McConnel Swingtrim xl

Rallo

Hi guys,

I have 1200 meters of hawthorn and other growth along my driveway into my house. It is a very old driveway and I want to ensure the hedges are maintained properly. I also have 50 acres with substantial hawthorn hedges which I would like to keep under some level of control (annual growth). I want to cause minimal damage to the hedges and wildlife.

I suffer from a spinal issue and cannot manually trim all these hedges. I don't want to have some person come in witha flail mower and damage the hedges, I would prefer to do it myself. I have an 80hp tractor and was wonder what people's thoughts are with using a finger bar trimmer such as the McConnel Swingtrim xl. Are they a good piece of kit?

Fine Day

A flail hedge cutter is probably the best option. I am not sure how the flail hedge cutter gets a bad reputation as all our hedges get done annually every winter and the hedges look very good and healthy. I think once the hedges are done annualy with a flail hedge cutter minimum damage will be done. Have little experience with a finger bar type machine, but I would imagine they be very slow and troublesome particularly after a fully year of growth.

Rallo

Thanks Theheff, would my 80 hp tractor be good enough for a flail cutter? If so, what brand/model would you recommend?

Thanks

timple23

Have you a loader would one of these suit?

https://www.donedeal.ie/hedgecutters-for-sale/front-hedgecutter/26203501

Rallo

Hey timple23, unfortunately I don't. It would be the ideal job if I did.

davidk1394

I ran a McConnell PA 93 on a David Brown 1394. Once you weren't trying to go up a steep hill you'd be fine. A friend of mine has this hedge cutter on a 100hp fendt orchard tractor with both the flail head and the multi saw head. The multi saw head will cut branches up to this width of your arm with ease.

https://www.mcconnel.com/power-arms/_product/8/30-series/