Slope mowing
Steep slope mowing, built for terrain others can’t tackle.
Overgrown Mowing provides specialist steep slope mowing across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers and remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment tackle overgrown banks, gullies and hillsides that conventional mowing equipment may struggle to access. We mechanically cut and mulch vegetation without spraying, assessing each property to determine the most suitable machinery and approach.
On this page
Why regular mowing doesn’t cut it
Hillside and bank mowing needs more than a standard mower.
Steep banks, gullies and hill faces are often the first areas of a property to become overgrown. They’re difficult to access, hard to work on and can quickly become too steep or rough for conventional mowing equipment.
That’s where our specialist machinery comes in.
Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers combine four-wheel-drive traction with heavy-duty flail cutting equipment, making them well suited to a range of sloping and uneven terrain. For particularly steep or difficult-to-access areas, our remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment allows the operator to control the machine from a separate position rather than riding on it. Both approaches mechanically cut and mulch overgrown vegetation, including long grass, scrub, gorse and blackberry. We assess each property’s slope, ground conditions, vegetation and access before deciding which equipment is appropriate. Our flail mower vs slasher guide explains how flail cutting differs from a standard slasher.
Instead of working around the difficult parts of your property, we bring machinery built to tackle them. Our machines also work flat, uneven and hard-to-reach ground: see flail mowing and mulching services.
Banks & batters
Steep banks and batters can be maintained using machinery selected for the slope and ground conditions, rather than relying on a conventional ride-on mower.
Gullies & hill faces
Hillside and steep hill mowing on hill country and gully faces, cleared or kept topped even where access is tight.
No one on the slope
Our remote-controlled tracked equipment lets the operator stay off the machine and control it from a suitable position, so steep ground we’ve assessed as suitable doesn’t need someone riding a mower or working it with a brushcutter.
How we approach a slope
Slope mowing: the steeper the ground, the more the right machinery matters.
Steep ground changes everything. Access, traction, vegetation and the shape of the terrain all determine how a slope should be tackled. Rather than trying to make one mower do every job, we assess the property and match the machinery to the conditions.
01
Assess the terrain
Every slope is different. We look at the gradient, surface conditions, vegetation, obstacles and access before deciding the best way to tackle it.
02
Match the machine
Built for the ground we’re working on. From our commercial 4×4 flail mowers to our remote-controlled tracked equipment, we choose the machine that best suits the slope, ground conditions, vegetation and access, rather than forcing conventional equipment where it doesn’t belong.
03
Mow & mulch
Get the slope back under control. Once we’re on the ground, overgrown grass, scrub and unwanted vegetation is mown and mulched in place, turning difficult, inaccessible slopes back into manageable land that’s easy to keep on top of with regular vegetation management.
Got a slope that’s got away on you?
Send us your property’s location, a few photographs of the slope and roughly how large the area is. We’ll assess whether it’s suitable for our machinery and advise on the next steps.
Typical jobs
Where steep slope mowing earns its keep.
Most of our steep slope mowing is on ground that has simply been too awkward for anyone else: roadside and driveway batters, dam faces, gully sides, the steep back paddock of a lifestyle block, and banks above houses that have been left to grow out. WorkSafe’s own tractor safety guidance says not to do tractor work on steep slopes at all, which is exactly why this ground tends to get left until it becomes a real problem.
Regular bank mowing keeps a slope tidy and makes it much easier to spot slips or washouts early. Where a bank has gone past mowing and into scrub, gorse or blackberry, we switch to scrub cutting and mulch it back the same way we do on flat ground. See land clearing and gorse and blackberry clearing for more on that. Sloping orchard and vineyard blocks are covered on our lifestyle block mowing page.
Real jobs
Steep slope and bank mowing, before and after.
Before
After
Hillside ridge cleared
Before
After
Roadside batter mown
Before
After
Bracken-covered slope cleared
Before
After
Fern-covered bank mulched
Google reviews
What clients say about Overgrown Mowing
★★★★★
“I was impressed with the quick response, fair price and the willingness to address concerns. We had a difficult to access area on the back half of the property. We’d definitely hire them again.”
★★★★★
“Great company to work with for land clearing, very courteous and professional. Communication is top notch throughout the project. Really appreciate the hard work and overcoming the challenges my project presented.”
Where we work
Steep slope mowing across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty
We do steep slope mowing across four regions: steep rural and coastal blocks in Northland, lifestyle blocks and steep banks around Auckland, hill country in the Waikato, and orchard margins and fast-growing scrub in the Bay of Plenty. Every job is quoted on its own, and here is what affects the price.
Common questions
Slope mowing, answered.
How steep is too steep?
It depends on the machine and the ground itself: surface, wetness and access all matter, not just the angle. Send us a few photos and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a fit before we quote anything.
Do you use remote-controlled machines?
Yes. Alongside our commercial 4×4 flail mowers, we operate remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment for suitable steep and difficult terrain. These machines allow the operator to control the equipment from a separate position rather than riding on it. We assess each property to determine which machine is most appropriate.
Is this different from a regular mowing contractor?
A standard ride-on isn’t built for a genuine slope. It’s a real roll-over risk, which is why a lot of contractors will turn a steep job down. Our machines are purpose designed and built to handle steep slope mowing and mulching. More on that in our flail mower vs slasher guide.
Can you clear a slope that’s never been mown before?
Yes. Overgrown banks and hillsides with years of vegetation growth, including gorse and blackberry, are common land-clearing challenges. Our equipment can mechanically cut and mulch suitable vegetation on sloping ground, subject to the terrain, access and ground conditions.
How much does steep slope mowing cost?
It depends on the size of the area, the slope, how dense the vegetation is, the ground conditions and how easily our machinery can get on and off the site, so we quote per job rather than off a flat rate. See what affects the price. Send us a few photos and roughly how big the area is, and we’ll give you a straight answer.
Can you mow wet or slippery slopes?
Not always. Wet grass and soft ground can reduce traction and make machine operation unsuitable. We assess conditions before starting and won’t proceed where the ground is too wet or slippery for safe operation. If necessary, we’ll arrange to return when conditions improve.
Do you use herbicides when clearing steep slopes?
No. Our slope mowing services use mechanical equipment to cut and mulch vegetation without spraying. This provides a practical alternative to herbicides for managing suitable overgrown banks and hillsides. Our guide to getting rid of gorse without spraying covers follow-up options.
How do I get a quote for steep slope mowing?
Send us the property’s location, photographs of the slope and an approximate area requiring mowing. Photos taken from different viewpoints can help us assess the terrain and access. For larger or more complicated jobs, we may arrange a site visit before providing a quotation.
Steep slope mowing and bank mowing, available across all four regions.