Finish mowing

Finish mowing for large lawns and grass areas

Finish mowing gives a tidy, lawn-like cut over areas too big for a ride-on mower — large gardens, paddocks near the house, orchards, parkland and fields used for events. It’s for when the grass needs to look good, not just be cut down.

What’s involved

A finishing mower is a tractor-mounted rotary mower with several blades and a roller or wheels that hold it at a set height. It cuts cleanly and spreads the clippings finely, so the result looks close to a lawn rather than a rough field.

It is a different machine from a topper. A topper is built to chew through tall, rough growth; a finishing mower is built for a neat cut on grass that is already kept reasonably short.

Cutting height can be set lower than when topping — often 5 cm or so — and regular visits through the growing season keep the finish consistent.

When to do it

Through the growing season, from around April to October, with visits every two to four weeks depending on how fast the grass grows and how tidy you want it. Before an event, a cut a few days ahead lets the grass recover and the clippings settle.

Dry grass on firm ground gives the cleanest result. Wet grass clogs the deck and leaves clumps, and a heavy tractor on soft lawns can mark the surface.

What affects the price

The area to be cut and how many separate sections there are

How often you want it done — one-off or regular through the season

Obstacles: trees, beds, posts, play equipment and edges that need care

How long the grass is now; very overgrown areas may need topping first

Access for a tractor, and whether any strimming or edging is wanted as well

Travel distance

Good to know

If the grass has got away from you, a finishing mower struggles. It is often quicker to top it first and then finish mow once it is back under control.

Tell the contractor about hidden hazards — drain covers, sprinkler heads, stumps, tent-peg holes — before they start.

A tractor is heavier than a garden mower. On soft lawns or after rain, it may be better to wait a few days than to leave wheel marks.

Finish mowing: common questions

What is the difference between a topper and a finishing mower?

A topper is built to cut tall, rough grass and weeds in fields, and leaves a coarse finish. A finishing mower has several blades and a roller or wheels that give a neat, even, lawn-like cut on grass that is already kept fairly short.

How often should a large lawn or paddock be mown?

In peak growth, from late spring into early summer, every one to two weeks keeps it tidy. Later in the season, every two to four weeks is usually enough. It depends on the weather and how neat you want it.

Can a finishing mower cut long grass?

Only up to a point. In long or wet grass it clogs and leaves clumps of clippings. Very overgrown areas are best topped first, then brought back with a finishing mower.

Often booked alongside

Paddock topping — Rough grass and thistles cut back before turn-out or in the autumn.

Rolling — Firm the ground, press stones back down after harrowing.

Hedge cutting — Field and boundary hedges cut and shaped, arisings cleared.

Scarifying — Thatch and moss raked out so the grass can breathe.