Sorry... This site requires a JavaScript enabled browser.

When it comes to keeping farm fence lines clear of overgrowth, there is no substitute for brushcutters. These machines are so good that it’s hard to find a bad one.

With four different types on the market – wheeled, backpack, cow horn/bicycle handlebar and lance – the terrain and nature of the job will dictate which machine best suits a farmer’s needs.

As they are often needed for multiple tasks, much comes down to personal preference.

See also: Buyers guide: calf disbudders on test

They are flexible and all but one can be used with either cord or a blade.

Budget is another consideration – prices start from £200 but top-notch machines can cost nearly £1,000.

Today’s machines are easy-starting and have a high power-to-weight ratio and come in different sizes and power capacities, depending on the sort of work they’re designed to do.

At the top of the price range is the backpack. The engine is strapped to the operator’s back, which takes weight off the shoulders. For this reason, a more powerful engine can be used so it delivers a lot of power, but requires less of the physical effort associated with some of the other models.

Match the engine size and power delivery to the job. More power is needed where grass is very dense or where there are tough weeds or young saplings to cut.

With safety mind, the most comfortable way to protect eyes, face and hearing is with a helmet/face shield/ear muff combination. This offers protection from flying debris and is more comfortable than separate safety glasses and ear muffs.

Consider using metal-reinforced line. This is less prone to breakage.

Backpack strimmers are also useful for working on embankments and rough ground.

Probably the only drawback is that the weight of the engine unit raises the total centre of gravity of the operator’s body, making balancing more difficult during cutting.

The wheeled, or “pram-style”, cutter is least common, but farmers who have them love them for many reasons, not least because they take much less physical effort to operate.

Strimming can be a back-breaking job but the beauty of a wheeled device is that they are pushed along, removing that strain.

This machine runs parallel to the ground so it is at its best when used on flat ground. The one shortcoming is that it doesn’t have the option of a blade attachment.

The cow horn, or bicycle handlebar cutter is used in conjunction with a shoulder strap. This machine is ideal for areas where the ground is flat and there is a lot of mowing to be done.

With this style of unit, it is easy to use a swaying or scything motion. This model is comfortable even when it is used for long hours of work.

At the budget end of the market, the straight-handled lance cutter can be used with a strap or held only with both hands.

It is a good choice for cutting vertical hedges or where vegetation needs cutting on banks or hilly ground and along the edges of ditches or streams. The engine needs to be small because it is the operator who largely takes the strain.

Strimmers can be used with different blade attachments or cord. Blades are generally accepted as being the safest option because they tend to throw less debris at the operator.

A blade, which scatters debris away from the operator as it cuts, is effective where the vegetation is thick and there are tough weeds or where the grass is dense when there has been a long gap between cuts.

Nylon-line heads are designed to rip through grass and are ideal for trimming around the base of trees, but when the line is lost the operator has the fiddly and time consuming job of hooking it out again.

There are clear differences between models that are intended for the homeowner and for working environments. The following guide looks at some of the brushcutters that have the strength to deal with those tough jobs on the farm.

Features: This machine has been redesigned to include an electric start. This new feature means it can be restarted when strapped to the operator’s back.

Visit our Know How centre for practical farming advice