Maintaining acreage, pastures, or estate lawns requires specialized equipment, and two of the most important implements for your tractor are the finish mower and the bush hog (also known as a rotary cutter or brush hog). While they share some similarities in attachment methods, their design, capabilities, and intended uses differ dramatically. This comprehensive guide explores how each works, their unique strengths, and how to decide which is the right investment for your property.
1. Understanding Each Implement
What Is a Finish Mower?
A finish mower, often called a grooming mower, is built to deliver a clean, well-manicured cut to lawns, sports fields, school grounds, and parks. It features a wide, flat cutting deck, usually equipped with three sharp, thin spinning blades that are set for precision cutting. These blades rotate rapidly, producing an even, carpet-like finish that encourages healthy grass regrowth.
- Attachment: Finish mowers are almost always three-point hitch implements, designed for subcompact or compact tractors.
- Deck Design: Large, flat, and often wider than brush hogs, helping cover more area in fewer passes.
- Clipping Management: Most finish mowers come with a discharge bag or offer mulching, which collects clippings and improves turf quality.
- Cutting Height: Adjustable, but typically set for shorter grass (for lawns, 1-4in).
What Is a Bush Hog?
The term bush hog technically began as a brand name but is now widely used for rotary cutters designed for mowing tall grass, dense weeds, brush, and even small saplings. Bush hogs are built around one or two heavy, dull, swinging blades that shear and smash through overgrown vegetation.
- Blade System: Blades are thick, heavy, and mounted to swing freely, striking through dense material without easily dulling or sustaining catastrophic damage.
- Attachment: Available as both three-point hitch implements and, for some models, walk-behind versions.
- Intended Use: Land reclamation, pasture restoration, roadside maintenance, heavy brush clearing.
- Clipping Management: Unlike finish mowers, bush hogs do not collect clippings; debris is left on the ground, often in uneven heaps.
2. Key Differences: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Finish Mower | Bush Hog (Rotary Cutter) |
|---|---|---|
| Blades | 3+ sharp, thin | 2 heavy, blunt |
| Purpose | Lawn & turf detailing | Tall grass, brush, saplings |
| Cutting Finish | Smooth, even, manicured | Ragged, coarse, uneven |
| Power Needs | Lower | Higher (for thick brush) |
| Deck Width | Often wider | Often narrower |
| Attachment | Tractor only | Tractor & walk-behind |
| Discharge Bag | Yes | Rarely/never |
| Terrain Tolerance | Best for smooth fields | Good for rough, rocky |
| Price (2025, new) | Less expensive (used) | Higher for heavy-duty |
| Maintenance | More blades to sharpen | Fewer, thicker blades |
| Cutting Capability | Grass only | Grass, brush, woody stems |
| Best Use | Lawns, sports, parks | Overgrown land, wild areas |
3. Core Design Differences
Blade Design
- Finish mower blades are thin, sharp, and rotate at high speed—perfect for a neat, uniform grass cut.
- Bush hog blades are thick, heavy, and swing on a rotating plate. They’re intentionally a bit dull, designed to smash through and “whack” tall grass, weeds, and even young trees without damage.
Deck & Mulching
- Finish mowers are engineered for precision, with decks that allow for fine, uniform dispersal of clippings—and often offer a mulching or discharge bag for collection or recycling organic matter.
- Bush hogs feature rugged decks with open rear discharge, leaving woody debris and cut grass in place. The emphasis is on power and clearance, not finish.
Attachment & Mobility
- Both are mounted to the tractor’s three-point hitch, but finish mowers are strictly implement-based, while bush hogs offer walk-behind versions for especially rough ground or smaller plots.
4. Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
When to Use a Finish Mower
- Lawns or Turf: You want a golf-course or well-groomed park look.
- Frequency: You mow regularly—grass isn’t allowed to get out of control.
- Grass Only: The site is mostly grass, with few weeds or woody plants.
- Safety & Appearance: You desire safe, even footing and professional landscaping.
When to Use a Bush Hog
- Neglected Land: The area has tall grass, thick weeds, woody brush, or saplings (often over 5-6in tall).
- Land Reclamation: You’re clearing field edges, ditches, or preparing overgrown plots for new use.
- Rough/Rocky Terrain: The ground may be uneven or have obstacles (brush hogs are more tolerant of striking hidden debris).
- No Need for Manicured Finish: Speed and vegetation removal matter more than a pretty cut.
5. Power, Cost, and Efficiency
Power Requirements
- Finish Mower: Requires less tractor horsepower—typically 15-30hp, depending on the mower’s width.
- Bush Hog: Needs more power, especially for thick brush—30hp+ recommended, and more for larger/heavy-duty models. The added horsepower ensures the machine can push through stubborn growth without bogging down.
Cost—What to Expect in 2025
- Finish Mowers: With zero-turn mowers dominating the lawn market, there’s greater availability of used finish mowers at lower prices. Expect $1,500–$4,500 new, or sub-$1,000 for used units in good condition.
- Bush Hogs: Heavy-duty rotary cutters are in high demand for land clearance, meaning $2,500–$10,000 for quality new models. Simpler/lighter hogs for small tractors are less, but expect to pay at least $800–$3,000 for durable used options.
6. Performance in Real-World Use
- Finish Mower:
- Leaves a clean, even cut that motivates regrowth and lawn health.
- Better for open areas with no rocks or hidden hazards.
- Lower maintenance if kept clean (but blades need frequent sharpening).
- Bush Hog:
- Handles rocks, stumps, and tough growth without blade breakage.
- Slower ground speed than finish mower on flat lawns but far superior in wild or uneven terrain.
- More robust build—great for initial land clearing or pasture restoration.
7. Accessories & Innovations
- Finish mowers often include mulching kits, discharge bags, and floating decks for undulating ground.
- Bush hogs rarely offer collection but may feature slip clutches (gearbox protection), reinforced decks, and adjustable cutting heights.
8. Maintenance Tips
- Finish Mower: Regular blade sharpening; belt and spindle checks; keep deck clean to avoid rust.
- Bush Hog: Check and tighten blade bolts; inspect gearbox oil; grease PTO shafts and hinges; replace blades if bent/damaged.
9. Environmental & Agronomic Impact
- Finish mowers support sustainable turf care, promoting thick, healthy, manicured grass—ideal for lawns, sports, and high-visibility properties.
- Bush hogs keep invasive species and underbrush in check, opening land for grazing, regeneration, and safer property access, albeit with no real focus on “looks.”
10. Real-World Scenario: When Might You Need Both?
It’s not uncommon for land managers or rural property owners to utilize both machines:
- First, clear rough, wild ground with a bush hog—removing the bulk of weeds, woody stems, and overgrowth.
- Next, switch to a finish mower to maintain and enhance the landscape for aesthetics and healthy grass regrowth.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?
- If your property needs to transform from wild growth to manicured beauty—or if you want the best of both worlds—invest in both a bush hog and a finish mower. Start with the bush hog for heavy clearance, then maintain the area with a finish mower for a professional finish.
- For established, regularly cut grass, and if aesthetics are paramount, the finish mower is the clear winner.
- For neglected fields, uneven terrain, or dense growth, the bush hog is your essential tool.
I’m David man behind Lawn Mowerly; I’ve been dealing with lawnmowers and Tractors with my father since I was a kid. I know every make and model and what each one is capable of and love helping people find the perfect equipment for their needs.