Can I pull out invasive willows using my tractor?

[plowhog]

One of my fence lines has out-of-control invasive willows. My neighbor finally pulled all of his out, which was 80% of the quantity. So I need to do the 20% on my side.

He used a Bobcat with a 4-in-1 bucket. Clamping down on a clump of willows and pulling them out by the roots. I don't have anything like that. Just a Massey SCUT, regular bucket and 3 point hitch.

I've thought of wrapping nylon rope around each one, then attaching to the bucket and lifting. Obviously a labor intensive and tedious process. There are probably 150 willows left, which would mean 150 times crawling on the ground to wrap the rope and then lift with the bucket. Or maybe 2 at a time?

Any ideas for a better way? I'm too old for this method ....

 

[Bill Groom]

Grubbing chain works wonders for me. Labor intensive, I suppose so, but great results. I use both chain hooks on the bucket, and drawbar for deeper roots.

 

[Jstpssng]

You might consider cutting them instead, then treating the stumps with uncut Roundup or other herbicide. I try to keep my pesticide use to a minimum, but sometimes it's the right tool for the job.
'

 

[ericm979]

If they are not large and the roots are not deep, a pihrana tooth bar might work. I've used mine to up root poison oak.

I have also used a chain and a brush grubber with jaws to pull up brush.
It's a pain to get off and on the tractor when doing it yourself but if you have a helper it would go a lot easier.

 

[rekees4300]

Any ideas for a better way?

If the willows are less than 3 inches in diameter a Ratchet Rake might work.

Ratchet Rake, LLC - All Terrain Rake, Snow Edge, Tractor attachment, Bucket attachment, Loader, Skid loader, Kubota, Skid steer, Landscape rake, Brush remover, York Rake, Harley Rake, Rock Rake, Tractor rake attachment, Construction attachment, New Holland, Bobcat, Fire safety, Home fire safety, Fire prevention, John Deere, skid steer attachment, tractor implement

Ratchet Rake, LLC - Tractor attachment, Bucket attachment, Loader, Skid loader, Kubota, Skid steer, Landscape rake, Brush remover, York Rake, Harley Rake, Rock Rake, Tractor rake attachment, Construction attachment, New Holland, Bobcat, Fire safety, Home fire safety, Fire prevention, John Deere, skid steer attachment, tractor implement

 

[airbiscuit]

Put 3 Ken's Bucket hooks on your loader bucket, and now you're to 50 on an off the tractor trips. Spread that over 3 days

 

[fried1765]

You might consider cutting them instead, then treating the stumps with uncut Roundup or other herbicide. I try to keep my pesticide use to a minimum, but sometimes it's the right tool for the job.
'

^^^^^^ This is the easiest method!

 

[JDAOWNER]

BORROW YOUR NEIGHBORS BOBCAT, OR OFFER TO PAY HIM TO DO YOUR SIDE. IF YOU DON'T DO THE ONES ON YOUR SIDE THEY WILL SPRED SO HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Id the willows are large or have been cut back many time you will find the root structure is huge and deep. I used my BX 25 BH to grub out what looked like a small 4" tree at the surface. Turned out to be a 5' wide hole 4+ feet deep and a stump I could barely lift.

Ron

 

[pmsmechanic]

Willows will die if you cut them off with a mower. The roots will send up new shoots and if you keep mowing them down they will die after about two years.

 

[i7win7]

Cheap solution is a brush grubber, they make several sizes - best used with a helper.
Brush Grubber Extreme - YouTube

This is my solution - tree puller

 

[plowhog]

Id the willows are large or have been cut back many time you will find the root structure is huge and deep. I used my BX 25 BH to grub out what looked like a small 4" tree at the surface. Turned out to be a 5' wide hole 4+ feet deep and a stump I could barely lift.

Ron

My willows are along a fence line with the neighbor property. White pvc three rail fence with welded wire fence on my side. Some of the willows grow through the welded wire.

I have a mixture of new growth and old growth willows. There is an irrigation water ditch running through this, and on the side where I can mow I have historically mowed them down using my rotary cutter or walk behind brush cutter. Down in the ditch and on the other side of the ditch is the larger willows, since I have not been able to mow in that area. I have cut some of those in the past with a sawzall, but they come right back. I have not tried painting the stumps with glyphosate.

I don't think its an option to get the neighbor to use his Bobcat on my side. I do have three bucket hooks so I can at least pull three at a time. I will try this on the smaller and medium sized ones and see how it works. I think I'm going to try the sawzall and glyphosate method for the ones embedded in the fence. If I pull those it will tear up the fence.

Any suggestions on make or model of brush grubber? I see there are models that "pinch" and also chains that use a choker method. I don't have one and have never used one.

 

[plowhog]

This is my solution - tree puller

That tree puller rocks!

I looked at brush grubbers and the chain type looked best for my needs. Every review was 5 out of 5 except one. The one reviewer said he immediately broke the chain. When he tried to get it replaced under warranty the company denied it since he had used a tractor to pull. Apparently the chain type is only rated for a UTV such as a Polaris.

BrushGrubber | Shrub/Clump Grubber Extreme

This was advertised (bucket grubber) as a device to pull invasive plants without ever leaving your tractor. But I couldn't find any reviews or videos about it. I guess because it is new?

BrushGrubber | Heavy Duty Bucket Grubber

 

[airbiscuit]

Several wraps of standard chain and a slip hook won't do it?

 

[ericm979]

Yea I think I'd try the chain with a slip hook.

I have a Brush Grubber BG-08. It does work but it's got to be positioned just right on the stem of the plant. The spring is stiff so it's a bit of a pain to wrestle. The next larger one has handles that would help. For me it's easier and faster to chainsaw the brush and leave the stumps in the ground. The ones that resprout can be mowed down or sprayed.

 

[i7win7]

https://www.amazon.com/Bucket-Solut...1588515998&sprefix=tree+puller,aps,218&sr=8-1

Had one of these first, kinda works.

https://www.amazon.com/Puller-Attac...&qid=1588516138&sprefix=tree+p,aps,238&sr=8-7

This style works, I think the Titan jaws are offset, I prefer a centered pull.

 

[plowhog]

Several wraps of standard chain and a slip hook won't do it?

I'm going to try that. I have 3/8" grade 70 chain which is massive overkill. But I'm confident I can find some lighter duty stuff to try.

 

[BRMyers]

We have used this Brush Grubber Mini BG-25 with a chain hooked to our Bolt-On hooks and it has worked well in places where I didn't have the room to get the grapple in there and I didn't want to tear out the fence or other items.

 

[rangerfredbob]

A chain and slip hooks chained to the back of a tractor does wonders, two people makes the process much faster... I pulled out 30 or so grape plants last winter with an old Farmall 130 (loaned out the Kubota) and a chain with the wife's help, I always keep that chain handy for tractoring...

 

[Jchonline]

BORROW YOUR NEIGHBORS BOBCAT, OR OFFER TO PAY HIM TO DO YOUR SIDE. IF YOU DON'T DO THE ONES ON YOUR SIDE THEY WILL SPRED SO HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

This. You really just have a king size lawn mower as far as weight is concerned...and its all about weight. Try and get something much heavier.