Clearing a new field

[POC]

This is a field that I *remember* being planted in corn....that was about 30 years ago. Now there are trees, mostly < 4" all over the place. I used the backhoe yesterday to dig some out, but it was almost overkill. I had my nephew with me and we tried using an OLD homemade device, basically a piece of 8" C-channel with a 'V' cut in it and a hole for a chain to be attached. The edges of the "V" need to be ground at an angle so they really BITE into the tree. Then just attach to the draw bar (at a low, safe angle, of course ) and pull for all you're worth! It worked good on < 3" stuff. It also depends on the species of tree, dogwoods and (I'm drawing a blank) trees come up pretty easy. Poplar and cedar, not so easy.

I'm wondering if it wouldn't be easier to use a box blade and drop the tines way down and just go around the bigger trees. Then go back and hoe out the bigger ones.

WHAT SAY YE, OH SAGES OF TRACTOR KNOWLEDGE???!!??? :laughing:

 

[Baby Grand]

POC-
I'm no sage, just learning as I go. Similar to the boxblade idea you described, I found that my subsoiler works very nicely for pulling stumps that are under about 4 inches in diameter at a foot off the ground. I have been pulling mostly oaks, maples and cherry. Procedure is to run the cutting edge about 18-24" on either side of the stump to hook onto & pull out the outer edges of the rootball, then hook under the trunk & lift. You can develop some real grunt with the 3PH. Only negative is you really have to cut the trunk off real low to the ground so your tires don't ride up on it. This means nothing left above ground to tie onto if this method fails.
-Jim

 

[magicheater]

I use my Loader Buddy for this.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I cleared an old field of (mostly) spruce trees last fall. The worst ones are the smallest (<1") and the largest (>8"). All the rest I just pushed over with the FEL bucket until some roots popped up, then I lowered the bucket and just pushed the rootball horizontally out of the ground. When I got my toothbar (and, later, my grapple rake) this process became even easier and tore up a smaller area of turf for each tree... the grapple rake was almost essential for the clean-up operation! I have a huge windrow of uprooted trees to burn this winter after snow covers the grass in the field.

BOB

 

[POC]

Thanks for the info guys. I hadn't really even though of using the FEL...duh...
I have access to a subsoiler, easier than the box blade...I might give that a try. If it doesn't work, like you said it sometimes doesn't, I can use the hoe to get them out.
I'm going to plow this area, so getting the roots out is going to be a must. I don't guess I have to plow it, but I want to sow some clover or something in it.
For the small trees, < 2" would I be just as well off to bush hog them down and then deal with what little roots they have later? I'm thinking bush hog, then use the box blade to gather up the roots and rocks and such and pull it all off to the side.
Any more ideas?
Thanks guys.

 

[HCJtractor]

I think what you need is a good grapple if your tractor has enough lift capacity and weight to handle it. (I would say something 35 horse or bigger) My Markham grapple will flat rip up trees by the roots. Trees 4" are simple, the teeth of the grapple will pluck them out of the ground and then you have the advantage of being able to carry them off. I can grapple trees up to 6". I have found a box blade not very good at this, but I do keep it on the back when grappling to help cover up the holes and also to drag any leftover debris.

 

[POC]

I do have a 35hp tractor. I DON'T have the $1K+ to add hydraulics and buy a grapple. I know that is the BEST plan, but I'm gonna have to make due with what I have, and can borrow.

 

[grnspot110]

You need an old "grub plow", John Deere made them, probably others. They had a big knife in front of the moldboard to cut through stumps & small trees to turn them under. Couldn't find a picture of one. ~~ grnspot110

 

[merrickvilleguy]

What I did this summer was several stages:

1. rotary cutter anything that the mower would take (under 1 1/2")
2. use a chain and grub the bigger stuff (hit or miss up to 4", these will be burned in a pile)
3. use 2 bottom plow to pull up stumps and turn in the small stuff (this is a pain because it tends to jam up in the plow and requires some work to clear)

the vast majority of mine were in the <2" range (buckthorn/prickly ash bushes) ... the bigger stuff is all on the perimeter and I'm chainsawing that as low as I can and letting nature do its thing (this will let me use the mower to cut shoots and saplings down the road)

 

[POC]

That is what I was kind of thinking, but the larger trees are all intermingled with the small stuff. And they are just big enough that I don't want to try them with the rotary cutter.
Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[merrickvilleguy]

well depending on how many little ones you have around you could chain grub them too ... I'm using 5/16" chain and can grub a bush of saplings 18" across easy enough ... but doing 1 or 2 at a time and the chain seems to slide right off

 

[LBrown59]

This is a field that I *remember* being planted in corn....that was about 30 years ago. Now there are trees, mostly < 4" all over the place. I used the backhoe yesterday
piece of 8" C-channel with a 'V' cut in it and a hole for a chain
so they really BITE . Poplar and cedar, not so easy.

I'm :laughing:

How big's the field?

 

[nebraskasparks]

Use a grapple!!!!
I didn't even know what a grapple was 2 months ago:confused2: Go and rent one on any machine and you'll find out why guys are in love with them. I've been digging out willow stumps 18"+, scrub hawthorn, maple etc... 4 inch trees don't even complain against a grapple. If you get tough roots...you simply use the grapple to unroot one side then switch to the other side then go for the middle. Done.
You can clear trees, rocks, you name it and build the biggest pile in the shortest amount of time.
Had I known about this device or had anyone recommended it years ago...I'd be a new man today!

 

[magicheater]

I do have a 35hp tractor. I DON'T have the $1K+ to add hydraulics and buy a grapple. I know that is the BEST plan, but I'm gonna have to make due with what I have, and can borrow.

Making do with what you have and finding creative uses with that is often good enough to get the job done. It is great to have the collective community here to offer suggestions on how. In the end it is your decision on how to proceed. Purchasing attachments is a tricky thing, and at best is based on how much overall use you will get from them. I have found that in the end the more specific the use, the more it sets idle, applies more often than not to persons not relying on the machine/attachment for revenue/sustenance. I have examples of that in my yard. Good luck with your project and hopefully you can find a way to use what you have creatively/efficiently so you are pleased with your effort in the end. Be thankful you have a tractor/loader!

 

[scoutcub]

If you can maneuver around the trees, I think the subsoiler or perhaps even a middle buster or bottom plow to rip the roots up might work....then shove with the loader into a pile...?

 

[rd_macgregor]

If/when you mow, I recommend that you mow fairly slowly. With a rotary brush mower, if you go too fast, you end up with punji stakes all over the place. When you go more slowly, the trees get pushed down, sliced off at an angle (which makes the punji stake), then cut again (maybe multiple times) closer to the ground before the mower passes on by.
If your mower is a flail, this isn't an issue.
BOB

 

[POC]

But I want to plant some clover or something in the area also for the deer...I guess I could still do that, and just work around the larger stumps.

 

[seymojo536]

That was one of my Grandpa's favorite sayings.

"Life's easier if you plow around the stumps."