Brushcutters, being the nifty tools they are, could be seen as the behind the scenes heroes of permaculture, as they’ve helped gardeners and landscapers maintain self-sustaining gardens with precision that hand tools simply cannot match. Whether you’re looking to tackle wild overgrowth, prepping your garden’s soil for new plants, or creating nutrient-rich compost, brushcutters are indispensable.
In this BS Power guide, we’re going to look at their role in the practice of permaculture, share some tips for using them, and help you choose the perfect pair to make sure your sustainable gardening game is always on point.
What Is Permaculture And Why Does It Matter?
Okay, now permaculture might sound like a foreign concept to most, but at its core, it’s actually a beautifully simple concept. In a nutshell, permaculture is the practice of creating systems that align with the patterns of nature to create self-sustaining ecosystems. We guess you could think of it as gardening or farming that’s not only good for your backyard, but also good for our planet.
The Main Principles Of Permaculture:
The core principle of permaculture is building systems to take care of the planet and to protect and restore natural resources while still meeting human needs sustainably. A garden that uses the philosophies of permaculture focuses on creating balance. It should not be just about farming (permaculture farming) or planting (in the case of a permaculture garden) but also about creating an ecosystem wherein every aspect of it supports all others.
For example, overgrowth isn’t just an eyesore to your neighbours, but it can also choke our beneficial plans and disrupt biodiversity. And this is where brushcutters play their part, as they give you the ability to manage growth without upsetting the soil or potentially harming wildlife.
Through proper control of overgrowth, while taking care of biodiversity, and keeping the soil healthy, brushcutters could be seen as more than just a pair of garden tools. They’re essentially a partner in sustainability.
Brushcutters & Permaculture
Let’s for a moment imagine that you’re conducting a symphony in your garden, every plant, pathway, and patch of soil plays its part in creating a perfect song. Then picture your brushcutters as the virtuoso soloists, coming in to tackle all the tricky bits, the overgrowth, those stubborn weeds, and annoying invasives. Here’s how powered cutters actually steal the show:
Managing Overgrowth
First up, let’s look at weeds and invasive species of plants. Cutters help you clear these fast growing species so you can maintain your pathways, while giving your desirable plants the space to properly thrive. Not to mention that they are chemical-free alternatives to herbicides, which keep your garden eco-friendly.
Preservation of Soil Health
As opposed to using heavy machinery, you can use your powered cutters to get rid of vegetation without uprooting plants unnecessarily. Of course, this keeps the structure of the soil intact and helps preserve the tiny, microscopic ecosystems that make your garden flourish.
Creating Space for Planting
When putting your plan for a vegetable garden into action, you can use brushcutters to prepare the ground with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. These machines can help with prepping the areas so you can plant with ease.
Composting Materials Creation
Why should you waste your cuttings? In the spirit of permaculture, you could use the organic matter chopped up by your brushcutters as mulch or compost fodder, effectively helping you recycle nutrients back into your garden’s soil.
The Benefits Of Brushcutters In Permaculture Practices
Brushcutters really do bring a lot to the table, or in this case, the garden bed. Let’s take a quick glance at what makes these tools just so indispensable:
Effortless Efficiency
Forget hacking away at those hedges with an old school garden scythe, as brushcutters make easy work of all kinds of dense vegetation, saving you energy and time.
Perma-Precision
Maybe you need to do some manicuring around your delicate plants or flowers? You wouldn’t want to ruin your mother’s rose bush, well with brushcutters you’ll be able to get around tight spaces with surgical precision.
Versatility
Brushcutters are not just for trimming the hedge. You can use them for everything from those rugged slopes near your fynbos section to trimming your prized lawn. They’re almost like the Swiss Army knife of garden tools.
Environmentally Easy
Brushcutters also align perfectly with the eco-friendly ethos of permaculture practices, because you won’t need chemicals that will disturb or damage the soil.
Choosing The Right Brushcutters For Your Permaculture Garden
Okay, so you’ve read this far, but you might still be wondering what the right brushcutters are for your specific permaculture needs. Here at BS Power, you’ll find options that range from handheld brushcutters to technologic wonders such as robotic, autonomous mowers that really take convenience to the next level.
Handheld Brushcutters
For handheld power and surgical precision, we recommend the Husqvarna 143R-II. As this model is perfect for those heavy duty gardening tasks. You can also use this powerful machine for clearing dense overgrown sections, as well as managing invasive plants in larger permaculture setups. This brushcutter comes with a powerful engine with an ergonomic design, making it perfect for tackling tough terrain, without putting too much strain and fatigue on the operator.
If you’re working on a medium sized garden, we would say go for the Stihl FS 131, as it combines power with versatility, making it notably suitable for maintaining your garden pathways, trimming your lawn and preparing new planting areas without much disruption to your soil. If you’re a garden fundi who enjoys hands-on experiences, then these models are for you.
The Future of Convenience: The Auto-mower
If you value your time and want to be able to do more things at once then we would recommend the Husqvarna Auto-mower Aspire R4 Robotic Mower. Although it may not technically be a brushcutter, this auto-mower is understatedly a game-changer for permaculture practitioners with large lawns and wide, open green spaces. As it says in the name, this tech wonder operates autonomously, trimming your grass to uniform perfection, and also returns the clippings to the earth as natural mulch, enriching the health of your garden’s soil.
Robotic mowers thrive particularly well in suburban permaculture setups, where keeping a neatly trimmed lawn is part of a functioning ecosystem. It uses smart technology that is able to navigate slopes and avoid any obstacles, making the Aspire a very eco-friendly solution that will free up time for you to focus on other important permaculture gardening tasks.
Choosing The Right Equipment For Your Garden:
Husqvarna 143R-II: If you’re going to be mainly using a tool for dense underbrush and rugged terrain, we suggest you go for the Husqvarna 143R-II Brushcutter. You’ll appreciate it for its power and durability.
Stihl FS 131: If you’re looking for something that is an all-rounder in garden maintenance, then go for the Stihl FS 131 as this is a reliable option for all your trimming, clearing and planting preparation.
Husqvarna Auto-mower Aspire R4: If you’re looking for something for a low-maintenance lawn or other open, green spaces, then maybe opt for the Husqvarna Auto-mower Aspire R4 to make sure your garden is healthy, with neatly trimmed ecosystems, without any effort.
Regardless of what you decide on, we at BS Power have a range that guarantees you’re equipped with the tools that align with specific permaculture goals. Visit our website here to explore the abovementioned models and more.
Available At BS Power
If you’re looking to make an informed decision and invest in a brushcutter that suits your needs, then shopping from our wide range at BS Power will give you a wider set of options. At BS Power we are proud to be able to cater to the needs of everyone. From smaller-scale backyard gardening to large permaculture operations:
Stihl Brushcutters
Stihl is a household brand that is popular for its powerful and reliable garden equipment, making it the choice among professionals and hobbyist gardeners. If you’re going to be using brushcutters mainly for heavy-duty tasks like clearing away dense undergrowth, or managing invasive species, then the Stihl FS stands out thanks to its robust performance and durability.
Husqvarna Brushcutters
On the other hand, another favoured brand here at BS Power, is Husqvarna, as this brand’s products give the user a stellar blend of power, versatility, and ergonomics. Our favourite is the Husqvarna 525RJD which is perfect if you have a medium-sized garden. It’s handy for clearing and managing garden pathways, trimming your lawn, and maintaining biodiversity, and its lightweight design makes it oh-so-easy during long gardening sessions in the sun.
Safety Tips For Using Brushcutters for Sustainable Gardening
Brushcutters are powerful tools, so stay safe with the following tips:
Wear Protective Gear
No matter how big or small the task, always make sure you wear safety gloves, goggles and ear protection. Trust us here, your future self will thank you later.
Be Mindful When Cutting
Be sure to always keep an eye out for beneficial plant life and wildlife, we know how easy it can be to get carried away when using cutters but remember that precision is key.
Take Care of Your Equipment
It goes without saying, but make sure you clean your powered tools after every use. A well maintained tool is always a safe tool.
Environmental Sensitivity
We recommend not cutting in wet conditions as this will protect the integrity of your soil. Also be on the lookout for nesting birds and other garden critters that play a part in your permaculture ecosystem.
Taking Sustainable Practices To The Next Level
Brushcutters are wonderfully nifty tools and they’re oh-so practical but they’re also the gateway to some green gardening practices:
Use Your Cuttings as Mulch
As we touched on earlier, you can recycle your trimmings and use it as mulch to enrich your soil and reduce water evaporation. Now that’s sustainability at its best.
Promoting the Biodiversity of Your Garden
You can also use your cutters to clear selected areas of your garden to create habitats for insects and small animals that will benefit your garden, all while keeping invasive species away.
Brushcutters For Permaculture
These powered cutters are so much more than just useful garden tools, in fact, we see them as enablers of sustainable gardening. Whether you’re using them to tackle overgrown areas in your garden, or creating mulch, maintaining your pretty pathways, they truly give you an unparalleled level of efficiency, eco-friendliness and precision to your life.
If you’re ready to take your permaculture practices in your garden to the next level, simply visit the BS Power website today to find the perfect brushcutters for your needs. After all, it’s your garden and our planet that will thank you.