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Flail Mowers vs. Brush Hogs: How to Choose The Right Attachment

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Trying to decide on the right mower attachment for your compact tractor? The equipment experts at Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf have you covered with a breakdown of everything you need to know about flail mowers and brush hogs to help you make the right choice for your property.

Flail Mower vs. Brush Hog

The choice between a flail mower and a brush depends on your intended application. Each implement has pros and cons to consider. Let’s go over what each attachment does, how it works, and the benefits they offer.

What Is a Flail Mower?

A flail mower blades are y- or t-shaped and run perpendicular to the ground instead of a traditional mower blade that cuts horizontally. The design offers some safety benefits as debris isn’t flung out to the sides like it would be with a brush hog.

A flail mower offers a cleaner cut than a brush hog and doesn’t stick out as far from the tractor. They come set up with either grass blades or hammer blades which are designed to cut through thicker materials.

What Is a Brush Hog?

A brush hog, also know as a rotary cutter, is a more traditional mowing set up with horizontal blades. It is great at cutting back tall field grass or brush and is capable of faster speed resulting in more acreage cut per hour than a flail mower. Depending on the size of the attachment, a brush hog is usually the lower cost option.

Which Attachment Is Right For You?

Most of our customers opt for the lower cost brush hog when choosing a mowing attachment to tackle basic mowing of fields and brush. If you’re hoping for a cleaner cut or safety is a top priority, a flail mower is your best bet.

Contact your local John Deere dealer, Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf, for help finding a compatible brush hog or flail mower attachment for your John Deere compact tractor today.

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