What to to about small trees

[JDRandyC]

I know this might not be the correct forum but thought someone here could recommend what to do>

I have about 2 acres that is populated with a lot of trees that I need to thin. I have a lot of trees that measure 2-5 inches in diameter and are probably 15 -20 feet tall.

Can someone tell me the best way to clean this up? I thought about cutting down level with the ground and then letting the stumps rot but am unsure it would take for a hardwood stump of this size to rot. Also thought about renting a stump grinder but not sure if this a good idea.

Also wondered is there is some way I could use my NH 3930 to pull the stumps out but not really sure how to do this and am a little concerned because I have read so much about tractors rolling over. (not sure if pulling out stumps this small could cause rollover?)

Does anyone have any suggestions about the best way to approach this?

Thanks

 

[J_J]

Perhaps something like these.

 

[MMagis]

I guess it depends on what your plans for the area are afterward. A guy with a skid steer with one of those "mulching" attachments (not sure the actual name) could clear that up in a hour or two. But, you'll have stumps at ground level. If you don't plan to turn the soil over, that would be the easiest and fastest route.

 

[smstonypoint]

Does anyone have any suggestions about the best way to approach this?

IMO, the "best" way would depend on your objectives, time constraints, budget, etc.

Depending on the type of tree, you may be faced with regrowth from the stump (suckering) if you decide to cut off the trees at ground level. If that is the case, you could apply a herbicide to the stumps when you fell the trees. (I've used 41% glyphosate diluted up to 50% with diesel fuel for this purpose).

There are chemicals that supposedly hasten the rotting of stumps. I haven't used them, and so cannot comment on their effectiveness.

Do you have a FEL?

Steve

 

[Leejohn]

If you have a loader, just push over and pop out the roots. Only the live ones, watch out for the dead ones. I don't push on dead trees.

 

[k0ua]

Use that chocker, that JJ showed in his last photo, to a good logchain, and pull them over. Hook to the drawbar.. that lowest thing on the rear of the tractor, NOT the 3pt arms we are talking about the drawbar that is fastened on the bottom of the axle housing of the tractor. about 1 foot off the ground. If you fasten up high is when all the bad things happen, also try to pull downhill with the nose of the tractor pointing downhill, NOT uphill. Go slow and pull gently, and most 2 to 5 inch trees will rip out. expecially a few days after a rain so the ground is still moist. There are exceptions, some trees are rooted in bedrock, cedars are expecially hard to get out sometimes. If you dont have a chocker, or dont want to make one, you can just wrap the logchain around the trunk a few times.. Now dont go pulling on trees bigger than 4 or 5 inches, depending what size tractor you have, and if you see the front end raise up or get light at all stop. something is wrong, you have either hooked too high or the nose of the tractor is uphill. Putting a load of dirt or gravel in the bucket can also help some. Others on here may say even this is dangerous, I dont think so if done with care, I have ripped out trees (saplings really) with thsi method for years without the front end ever coming up on me, all I ever had happen is the wheels spin when you hook on to something too big. Be carefull

I also have pushed my share of little trees over with the FEL, but like the other poster said, watch out. Dead trees or branches from dead trees may be lodged in the live trees branches, and they will fall on your head. When you push on a dead tree, it always breaks off up way high and falls on you hood or your head.! You can also "grub" around the live trees a little with your FEL before pushing to loosen them up some and break up the root system. But overall pushing them over needs a very watchful eye to what might happen.
James K0UA

 

[Craig Clayton]

I put in Black Locust and when they get cut down they sucker back by about 30 per stump. But not all kinds are that bad. Then the suckers only need to be chased the next year with a flail mower. You might want to rent a skidsteer and use something like J J posted. If you are pulling with chains you will need 1 or 2 chain handlers.
Craig Clayton

 

[beppington]

I have about 2 acres that is populated with a lot of trees that I need to thin. I have a lot of trees that measure 2-5 inches in diameter and are probably 15 -20 feet tall.

That describes my land exactly, too.

Can someone tell me the best way to clean this up?

I've removed smaller trees like this using two different methods, depending on how much room I have to manuever, what type trees I'm removing, how hard/ dry the ground is (& what mood I'm in!):

1) Push them over with you front-end loader. This works real well. Put the bucket against the tree as low as you can on the tree, but of course high enough that your tractor can still push the tree over; Start low & raise the FEL until the tree pushes over. Usually my trees push over & the root ball comes right on up out of the ground, but my ground is pretty soft. Sometimes a tree will break off & leave a broken off stump in the ground. You can either keep at it, trying to push the little stump over with the FEL, yank it out by putting a chain around it & pulling, dig around it some & then try to pry it up out of the ground, saw it off flush with the ground, or leave it & let it eventually rot.

I've found that sometimes I can push a tree over into a lean, & the roots will come up, but I can't get it all the way out just by pushing (either there are other trees blocking its fall, or ?) - In those cases you can put your FEL under the uprooted roots & pry up from there. FELs prying power, called "breakout force" is much higher than the FELs lift capability (on my tractor anyway).

2) Yank them out by putting a chain around them & pulling. Again put the chain as low as you can & still be successful; Put the chain too high & the tree might break off; Put the chain too low & you might not be able to pull it over (loss of traction; not enough power). Sometimes I try with the chain almost on the ground & it won't go. Raise the chain some & try again. Careful on the taller trees, though, because as they come down the can slap you. I've been whipped very hard by whispy tree tops a few times lately. If you can pull very slowly, it'll be much more controlled & you "probably" won't get whipped.

Edit: Attach your chain to the drawbar, nowhere higher.

 

[Arky217]

If you want the stumps out and you've got more time than money, why not pull them up with your NH3930.

I've got a Kubota L4200, which I think is a little smaller than your 3930, and I've pulled out even oak and hickory in dry ground as big as 16" at the base of the tree.

My tractor has loaded rears plus 3 sets of wheel weights on R4s and I use the following method.
I use an extension ladder to chain as high in the tree as I can get.
Then pull from the DRAWBAR of the tractor. Even on the bigger trees, it will usually put enough bend on the tree to bring some roots to the surface. I cut these roots, then pull again. Repeat as necessary. Again, on the bigger trees, you may have to do this in several directions.

Just make sure you're hooked low on the drawbar and that the chain is long enough so that the tree won't come down on you.
Also, I have an expanded metal grid bolted on the ROPS for protection in case the chain were to snap. I use 5/16" grade 70 chains and haven't broke one yet, however.

 

[Gordon Gould]

As said before it depends on your objectives. Alot depends on how you are going to maintain it in the future. If you are going to leave a lot of them so mowing will be difficult you better remove the stumps or kill them with herbicide. If you are going to leave it so mowing is possible and it doesnt have to be a finished lawn you shoud consider cutting them off flush to the ground. With herbicide as an option. And then just mow. Grass will probably come up on its own but seeding will hasten things. The grass will grow over the stumps just like it grows over walks and patios. You may find trying to get rid of hundreds of root balls is a problem. Make sure you know in advance what you are going to do with the root balls before you pull them if you take that route.

Keep in mind that I am not to fussy in the landscape department but I do like it neat.

 

[Sherweld]

If you do decide to remove, here is an old thread showing a technique to both multiply your mechanical advantage to pull up the tree, as well as put yourself a reasonable distance from the falling tree.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/129506-tree-puller-hard-get-trees.html

 

[gladehound]

just push them over with the fell. It is really easy (see video in link). On smaller trees you have to be lower with the bucket than I am in this video. You don't want to break the tree without getting the roots (as others have mentioned). But I've found this method works and is very fast on any small tree. I've done this with cedars and a variety of hardwoods up to about 1 foot in diameter at the base and 60 feet tall. If the tree is only 3 or so inches in diameter I might start with the bucket about 18 inches from the ground and move it up if needed so that I don't break the trunk off without getting the roots.

YouTube - Kioti LB1914 pushing a over a tree that was topped by a storm

 

[Gordon Gould]

Nice video and it looked like easy work for you and your tractor.
But be awful careful doing that. More than one guy right around here, and I am serious, has gotten killed by stuff falling from above or the root ball turning up under the tractor and flipping it. With your bucket way up in the air it doesnt take much under one front wheel to put you over. When a tree that size starts going down it has lots of leverage.

 

[gladehound]

Nice video and it looked like easy work for you and your tractor.
But be awful careful doing that. More than one guy right around here, and I am serious, has gotten killed by stuff falling from above or the root ball turning up under the tractor and flipping it. When a tree that size starts going down it has lots of leverage.

These are excellent points and I should have mentioned them.

I've had some close calls in the woods with falling debris and also once had the front of the tractor lifted and hung up by the root ball while doing this. These experiences are the reason why I had a custom FOPS made for the tractor. Seeing what I've seen, I would not mess with trees without a good FOPS / ROPS.

Regarding easy work, we had a drenching rain the day before. It is amazing how big a tree a small tractor can push over when the ground is soaked.

 

[Ruark]

Just chainsaw them off flush with the ground, low enough that your shredder won't hit the stumps. Pour a little gasoline over the stump so it won't regrow. It will die and dry out and gradually disintegrate. Of course, everybody will scream about using gasoline, but just ignore them.

 

[Baby Grand]

JDRandyC-

For trees under 6" diameter at chest height I have had really good luck with cutting them off an inch or two above the ground - process as you wish - cut for fire wood, grind for chips, etc.

Once you have cleared a suitable area, mount up a subsoiler and rip the stumps out. It takes a little time, but works great. Don't need a lot of traction or a backhoe, just good 3pt lift power, which I think your tractor has in spades.

A decent subsoiler can be had for about $160 at TSC and has lots of other uses - running tubes & cable underground, pop off the chisel & add a broad blade and it's a potato plow, and, yes, even subsoiling.

-Jim

 

[Glen Watkins]

Leave them full length and push them over weight of the tree helps or cut them off first but leave the stump high so you have some leverage to push the stump and roots over and out of the ground.

 

[RoyJackson]

If you don't mind doing this thinning over a few months, use a locally applied herbicide to kill the tree, then push them over. It won't matter how big the root system is at that point. The tree just goes over.
BTW, this works good for smaller trees as described in the first post (I did it on trees on a powerline right of way...their crew applied the herbicide, I knocked the trees down with my old 790 (pretty light tractor).
I'd be leary about using this method on any bigger trees.

 

[Baby Grand]

Dr. Smith "There's more than one way to skin a cat."
Robot "There are exactly 32 ways to skin a cat. "
Dr. Smith "Yes, and I've done every one of them."

 

[General Lee]

Leave them full length and push them over weight of the tree helps or cut them off first but leave the stump high so you have some leverage to push the stump and roots over and out of the ground.

This is what I do also. I cut them down leaving about a 3 or 4 foot trunk. Then push the trunk over and pluck the root ball out with the FEL. If it won't pluck out, attach a chain and pull it out. This way you don't have to worry about a tree whipping back on you or breaking off 15 feet in the air and have the top fall back on you.