If you live on a large property with high-quality soil that receives a good deal of rain, odds are that more things grow than just the lawn you wanted. In fact, if you live next to natural areas like forest and grasslands, you might be used to wrangling with areas of overgrown brush.
Too thick to drive a lawn mower through, heavy brush can cause a massive headache for the average do-it-yourselfer if he or she doesn’t have the right Husqvarna equipment to tackle the job. However, with a brushcutter that fits your property and and your needs, you could be slicing through the thickest thickets in no time at all. Just be sure you keep these three brushcutter safety tips in mind while you’re hacking away.
Overgrown bushes and brush can ruin your intricately designed yard.1. Look Mom, two hands
Unlike underpowered weed-whackers that you usually support with your own weight, more powerful brushcutters often come equipped with an over-the-shoulder and around-the-waist secure harness to help you keep the device under control at all times. However, that doesn’t mean you should forget about the two handles on either side. In fact, you’ll want to keep both hands firmly in place whenever the brushcutter is in operation.
Because it’s hard to judge the relative strength of the roots and stalk of a patch of brush, you may not know if your cutter will be able to slice through the material on the first go. If not, it might kick back, and if you don’t have a good handle on the machine, it could be bad news for you, the brushcutter and whatever neat design you were planning on.
“Sweeping the head from side-to-side the most effective way to remove thick brush.”
2. Sweep the leg
You might be used to mowing your lawn in a very straightforward fashion where you make sure to line up each pass with the one before it. When you’re clearing away tough grass with a brushcutter, though, you’ll want to take a more rounded approach.
Because the exposed head of most brushcutters spins counter-clockwise, sweeping the machine from right to left is the most effective way to allow the cutting attachments to bite into the brush. However, if your machine doesn’t pack enough of a punch, you may have to reverse the sweeping motion to remove any excess grass. To save time, though, you’ll want to purchase a more powerful brushcutter like the Husqvarna 336FR that can cut any patch of overgrown thatch down to size in one easy go.
3. No-go gadget arms
Though brushcutters can resemble pole saws due to their similar extended shafts, you should never confuse these two machines’ functions. In fact, doing so can put you at major risk of injury.
Though you may be able to extend your reach with pole saws, you should never try to stretch for a distant patch of grass with your brushcutter. Some models can come with very powerful engines, and if you don’t have both hands on the handles and both feet on the ground, the slightest hitch in the engine could be enough to send you off balance. Cut what’s within your reach at first before venturing out to the more distant areas of your yard.