Mowing around fence posts

[sktractor]

Hi All

Has anyone found a good and not too expensive attachment for mowing around fence posts?

Thanks.

 

[lutt]

I use roundup, too many post, I have a fs 90 r Stihl weed eater I use also. Usually to get it down, and roundup a neat circle around it, where you can get to with the mower deck . LUTT

 

[gwdixon]

Not sure what "around" means. After all, there is a fence there (in theory). So you'd want to mow along the edge of the fence and then jump out a bit when a fence post is reached. I'd like to be able to do that in my orchards to miss the trees, too.

Problem is, whatever is used you'll hit plenty of fenceposts with any attachment I'm aware of.

As lutt suggested, RoundUp and a weedeater are the solution. I do that with my trees and fence line. Then a rotary cutter or a flail mower can finish the job without too much damage. But I still manage to ding a tree every once in a while.

 

[creekbend]

Not sure what "around" means. After all, there is a fence there (in theory). So you'd want to mow along the edge of the fence and then jump out a bit when a fence post is reached. I'd like to be able to do that in my orchards to miss the trees, too.

Problem is, whatever is used you'll hit plenty of fenceposts with any attachment I'm aware of.

As lutt suggested, RoundUp and a weedeater are the solution. I do that with my trees and fence line. Then a rotary cutter or a flail mower can finish the job without too much damage. But I still manage to ding a tree every once in a while.

Dead On. X2

 

[lostcreekranch]

http://www.drpower.com/power-equipm...oint-hitch/ft1-3pt-fence-line-trimmer-new.axd They were $999 a few weeks ago and now $899. I plan to order one for trimming around stock tanks and fences. Rick

 

[gwdixon]

DR 3-Point Hitch Trimmer/Mower - PTO Fence & Ditch Line Mower They were $999 a few weeks ago and now $899. I plan to order one for trimming around stock tanks and fences. Rick

Hmmm....that might work for the OP if the fence doesn't reach to the ground.

Wonder how hard it is to change the line? The reviews make it sound like line changing a hassle. Read the reviews to get a better idea of the concept. Uneven ground seems to be a sticking point as well.

In general, it looks like a good idea. Maybe with some additional engineering it will be better.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Hmmm....that might work for the OP if the fence doesn't reach to the ground. Wonder how hard it is to change the line? The reviews make it sound like line changing a hassle. Read the reviews to get a better idea of the concept. Uneven ground seems to be a sticking point as well. In general, it looks like a good idea. Maybe with some additional engineering it will be better.

GW;

Think that the owners with bad reviews were trying to mow real tough stuff and on very uneven ground. I think it would make mowing around our tanks (ponds) a lot easier as tractor can stay far away from the edge. We keep our fence line trimmed often, this will just make it easier and faster than using our Echo brush cutter.

Rick

 

[lostcreekranch]

Just re- read the DR power web site. The new price is $899 plus $149 shipping. Old price was $999 and free shipping. Rick

 

[sktractor]

Thanks for the suggestions. The dr trimmer looks interesting, but I'm guessing that against anything tougher than grass the line will wear quick. I have seven acres of fence posts with three rail fencing separating seven one acre paddocks. Too bad you can't train horses to eat along the fence line.

 

[TerryR]

I have the DR walk-behind string trimmer, which I believe uses the same head and string as the fence trimmer. The heavy-duty string lasts quite a while, and does heavy grass, stemmed weeds, and even first-season re-growth of cut-off trees if they are still very green. You can break it, mainly by getting the mowing head right next to a rock or other hard object, so the string is hit near the base. I'd not think that's as much of a problem with the fence trimmer because it has the circular guard which steers it around posts.

I've not seen the reviews that claim it's hard to change the strings, but from my experience I think they are just being whiny. No, it's not as easy as just tapping the head to the ground like you do with light hand-held, but it's no big deal either. If the old string has been there a while you push it in a bit until it loosens, then pull one end to remove it. Then push the new one in. I use the smaller holes for the heavy-duty string, which makes them hold better, so you have to put a bit of muscle into it sometimes, but nothing my 73-year old hands can't deal with with no problem.

Terry

 

[classacthollow]

I pile up the grass clippings around our fence posts and it burns all the vegetation away from them. FREE!

 

[drjay9051]

I also have a Stihl FS 90. Great trimmer. However I got tired of doing the whole fence line with the trimmer. I have electrobraid electric fencing so any growth tends to effect the voltage output. At one time I would t ride along the fence line and let my flail mower do the job but the lowest strand is just above the ground so I needed to be very careful so as to not abrade the lowest strand with the flail housing.

Simple solution: I got a back pack sprayer for $100 and now twice a season I walk the fence with glyphosate (off brand of Roundup).

Simple solution, good exercise. For those with more than my 10 acres consider a sprayer you can use from seat of tractor.

 

[GPintheMitten]

It hurts my back just thinking about using a weed wacker around all my fence posts. And a $1000 for a Dr? No thanks. I use round up. If you do it early enough you dont have tall dead grass around each post. Do it 2 to 3 times a year.

 

[oosik]

Weed whacker & Roundup.

 

[drjay9051]

BTW: Not sure of name but there are so called "soil sterilants" that prevent any growth for "up to a year". Maybe a good alternative to Roundup which kills existing weeds but does not last that long.

http://nsla.nevadaculture.org/statepubs/epubs/31428003038847.pdf

 

[Gary Fowler]

If the DR Trimmer would work as described, for large acreages in the long run it would be cheaper than Roundup to keep the grass trimmed. 2 or 3 times a year with Roundup or generic glyphosphate isn't cheap for the chemicals. I did see one TBN member who claimed to mow over 1/4 mile of fence line without changing the line. I see that they are also available with the gatorblades rather than string. I use them on my weedeater and they are awesome for sawbriars and other tough shrubs. I use the metal ones but they also have plastic ones.

 

[mogwild]

Found this thread looking for a solution as well. I can't use chemical in some areas myself. I'd like something like this, but on a 3pt mount, a head that mows under the fence line, and a swing out of the way trimmer that goes around the posts:

(Skip to 1min to see the post trimmer)