Farm Tech Supplies, the stockist of products for smallholders and compact tractor owners, explains the differences when it comes to mowers.

For tractor-owning smallholders looking to buy a new mower there is a great selection to choose from these days. It’s important to make the right decision, which will depend on a number of factors such as the acreage to be mowed, the regularity of cutting, the required finish and the intended use of the pasture.

Winton have a range of mowers suitable for compact tractors from smaller sub- compact 12hp tractors up to larger 70hp ones. We review the advantages of each of the popular types to try and help you to make the right choice.

Traditional Topper Mower

will take the top off long grasses, and cut small saplings and scrub. This type of mower is ideal for rough, overgrown pastures with long grass, weeds, brambles, and other woody plants. With two blades attached to a rotating carrier they make easy work of cutting back vegetation to a more manageable length — leaving a rough cut behind and rows of long cuttings which are easy to rake up.

Topper mowers are mechanically pretty basic, so they are straightforward to maintain and offer excellent value for money. However, if the ground is very uneven or if you are after a neat close-cut finish then a topper may not be the best choice. • See Winton WTM topper

Mowers with 1.1m – 1.8m working widths

Finishing Mowers are ideal for use on fairly flat grassed areas that are regularly cut, a finishing mower is ideal for golf courses, sports fields, estates and lawns. The cutting height can be easily adjusted using the wheel spacers, to ensure a close-to-the-ground cut and fine finish. Finishing mowers have three cutting blades and require a bit more maintenance than a topper with belts to tension and blade bearings which need to be greased regularly.
• See Winton WFM finishing mowers with 1.2m – 2.15m working widths

Versatile Flail Mowers are great all-rounders, equally suitable for short grass such as lawns or rougher areas of pasture even if it’s very overgrown. They will leave a good lawn-finish if used regularly and will also make light work of cutting through long grass, weeds, saplings, and general woody material in overgrown areas.

A flail mower leaves a finer finish than a topper and spreads smaller cuttings, these soon mulch down and provide a fantastic natural fertiliser across paddocks or fields. Rather than the standard Y-blades, Winton flail mowers use heavy-duty hammer blades that sit on a horizontal rotor which spins the hammers to create the flail motion.

This makes them well-equipped to handle rough, uneven ground and overgrown areas. Flail mowers are also more compact than topper or finishing mowers, making them more manoeuvrable in tight spaces and easier to store. The design also means they are more effective if you are cutting between trees or close to fence-lines.
• See Winton flail mowers WFL 1.05m – 1.75m, WHF hydraulic offset 1.25m – 2.2m, WVF offset verge 1.3m – 1.5m
• WCF sub-compact 0.85m – 1.05m

In the past, toppers would have been the mower of choice for smallholders, with finishing mowers being more popular with estate managers. However, we are now starting to see more customers buying flail mowers due to their versatility.

For more advice finding the right mower contact Farm Tech Supplies in Hampshire, main dealer of Winton Machinery. Phone 01420 520510, email sales@farmtechsupplies.co.uk or visit www.farmtechsupplies.co.uk

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