Subject: Re: Bush whackers (whacking more than weeds)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 6 Feb 97 16:35:11 GMT

There are excellent carbide tipped blades made for brush cutting.  The 
best have a tip that will not come off under quite heavy usage.  Be 
carefull.

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From: [email-masked] (NCHillboy)
Date: 9 Feb 1997 10:58:45 GMT

Yes I have.  I have been down this road many times and let me tell there
are no FAST AND EASY answers.

Goats work fine but you should tie them with a chain and collar for the
project and place a bucket of water close by and keep moving the chain
post into the briars as they eat it down.

Tractor and Bush Hog:
Works great but if the field is not fairly level it will be dangerous to
try to find the holes and stumps that will surely be there.  Also you can
bet on buying at least one tire that gets punctured with the thorns or
stubble.  If you are not experienced in using a piece of farm equipment
like this then hire it done.

RoundUp
Great chemical but delivering it to 5 acres of head high blackberry briars
will not happen and still be consistent plus you still have the briars for
years until they fall down.  Would recommend using this after the briars
get downed.

WeedEater with brush blade:
Dangerous, tiring and difficult but effective and if taken in small doses
will get the job done.

I have used the old Mowing Scythe as a more effective tool than the brush
blade  and mowed many of an acre.  But if you do not have experience with
how to work it you will beat many a briar but have a heart attack in the
process.

Old Beat up Lawn Mower:
This would probably be very effective and I have done this one.  Go to a
yard sale and buy the cheapest, ugliest and oldest (typically older the
better metal) mower you can find that will crank and run.  Take it home
and put fresh oil in it and crank it.  push it onto the briars and let it
down slowly.  You will develop a technique with in the first half acre and
be done with it.

Here is what I finally recommend if I was doing it myself.
Hire it done by someone with a tractor and bush hog that will back into
it.
Beat up old lawn mower but do it before the bees get active in the ground
Goats, but have patience and know  that the goats will not make good pets.
WeedWhacker, just take it in small chunks