All those trees, bushes, and tough weeds on your land may not be easy to get rid of. Therefore, you will need the best tools to clear brush to ensure tidying up overgrown land is quick and safe.
However, brush cleaning is not the same for every particular property. This process can differ in the amount of work and tools required to perform the clearing tasks. So, I’ve gathered equipment to help you pick the items relevant to your needs. It’s hard to define the most effective instruments since they perform their own function and allow you to carry a specific range of actions. But this variety allows you to choose the perfect tool for your needs.
Tools to clear brush comparison table
| Tool | Purpose | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Fiskars Clearing Hook | For small area without tall trees and stumps. Good for clearing bushes and thin plants. | Review |
| Gonicc Pruning Shears | Must-have tools for every homeowner. Clear bushes and thin branches on trees. | Review |
| Husqvarna 336FR | Universal solution for a brush clearing. Power trimmer to cut bushes and thin plants. Perfect for large areas. | Review |
Types of brush clearing tools
Small farm equipment may not be enough to tame the growth of the brush and clear it away. However, considering that you are going to take care of the pristine condition of your land at least twice a year, investing in various tools and equipment for clearing overgrown land can be a good solution.
You will come across manual and power tools that will help you cut through the overgrowth. It’s hard to say which of these tools is better since they perform specific tasks and are suitable for different applications. For instance, manual instruments are a good choice for small areas and regular brush clearing. However, it’s better to use powered tools for heavy-duty usage in large areas.
Best equipment for clearing brush reviews
Hand tools to clear brush
Fiskars Clearing Hook
Use the Fiskars Clearing hook to cut and tame the fast-growing vegetation in your yard or garden. With this tool, you will effectively eliminate roots, perennials, succulents, and the brush in tight spaces. All it requires to operate is your willing arm to thin the brush out, which sets it apart from Brush Grubber Heavy Duty BG-08, which should be attached to a vehicle or tractor to do its job.
This device has an ergonomically designed handle, which is easy to grip and choke up for precision work. It also reduces the impact left, so your hand doesn’t get tired even after prolonged use. The rust-resistant blade is thoughtfully shaped to let you perform different tasks like quick pull-cuts, especially dealing with small branches and brush. Unlike most similar hooks, this one has sharpened back ribs, which are handy for sawing. I also like the sharp tip for scraping and dividing.
My main complaint about this hook is that it came completely dull. However, once I sharpened it, it did a great job and stayed sharp even while working in the dirt.
The Fiskars Clearing hook is a great brush cutting tool for all-around yard and garden clearing and maintenance. It is accurate, durable, easy to work with, and it has shown excellent results.
Key specs
- Overall Length, in/cm: 13/33.
- Blade Length: 6/15.
- Handle Type: softgrip.
- Weight, lbs/kg: 1/0.4.
Pros
- An ergonomic handle for long fatigue-free use.
- A hook design for clearing thick brushes.
- Ribs on another side for sawing.
Cons
- It must be sharpened before starting work.
Brush Grubber Heavy Duty BG-08
Looking for the best equipment for clearing land from overgrown vegetation? This Brush Grubber Heavy Duty BG-08 easily pulls shallow-rooted, small shrubs and clumps. While this product is available in different sizes, I recommend starting with the BG-08 model, which enables you to handle small tree stumps and brush up to 4 inches in diameter.
Unlike the Fiskars Clearing hook that doesn’t require the use of any additional gear, you will need to attach this brush grubber to a tractor, ATV, or UTV. Thanks to the special construction, it doesn’t slip off the brush, which includes 16 gripping teeth and spring-loaded jaws. The jaws open wide enough to deal with underbrush while the grip pads rotate 360 degrees to avoid debarking.
What I want you to remember when working with BG-08 is that I had a lot of work getting jaws on and off. It took a lot of effort to open the jaws to clamp the tree first and then even more effort to open them after pulling out the tree.
Despite this minor flaw, this brush clearing equipment does brush and tree pulling nicely. It works especially well for vegetation that is not too deep-rooted.
Key specs
- Material: Steel.
- Grips Pads Rotate: 360°.
- Dimensions, in/cm: 12x 4×1.5×30.4×10.1×3.8.
- Weight, lbs/kg: 12/5.4.
Pros
- Easily pulls out small and shallow-rooted shrubs, clumps, etc.
- Doesn’t slip off and firmly keeps the trunk.
- The grip pads rotate 360 degrees to prevent debarking.
Cons
- The jaws are hard to get on and off the tree or brush.
Gonicc Pruning Shears
Consider Gonicc Pruning Shears if you want to clear brush with hand tools. This unit does a great job of cutting 3/4″ diameter size tree branches without hand strain or fatigue.
The blades are made of heavy-duty SK5 steel with titanium coating, which prolongs its lifespan and improves durability. The handle is ergonomic and doesn’t feel awkward in hand. However, what I do not totally enjoy is its flimsiness. The bottom handle moves and feels weird.
The rotating feature is something – it makes the cutting motion much smoother. In addition, there is a cushion and shock absorber to eliminate the impact upon cutting. The locking system is secure, but setting it is a little challenging. Similarly to Fiskars Clearing Hook, this is an ambidextrous tool, so it will work perfectly both for right- and left-handed users.
With Gonicc Pruning Shears, you will clear up an overgrown fence and gate area without much effort. It proved to work well for twigs, thick brush, and larger branches.
Key specs
- Blade Material: Titanium,High Carbon Steel.
- Handle Material: Aluminum, Polyvinyl Chloride.
- Overall Length, in/cm: 8/20.3.
- Weight, lbs/kg: 0.7/0.3.
Pros
- Has a rotation feature and shock absorber for a smoother cutting motion.
- The handle feels comfortable in the hand.
- Suitable for right- and left-handed people.
Cons
- The bottom handle is slightly flimsy.
- The locking system is hard to set.
Powered tools to clear brush
Milwaukee M12
The Milwaukee M12 pruning saw is on my list of land-clearing equipment for a good reason. Its cordless design provides you with unmatched control and accessibility, even in tight-to-reach areas.
While you may want to use another product, Husqvarna 336FR, for clearing vegetation that grows parallel to the ground, the Milwaukee M12 will make a perfect choice for cutting tree branches, 3-inch hardwoods, branches, or trees. Its brushless motor makes it possible to work even with demanding hardwood materials.
The greatest advantage of this tool is its cordless design. By the way, you can make up to 120 cuts per charge, which is enough to do a lot of work around your garden or yard.
And now let’s get to not-that-great stuff. First, I noticed that this saw burns oil quickly, so don’t forget to bring it with you if you do longer jobs. Second, the battery, the battery charger, and the oil are all sold separately, which will increase the final cost of the product.
Other than that, Milwaukee M12 is a lightweight, compact pruning saw that cuts wood like butter. It lasts long and will help you reach tight-to-get places.
Key specs
- Surface: Metal.
- Blade Matherial: High Speed Steel.
- Blade Length: 6/15.
- Power Source: Cordless.
- Weight, lbs/kg: 4.1/1.8.
- Voltage: 12V.
Pros
- Comes with a battery that lasts for 120 cuts.
- Cuts demanding hardwood that is 3-inches thick.
- Delivers smooth cutting.
Cons
- Burns oil quickly.
- You’ve got to buy a battery, charger, and oil individually.
Husqvarna 336FR
Kill two birds with one stone and get one Husqvarna 336FR tool with both grass and saw blades to cover a wider range of your household needs. Compared to Milwaukee M12, which is great for cutting branches, this unit does an amazing job of clearing brush on hillside or cutting thick bushes and small trees vertically.
Because of its design, the Husqvarna 336FR brush cutter covers a lot of space, so you can clear up outgrown land much faster. The handle is soft so that it won’t rub your hand. It comes with an ergonomic harness that allows you to carry the device around. But I want to say that this machine is heavy, and the harness doesn’t save the day.
The X-Torq engine of Husqvarna 336FR is powerful enough to rip through 2 – 3 inch brush easily. Another prominent thing about it is that it reduces harmful exhaust emissions, making brush cutting a little bit greener.
The thing that concerns me about this product is the manual. The instructions are confusing and can hardly be grasped by users without experience with this sort of tool. Of course, this is absolutely not critical, but they could have taken more care of the users.
Even so, Husqvarna 336FR belongs to land clearing tools that will help get yard work done quickly. It’s powerful and covers large areas, so you will easily tidy up your garden and clear it up from a redundant brush.
Key specs
- Cutting Width, in/cm: 18.5/47.
- Cylinder: 34.6 см³.
- Power Source: Gas Powered.
- Weight, lbs/kg: 11.2/5.
- Power output: 1.9 hp.
- Dimensions, in/cm: 73.5×9.5×11/186.6×24.1×28.
Pros
- Is suitable for clearing hillsides and covering a large vertical area.
- Includes a grass blade for a more versatile use.
- Comes with a harness for convenient wearing.
Cons
- Feels too heavy, even with a harness.
- Instructions do not make the use clearer.
Swisher WRC10224H
Have you considered a professional machine to clear land as an option? With Swisher WRC10224H, your yard or farm will achieve a well-manicured look.
This rough-cut mower is perfect for use in woods and large yards. While you still have to carry the whole weight of Husqvarna 336FR on your shoulders, this machine is self-propelled, so it will be a cakewalk to clean paths in the woods. I can’t even fancy how hard it would be to use the mover without this feature, as it’s pretty heavy.
To start using this machine, you’ve got to assemble it first. Luckily, that’s not that hard. Just attach the handlebars to its body and then attach the drive cable. I want to stress that you can adjust the height and set the speed (four speed settings are available) to meet your fit, height, or preference. You can do it pretty easily with related hand controls. The Briggs and Stratton 11.5 HP (344cc) recoil start engine is paired with steel blades not to give a chance to brush or grass that grows at the range of 3 – 4.75 inches.
The Swisher brush mower has made a great impression on me. It makes clearing large yards easier. Strain your back no more, as this machine lets you adjust the height of the handlebar for your comfort.
Key specs
- Cutting Width, in/cm: 24/60.9.
- Cutting height adjustment, in/cm: 3-4.7/7.6-12.
- Power Source: Gas Powered.
- Weight, lbs/kg: 342/155.
- Power output: 10.2 hp.
- Dimensions, in/cm: 87x27x42/220×68.5×106.6.
Pros
- Perfect for clearing large areas.
- Self-propelled to compensate for the heavy weight.
- The height of the handlebar is adjustable.
- Four speeds are available.
Cons
- Is heavy enough.
- Requires assembling before use.
Safety precautions
When you neglect safety precautions as you clear small trees and wooded land, this can lead to horrendous accidents. So, knowing how to work safely is as important as getting the proper equipment.
Before you get to work, inspect the territory. Check it for stones or other hard objects that can prevent smooth brush clearing.
If you live in an area with snakes and your effort to stop them from slithering into your yard fails all the time, make sure your legs are protected. You can wear high boots or special snake gaiters, protecting you from poisonous creatures. Do not forget to wear other protective gear like gloves and goggles, especially when dealing with power tools. In addition, it would be nice to wear a hard hat and a wire mesh face shield.
Moreover, inspect all equipment and safety clothes for signs of damage. Replace them as needed before you start working. Never use defective tools. And, of course, make sure you have free access to a first aid kit and emergency communication.
