Slashing overgrown acreage back into shape.
When a block has been left to go fallow (tall summer grass, woody weeds, growth over machine height), it needs slashing to get it under control. We get neglected acreage presentable across Pullenvale and western Brisbane, on ground too steep and challenging for a standard mower.
When a property needs slashing
Slashing is the heavy first cut: knocking down growth that’s too tall, too coarse, or too woody for a finish mower. Properties usually need it when:
- A block has been left fallow for a season or more and the grass is over knee height
- Tall summer growth (signal grass, Guinea grass, panic grass) has got away before winter
- You’ve bought, or are selling, a property that needs bringing back to presentable
- A paddock needs opening up before agistment, fencing, or other work
- Firebreaks need cutting before the fire season
How we do it
One operator, one machine: a Ventrac 4520P articulated tractor with the Tough Cut deck fitted. It cuts grass, weeds, and woody stems up to 25mm, and with dual wheels it works slopes up to 30 degrees (58% grade), the steep, rough ground that stops a standard slasher or zero-turn.
Overgrown recovery is usually staged. The Tough Cut deck brings the property back to a workable condition first; where the result warrants it, we follow with the finish mower for a cleaner cut. On a badly overgrown block that can mean a heavier first visit before a regular cycle becomes practical. We tell you that at the site walk, before we start, not after.
One acre, 22 degrees, heavy growth. Here is how the options compare.
For one acre of overgrown ground on an average 22 degree slope, with sections up to 30 degrees, indicative times are:
| Approach | Time for the acre | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Fallow & Blade, Ventrac with Tough Cut deck | 2.5 to 3 hours | None. The 2.8 hour figure is GPS-measured from a real job on this gradient, not a brochure number |
| 4WD ride-on slasher | 5 to 7 hours | Most are rated to 25 degrees, so the steepest sections are left uncut or finished by hand |
| Remote-control tracked mower | 2.5 to 4 hours | Handles the slope easily, but float and day rates typically run 2 to 3 times ours |
| Two-person brushcutting crew | 2 to 3 days | 16 or more labour hours, and the finish is a knockdown, not a cut |
The figures other than ours are calculated from published machine specifications, adjusted by what our GPS data shows real terrain costs over theory. On maintained ground everything gets faster, but the ratios hold.
The short version: on steep ground, a machine rated for the whole block, with a 1.7 metre deck, is the difference between a same-day job and a multi-day one.
What slashing can and can’t do
Slashing manages growth: it cuts fuel load, stops grasses seeding, and keeps a property accessible and under control. It’s mechanical management, not eradication. It won’t kill established woody weeds or clear infestations that need a licensed herbicide applicator, and with some species, cutting without care can spread them. Where that applies, we flag it at the site walk. There’s detail in our guide to weed management on acreage properties, and if you’re weighing the two approaches, slashing versus mowing.
Before and after
A neglected slope brought back: before, during, and after the first cut. There’s more before-and-after work in our work.
Slashing is charged at our standard day rate; full rate card on the pricing page.
Where we slash
The same 20km radius as our mowing: the western Brisbane acreage belt. That covers Pullenvale, Brookfield, Kenmore Hills, Upper Brookfield, Moggill, Pinjarra Hills, and Anstead; the full picture, including the map, is on the service area page.
Slashing is usually the first visit, not the last. Once a block is back under control, most owners move to a regular cycle; see acreage mowing across western Brisbane.
Got a block that’s got away?
Tell us the suburb, the acreage, and roughly how long it’s been since it was last cut. We’ll come back within one business day, walk the site, and give you a clear estimate before any work starts.