[Tim M]

Hi

We have a three acre paddock which is very patchy with lots of nettles. I cannot really afford a small tractor/ride on mower. I have tried to cut the grass with my petrol mower, which proved too much and the strimmer also failed mid-job.

My next idea is to use a nice scythe and to get good at doing it. What do you think? Another idea was to get some sort of topper that can be dragged behind a 4wd car. Are there such things?

Any help would be much appreciated before it gets out of hand. We keep pigs, goats and alpacas who are all doing their bit. 

Best wishes,

Tim

[YorkshireLass]

You can get toppers for quad bikes that have their own engine, I don't see why a car couldn't tow it. If you're new to scything I imagine you wouldn't yet have the strength and technique to do the whole lot yet.

[stufe35]

Spray the nettles ?

[Womble]

You can get toppers for quad bikes that have their own engine

Indeed - search for ATV topper or ATV mower. We thought about buying one, but they're awfully expensive (£1K to £3K  ).



A decent strimmer should be ok for nettles though?  Have you tried using thicker gauge cord?  We switched to Oregon cord, which is really expensive. However, it lasts for ages. (fewer lengths of plastic dropped about the pasture too  )

[macgro7]

Depending on how big the land is and how much you want to spend really.
I use scythe for the nettles. It cost me about 20-30 pounds last year and it's fantastic. Light weight, quiet, no fuel, no engines to break.

[Fieldfare]

Get yourself one of these https://www.tracmaster.co.uk/collections/bcs-products/products/bcs-615l-crusader-power-scythe You can pick 2nd-hand ones up.


I have one- great for cutting grass paths also. They are easy to use, self-propelled, economical on fuel, superb build quality and will last forever if maintained (don't waste money by getting a cheaper version as they will fall apart on 3 acres).  3 acres isn't too big for it for general spot-weed cutting...and if you do it regularly no need for sprays.


 

[Tim M]

Thanks everyone for these replies. There seem to be quite a few options, so think I will start to practice with my scythe and then look at the powered ones. The problem with all machinery is that it seems to break of course, so might have to be careful about which to use.

Thanks again!

[pharnorth]

We were thinking of selling our ride on mower and getting a powered flail mower for behind the quad.  But the Quad powered flail mowers cost more than the ride on mowers. And the second hand ones look very well used. There seems to be more well priced second hand ride one about so you may find that is your cheapest option after all.

[VEG]

I picked up this needed new bearings £8 each and away it went

[Tim M]

Interesting. We have now bought an old scythe mower that has been refurbished. It's kind of vintage but I like that about it and it will hopefully do the job.

[bazzais]

For 3 acres Id buy a better strimmer - not one from the home stores meant to strim the weeds from a small garden.

You could strim 3 acre in a day with a descent strimmer with good cord and have 2 half hour break for tea and an hour off for dinner.

[bazzais]

You can get right to the important eges with a strimmer too rather than a mower

[big soft moose]

Where in the UK are you ?

If you are down south (I'm in devon but cornwall, dorset, somerset would be okay) I've got a brushcutter and nothing much to do at the minute (I'm between jobs, long story) and would happily give you a hand FoC,

[valmet10]

I spent age look to hire a a trailed topper to use behind a quad , I found a company that wwould hire me a small  tractor an topper but they wanted £600 per week

[bj_cardiff]

Why don't you use a selective weedkiller and backpack? I treat my thistles and nettles like that, kills the weeds and they die back and leave the grass