Introduction to Flail Mowers

Flail mowers work by using rapidly rotating arms, or “flails” rather than blades to cut and mulch vegetation. Initially using fixed flails, flail mower design has developed over the years to incorporate hydraulic systems which allow for variable cutting heights and increasingly robust materials that have made the modern flail mower incredibly versatile and tough.

Benefits of Flail Mowers

Flail mowers offer extremely efficient cutting performance in even the most challenging conditions. A flail mower can handle wet grass, woody shrubs and saplings – and because there are no blades to dull or damage they can be used on rocky and uneven ground without sustaining damage. The mulched vegetation left behind helps to retain moisture and returns nutrients to the soil, reducing the need for irrigation and chemical fertilisers while reducing the amount of green waste that needs to be disposed of. This helps to reduce both costs and environmental impact.

Types of Flail Mowers Available

The two main types of flail mower are ride-on flail mowers and pedestrian flail mowers. As the names suggest, ride-on flail mowers are larger machines ideal for tackling large areas of land. Generally they feature hydraulically adjustable cutting decks enabling them to cut to the required height. Pedestrian flail mowers are smaller, with the operator walking behind the machine. This males the pedestrian flail mower ideal for precision work, operation in confined spaces or other terrain where a larger ride-on machine would be unable to operate.

Features of Flail Mowers

A flail mower has a rapidly rotating row of arms, or “flails” which are used to cut and mulch vegetation rather than the spinning blades found in conventional mowers. This not only makes flail mowers highly efficient it also enables them to handle terrain that a conventional blade mower cannot. Whether powered by electricity or petrol, their powerful motors give flail mowers the ability to deal with all kinds of tough vegetation efficiently and safely.

Applications of Flail Mowers

Flail mowers are incredibly versatile ground maintenance machines, which means they have a number of applications in both landscaping and agriculture. Even a small and compact tractor flail mower is capable of clearing large areas of overgrown land quickly, while a pedestrian flail mower can take on tough and stubborn overgrowth in tight spaces – between walls of trees, for example – or slopes and ditches where large ride-on machinery would not be able to go and take on overgrowth that the more fragile blades of a conventional mower could not cope with.

Maintenance Tips for Flail Mowers

Flail mowers are relatively easy to maintain. However, you should always clean a flail mower carefully after each use and ensure that moving parts are always well lubricated. While the flails are significantly more robust than the blades of a conventional mower, you should still check them regularly to make sure that they are undamaged.

FAQs

How do flail mowers differ from traditional lawn mowers?

Traditional lawn mowers use spinning blades to cut vegetation. While effective and precise, blades can be fragile and so are not well suited to thick or woody vegetation. A flail mower uses rapidly rotating arms, or “flails” to attack the vegetation. This arrangement is significantly more robust making a flail mower much better at dealing with established overgrowth.

Are flail mowers suitable for residential use?

Unless your garden is particularly large, you are unlikely to need a large ride-on flail mower for domestic purposes. However you might find that a smaller pedestrian flail mower is perfect if you have areas of serious overgrowth to deal with – particularly if the ground is stony enough to damage the blades of a conventional mower. A pedestrian flail mower is particularly suitable for such terrain in a domestic setting because debris is likely to be retained within the safety shields of the machine, reducing the possibility that stones could be thrown from the mower to cause damage or injury.

Which types of terrain are suitable for flail mowers?

When you look for flail mowers for sale you should consider the terrain that you need to mow. If you have large areas of badly overgrown land that is absolutely a job for a tractor flail mower. If your terrain includes confined spaces or steep banks a pedestrian flail mower will probably be better suited to the job. However, whatever the terrain – flat, sloping, uneven or rocky, there is very little that a flail mower cannot handle.

How often should I maintain my flail mower?

The precise maintenance regimen for any machine will depend on its model and usage profile. Always refer to the manufacturer’s guidance but as a general rule you should clean and lubricate your flail mower after every use. A more detailed service will be required annually or after around one hundred hours of operation to ensure that everything is working at optimal levels.

Can flail mowers handle tall, thick grass and brush?

Flail mower design makes these versatile and robust machines perfect for brush and tall thick grass. Conditions which would be challenging or even impossible for a conventional blade mower are no problem at all for a flail.

Are there safety considerations when using a flail mower?

Safety is always an imperative and when looking for a flail mower for sale, you should be mindful of all applicable UK safety regulations. Always make sure you operate your flail mower within manufacturer’s specifications and engage all safety features before commencing operations. You should also wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as steel toe capped footwear, gloves and eye protection.

Are flail mowers suitable for rough terrain?

Without question. However rough the terrain you are dealing with a flail mower can handle it. Slopes, rocks, heavy overgrowth, thick long grass, uneven ground, with a flail mower nothing need stand in your way.