Ask around Middle Tennessee and you'll hear both: "I need that field bush hogged" and "can you brush hog the back pasture?" Folks sometimes wonder which one is right.
Short answer: it's the same job. We're Josh and Mark Collier with Middle TN Grading & Clearing (MTGC), and here's the plain version of what it is, what it costs and when it makes sense to hire it out.
Is It Called Bush Hogging or Brush Hogging?
Both. "Bush Hog" is a brand name. Bush Hog is a company that has made rotary cutters since 1951, and its cutter is a heavy mower deck pulled behind a tractor. Like folks saying "Kleenex" for any tissue, the brand name stuck to the whole job. "Brush hogging" is the more generic version people use.
Either way, you're talking about cutting down tall grass, weeds, briars and light brush with a heavy-duty rotary cutter.
What Bush Hogging Handles
A brush hog is built for:
- Pastures that got away from you
- Overgrown fields and fence lines
- Briars, blackberry tangles and thick weeds
- Saplings and small trees. Ours, on the Kubota SVL 97-2, handles material up to 10 inches thick
It's a great way to take back a field that's been let go for a season or two, or to keep a pasture in shape. Cutting regularly also keeps saplings from getting a foothold, so the field doesn't slowly turn into woods.
We don't grind or chip what we cut. A brush hog cuts the growth and drops it where it falls, and we can pile it or haul it off.
Where It Stops Being a Brush Hog Job
A brush hog isn't a land clearing machine. Once you're into real trees, big stumps or ground that's grown up for years, it's a clearing job. That means different equipment: cutting, pushing, pulling stumps and hauling debris.
If you're not sure which side of the line your property falls on, that's a good reason to have someone walk it.
Should You Do It Yourself or Hire It Out?
If you've got a tractor and a cutter and the field is flat and familiar, doing it yourself can make sense. Renting is an option too. But here's what catches people:
- Hidden stumps and rocks. Middle Tennessee has plenty of limestone poking up where you don't expect it. Hitting it can bust a blade or a gearbox.
- Slopes. Tractors and steep hills are a dangerous combination. Rollovers are a real risk.
- Thick growth. Ground that's grown up for several seasons hides holes, old fence wire and junk.
- Safety. A rotary cutter throws debris hard. Keep people and pets well back.
It's usually worth hiring out when the place has been let go for multiple seasons, when it's steep, when saplings have moved in, or when you don't have the equipment.
When to Cut
We didn't find a reliable Middle Tennessee–specific source on timing, so we won't give you dates. The common general advice is to cut weeds before they set seed and to be thoughtful about nesting season for ground-nesting birds. Your local extension office is a good place to ask about your specific situation.
How Much Does Brush Hogging Cost?
We give a price after we've seen the property. Published rates vary a lot from place to place, and none of them were Tennessee-specific, so we'd rather look at your ground than guess.
What changes the cost: how thick and tall the growth is, the terrain and slope, and rocks and stumps hiding in the grass. Cost varies widely with site conditions, so call (931) 458-1500 for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it called bush hogging or brush hogging? Both are right. "Bush Hog" is a brand of rotary cutter. "Brush hogging" is the generic term for the job.
How much does it cost to brush hog an acre? Light pasture mowing costs a lot less than knocking down years of heavy brush. Your ground decides the real number, so call (931) 458-1500 for a free estimate.
Should I rent a brush hog or hire it out? If the ground is flat, familiar and lightly grown, renting can work. Steep, rocky or long-neglected ground is worth hiring out.
How big a tree can a brush hog cut? Ours handles brush, saplings and small trees up to 10 inches thick. Past that, you're into land clearing.
Let's Take a Look at Your Field
You can read more on our brush hogging page.
If you've got a pasture, field or fence line that's gotten away from you, call Josh or Mark at MTGC, (931) 458-1500. We're licensed and insured, and we'll come take a look on site and tell you straight what it needs.