I sickle bar mower would do the job. Three point hitch attachment, PTO powered.

sickle bar seems like the best option and would eliminate the need to buy a seperate tractor for the exstended reach implement. if u dont care about what ur grass looks like u may even be able to get a big enough sickle bar to simple just go up the row one way and then come back down the same row and mow it all eliminating the need for the rotary mower. with a sickle bar though u have to look out for sticks, wire, rocks, etc. because they can mess the bar as well as ur pto up prety quick.

I was just out mowing in the apple orchard, as well as the fields. While I've always had a nice crop of poison ivy, this year it's really nice. I'm thinking, maybe 3 point hitch sprayer and some Round-Up. ... don't have to get the tractor under the limbs, watch for rocks, etc..

Gramoxone this is burndown you may like better than roundup no chance damage the trees with it like roundup but grass come back it die down to roots then come back works fast should kill weeds and grass in day. Paraquat another name of product. 3 pints with 1quart surfactant in 100 gallons water make strong mix. And its label for pears you can use right over any sprits that may be at roots of trees if do this with roundup you have slow dieng tree.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gramoxone

They make off set tow behind mowers that should work under your trees. Drpower.com being one manufacturer. I'm not endorsing their product, just know they make them. Should be able to tow it with your present tractor and mow it all in one pass. That is if the trees are pretty much in a straight line.

Several companies make offset mower/trimmers which literally bounce around posts and trees, trimming very close to them with little maneuvering of the tow vehicle

Maybe something like a Swisher postmaster would be perfect for your orchard

Don

Here is a link that might be useful: Swisher Postmaster

I use a Xmark lazer z zero turn machine with the deck set high. Works well for me and is the fastest way I have found.

Thanks to all for the quick responses.

Sickle probably will not work because all prunings are left on ground. Bigger than 2" are picked up for fire wood, less than 2" are left and current rotary mower just chews them up into twigs.

Can't use any chems cause orchard is certified organic.

Was hoping to learn more about offset mowers, I will follow the two pointers.

Well, in the case of organic ... there is an answer! I was reading, that they are training and using sheep to keep vineyards trimmed up. Probably work even better in the orchard.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sheep ...

Then consider buying a hydraulically driven flail mower that can be mid-mounted on your existing tractor. That would allow you to use your existing Bush Hog on the rear at the same time. Drop and engage both mowers and make your pass down the row of trees. There are flail mowers out there built strong enough to shred those prunings that are laying on the ground.

As I see it, that type of flail mower is your only option due to the litter on the ground unless you go to a bat-wing Bush Hog but your 'bota is likely too small to handle one. Go Google "Heavy-duty flail mower and see what pops up.

Steiner has a Tree Farm mower that sort of "hugs" the tree.

Being Steiner, it's probably very expensive, but if you've got 20-30 acres of trees you might consider it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Farm mower

I shred all my prunning with Dixie Chopper mower it 60 inch it cuts up to 2 inch limbs to shredes from peaches and pecans. Blackberries you have to remove old canes that bear fruit also shred that up with dixie chopper it uses very heavy blades I have no blade damage from this just get dull like rotary mower blades. Sometimes I cut larger limbs and leaves the firewood pieces when limbs are pile up to high for dixie chopper to get on top I use a rotary mower to lower the pile then finish with DC it mulch them better. The new 74 inch would be great mower for your operation you can pull those wagons of pears with it as well up to 2000 lbs tongue pull. Going down orchard row with ZTR mower is way to take care of weeds around trees you want have to circle the trees to get cut you want. Rotary mower that 100 inch cut good for orchard floor that 40 horsepower take it in slower gear. ZRT mower work well but toy type want those fence row mower are lawnmower with tire to make swing from post and very slow to mow cotton grower use frail mowers on stackes so that work but most are heavy on used market.