For clearing brush and 2 to 3 inch saplings, run a 25 to 45 PTO-HP compact tractor with a heavy-duty 5- or 6-foot rotary cutter rated for 2 inch material. Add a root grapple on the loader for pile cleanup, plus a third-function valve to run the grapple.
Brush is hard on equipment. Standard light-duty rotary cutters are rated for 1.5 inch material; a true brush hog is rated for 2 inch or thicker. The grapple matters as much as the cutter.
Attachment classes covered on this page: rotary-cutter, grapple, post-hole-digger, Engine HP, 30 – 60 HP, PTO HP (min), 25 – 45 HP, Rotary cutter, 5 – 6 ft, 2 in capacity, Loader, Grapple + third-function valve, Tires, R4 industrial recommended, Protection, ROPS canopy, no cab. Recommended models are filtered live from the tractor and implement records, so every tractor shown meets the horsepower, hitch, and lift thresholds this page publishes, and a newly verified model appears here automatically. Each figure comes from manufacturer documentation with its source and verification date on the record.