hedgecutting

[Neddy flanders]

anyone found any way of speeding this job up a bit
just worked out we have over 200km of hedge here with an average of four passes. takes far more man hours than combining and cultivations put together yet never gets a mention in the 'reducing costs' threads. one man for 4 months solid. two hedgers? front and rear mounted? bigger heads? would reciprocating knife be quicker than flail?

 

[yellow belly]

I have wondered if using Rtk gps to set line to drive set the distance to cut and set the line
Once set may then be possible to drive faster the operator not having to steer and control the hedger
1.5 m head also may help

The other option would a bigger hedger with 2 1.5 m flails so only one pass is needed
Tractors are big enough now days

 

[PB1507]

The following will reduce your time spent hedging
1. keep your fields level, you can travel faster
2. don't plant trees near hedges
3. sharp flails on the hedger, you can cut quicker
4. reduce the size of the hedge, a small hedge can be cut in two passes.

 

[Lincsman]

A Cat D6 makes a good permanent job of them.

 

[Lofty1984]

Twin cut head

 

[RushesToo]

Do them every two years and get green points because bigger hedges are better for nesting birds?
Reduce the costs and more income [if they changte the rules].

 

[ARW]

Hedgecutting biannually is even more time consuming.
1.5 metre head, sharp flails, and get up early.
4 months solid? How many hours we talking? Over 1000 on one farm?
I have a few 100 hour + farms to cut that are 1000 acre+

 

[milkloss]

Do them every two years and get green points because bigger hedges are better for nesting birds?
Reduce the costs and more income [if they changte the rules].

It’s that second year that it really becomes a fudgeer of a job.

 

[GeorgeK]

Could potentially have the front mower upright to do the side and do the top with the hedge trimmer?
Wouldn't work for all hedges though and you'd have to drive close down the sides.

 

[ARW]

Has anybody ever been able to side hedges properly with a topper? They don’t have the rotor speed to make a tidy cut or the movement in and out.
They will be alright chewing the side off 2 year growth to try and save the hedgecutter another pass

 

[David.]

Reciprocating knife used to work well, but it took as long to push up the trimmings and burn them as it did to cut the hedge.

 

[kiwi pom]

anyone found any way of speeding this job up a bit
just worked out we have over 200km of hedge here with an average of four passes. takes far more man hours than combining and cultivations put together yet never gets a mention in the 'reducing costs' threads. one man for 4 months solid. two hedgers? front and rear mounted? bigger heads? would reciprocating knife be quicker than flail?

4 months solid? Must be a big farm, how many hours and is it a job that's spun out to avoid having to do something else in winter?

 

[Fuzzy]

Job done

 

[Fuzzy]

anyone found any way of speeding this job up a bit
just worked out we have over 200km of hedge here with an average of four passes. takes far more man hours than combining and cultivations put together yet never gets a mention in the 'reducing costs' threads. one man for 4 months solid. two hedgers? front and rear mounted? bigger heads? would reciprocating knife be quicker than flail?

I use an offset flail mower to speed the job up, cutting around fields edges,grass banks, and trimming ditches.
These are things which can be done after harvest to reduce workload when the hedgecutting season begins. It can also help reduce hedgecutters workload by siding up overgrown hedges and reduce hedgecutter passes.

 

[Grassman]

Interesting thread.
I used to cut a lot of hedges with a 2wd 70hp john deere. Other than a bit more reach most are still using the same size cutter head nowadays with most tractors double the size. Even though it rarely is big enough do one side and top cut.
I run a 5ft head now which is far better.

 

[Lofty1984]

Love this thing

 

[Brisel]

anyone found any way of speeding this job up a bit
just worked out we have over 200km of hedge here with an average of four passes. takes far more man hours than combining and cultivations put together yet never gets a mention in the 'reducing costs' threads. one man for 4 months solid. two hedgers? front and rear mounted? bigger heads? would reciprocating knife be quicker than flail?

Cut once every 2 years and have grass stewardship margins alongside so you can do it over the winter. Reciprocating knife cutters leave a cleaner finish than a flail, especially on bigger diameter stuff, but you've got to clear up afterwards. An old precision chop or double chop forager would mulch it all up very quickly. Just fill the hedge side tyres with puncture sealant.

 

[Nearly]

Interesting thread.
I used to cut a lot of hedges with a 2wd 70hp john deere. Other than a bit more reach most are still using the same size cutter head nowadays with most tractors double the size. Even though it rarely is big enough do one side and top cut.
I run a 5ft head now which is far better.

Is there any benefit in running a 1.5m header when getting paid by the hour?
Not worth the expense if can't charge more.

 

[Roy_H]

Reciprocating knife used to work well, but it took as long to push up the trimmings and burn them as it did to cut the hedge.

Believe me l was a very happy bunny the day we scrapped our McConnel cutter bar hedger and bought a flail.

 

[Grassman]

Is there any benefit in running a 1.5m header when getting paid by the hour?
Not worth the expense if can't charge more.

I do charge accordingly but most is my own land anyway. I get easily bored hedgecutting