sized to the tractor you run, not tied to one brand.

Rotary cutters are built to chop through brush, saplings and tall grass. They handle uneven ground with ruts and old stumps better than a mower deck can. The blades swing loose under the deck, so they flex back on contact instead of locking up on something hard. Still, slow down. A hidden stump or a deep rut can stop you short or kick up debris you didn't see coming. Walk ground you don't know well before you cut it. Keep the deck height set above what you're clearing.

Late spring and early summer, when grass and brush grow faster than they're grazed or cut. That's when growth gets away from you. A good target is knocking pasture back before you turn cattle out, so it's ready instead of overgrown. Fence lines are worth a pass before summer growth hides the wire and posts. After that, repeat passes through the season keep pasture edges and fence rows in shape. Watch for stumps and ruts that new growth has hidden. Walk it first.

Check the guards first. Most rotary cutters carry chain guards or deflector bands at the front and rear of the deck. They help keep rocks, sticks and wire from being thrown out. Don't run a cutter with them missing or torn up. Look at the PTO shaft shield too, and replace it if it's cracked. Make sure the blades and blade bolts are tight and not cracked either. Then walk the strip you're cutting and pick up anything loose. Keep people, pets and vehicles well back while the blades turn. Near a road or a house, cut so whatever the deck throws goes away from them.