Services
Bush Hogging Services in Alachua, FL
Give a north Florida field one wet summer and it goes from mowed to impenetrable. Blackberry, briars, ragweed and young sweetgum push through the grass, fence lines vanish, and the tractor you own is not big enough to take it back. North Florida Land Improvements LLC provides bush hogging for pastures, hay fields, fence lines, pond banks and overgrown lots from our base in Alachua, and we reach the surrounding counties as well. We cut with a tractor-mounted rotary cutter sized to the job, check the field for hazards before the blades turn, and leave the ground open and usable. Whether your acreage is near Newberry or out along US-441, call (352) 756-0010 for a free estimate.
The scope
What Bush Hogging Actually Involves
Bush hogging is mowing with a heavy rotary cutter, pulled behind a tractor and driven by its power take-off, to cut grass, weeds, briars and small saplings that a lawn mower cannot handle. Most people say brush hog, and Bush Hog is a brand name, but the machine is a rotary cutter either way. Cutting capacity depends on the model, and manufacturer ratings for large flex-wing cutters run from about 1.5 to 5 inches of stem diameter, so anything much bigger than a small sapling, and any stump, needs a different machine. We walk the field first to find rocks, stumps, old fence wire, holes and wet ground, then set the cut height and run overlapping passes, cutting twice when the growth is tall. A heavy-duty flex-wing cutter covers open acreage, and a smaller three-point cutter works tight corners and fence lines. Before, you have a field you cannot walk or drive. After, you have an even, open surface, visible fence lines and pasture that can grow grass again.
Why us
Why Alachua Landowners Choose North Florida Land Improvements
We are a family-owned business that runs its own tractor, and you deal with the people doing the cutting. Eric Temme bought an established company and its equipment in 2022, and he brings in experienced help when acreage calls for more than one machine. We also clear, grade and build drives, so if the field needs more than mowing, we can tell you what it really needs.
We are honest about what a bush hog can and cannot do. Its cutting capacity is limited, and UF/IFAS states that mowing does not suppress cogongrass long-term and that clean equipment prevents spreading rhizomes and seed. Its guidance on pasture weed management says mowing works better on broadleaf and annual weeds and that timing before seed set limits spread. We tell you when a field needs herbicide or a different machine, instead of billing you for repeated mowing that will not solve the problem.
Get to know the family behind the tractor, and call when the field needs cutting.
Step by step
Our Bush Hogging Process
Walk the Field and Mark the Hazards
We walk the acreage before we cut. We look for stumps, rocks, buried wire, old culverts, holes, soft ground and gopher tortoise burrows, and we mark what has to be avoided. A rotary cutter throws debris, so finding hazards first protects the machine, your fence and your neighbors.
Set the Cutter and the Cut Height
We match the cutter to the growth and the ground, and set the cut height with skids or a rear roller. Height matters because a low cut on uneven ground scalps the soil, and a high cut on heavy growth leaves a mat behind. We talk through the result you want, whether that is a neat pasture or a rough first cut on ground that has been let go.
Cut in Overlapping Passes
Our operator runs overlapping passes across the field and works slopes and ditch banks carefully. Tall or dense growth is often cut twice, once high and once low, which leaves a cleaner finish and puts less strain on the tractor. Overlap prevents the strips of uncut growth you see after a rushed pass.
Trim Edges and Inspect
Headlands, fence lines, gate areas and pond banks are trimmed and inspected, and any debris thrown onto driveways or roadsides is cleared. We then walk the result with you and explain what to expect next, including which plants will regrow and when to schedule a follow-up. You receive open, usable ground and a plan to keep it that way.
Where we work
Serving Alachua and the surrounding counties
North Florida Land Improvements LLC bush hogging crews work across Alachua County, from Alachua and High Springs to Newberry, Archer and Hawthorne, and in Union, Bradford, Columbia, Suwannee and Levy Counties. We mow acreage near Lake Butler, Starke, Lake City, Live Oak and Williston, along SR-235, US-301 and US-129, and out to properties bordering the Osceola National Forest in Columbia County.
Mowing in this region has its own rules. Cogongrass and Chinese tallow are widespread, and UF/IFAS notes that mowing does not suppress cogongrass over the long term and that untreated tallow stumps resprout, so we clean the cutter before it leaves an infested field. Timing matters too, since mowing before weeds set seed limits their spread and mowing after seed set can carry seed on the equipment. The wet season also limits when a tractor can work low ground without rutting.
From our job sites
Recent jobs
Wooded lot cleared to the tree line 
Open ground, good oak kept 
Trees out, roots and all 
Lot finished edge to edge
Common questions
Bush Hogging FAQs
Is it bush hog or brush hog?
They mean the same thing. Bush Hog is a brand name, brush hog is the common spoken form, and rotary cutter is the generic term. All refer to a heavy cutter that runs off a tractor's power take-off.
What can a bush hog cut?
Grass, weeds, briars and small saplings. Cutting capacity depends on the model, and Bush Hog's own flex-wing line is rated from about 1.5 to 5 inches of stem diameter. Larger trees need a forestry mulcher, and stumps have to be pulled with an excavator or ground out.
How often should a pasture be bush hogged?
It depends on the grass, rainfall and how the pasture is used. UF/IFAS bahiagrass guidance sets stubble heights of about 2 inches for hay, 3 inches for rotational grazing and 5 inches for continuous stocking, and mowing before weeds set seed limits their spread. In north Florida's long growing season, most owners mow several times between spring and fall.
Will bush hogging get rid of cogongrass or Chinese tallow?
No. Mowing knocks them back temporarily. UF/IFAS states that mowing does not suppress cogongrass over the long term, and tallow stumps resprout unless treated. Herbicide, timed properly, is part of controlling either one.
What is the difference between bush hogging, forestry mulching and land clearing?
Bush hogging maintains grass and cuts brush and small saplings. Forestry mulching grinds larger trees and thick woody growth, up to about 12 inches in diameter, into mulch in place. Land clearing removes trees and stumps entirely for building or farming. The right choice depends on the size of what is growing and what you plan to do next.
Is it safe to stand near a bush hog?
No. A rotary cutter can throw objects hundreds of feet, so people, pets and vehicles need to stay well away while it runs. We ask you to keep everyone clear of the field and we check it for hazards first.
Keep exploring
Related services
When a field has outgrown a mower, the next step may be larger. See our forestry mulching service for woody growth, or land clearing when the land needs to be opened completely. To schedule mowing, contact us or call (352) 756-0010 for a free estimate.
Land Clearing
We remove brush, trees and undergrowth so you can build, farm or reclaim your property, from a single homesite to many acres.
Learn moreSite Preparation
We clear, scrape, grade and laser level your lot so your builder starts on solid, accurate ground.
Learn moreForestry Mulching
One-pass clearing that grinds trees and brush into mulch where they stand, with no burn piles and less soil disturbance.
Learn moreDriveways and Culverts
Gravel driveways built on good grading, a solid base and proper drainage, with culvert pipe where the drive crosses a ditch.
Learn more
Free estimates
Ready to talk about bush hogging?
Call (352) 756-0010 or request your free estimate, and we will walk the property with you before anything is quoted.
Military and first responder discounts available.