dean wrote:

Hi there all,

I would like to clear a 100 foot stretch, 10 feet wide, right next to
my fence (on the outer side). Its all tough brambly and thorny sticks
and some leaves. It won't burn very quickly, and that's illegal in NJ
anyway.

What can I use to clear it? I could have a go with a hedge trimmer, but
that's looks like a PITA to me, some of the sticks are too thick. Can I
rent something like one of those machines the state uses to clear the
side of the road bushes, only smaller version? Any other ideas?


You can rent a walk-behind sickel bar mower (at least you can around
here). You can also rent a walk-behind brush hog. Both of these will
do this easily. In fact they are overkill for the job, but it won't
take you long to clear 100' x 10'. Way faster than any trimmer.

However they are both fairly big machines, so you need at least a
station wagon to get them from the rental site to your site. And
you'll need another person at your site to help you unload and load
again (or ramps). You can usually dismantle the handlebars easily, and
you can separate the sickel bar from the rest of the unit -- both of
these things make it easier to transport. If you can't transport it,
most mower places will pick up and deliver for a fee.

The brush hog is also known as a billy-goat (brand name), or a field
mower.

Call around to rental places, and to mower sales/repair places, to see
what's available.

In western NY I can rent a sickel bar mower for $40/half-day, $60/day.
The brush hog is similar, as I recall.

Of course neither will get as close to the fence as a trimmer, though
they will get closer than you might think. I would use the machine to
do most of it, and then do the rest by hand (or with your trimmer
since you say you have one).

Terry