Land Clearing Project

[rademamj1]

I purchased a 27 acre property here in Texas about four years ago. It is flat terrain and heavily wooded with mainly Mesquite, Elm, Oaks and Cedar trees. Extremely heavy brush composed of Cat Claw and assorted 4" thick vines are everywhere. Using my tractor, chainsaw, stump grinder and chipper, I have selectively cleared 9 acres in 2 years of partime effort.

Last week I hired a land clearing specialist, who uses a 90hp tracked skidsteer with a forestry mulching head, and they basically accomplished the same Selective clearing on 18 acres in just 4 days. That's 4.5 acres cleared per day. Any trees removed were ground down by the mulching head. I was always present with my tractor to pick up any barb wire rolls, which can create problems for the mulching head.

I am completely surprised at the speed and capabilities of these land clearing skidsteers. Anyone else have similar experience with these specialized land equipment.

 

[oosik]

Don't know what it looked like before. Certainly looks nice now. Amazing what specialized equipment can do.

 

[suburbanfarmer]

Yes, I am in the same boat although much smaller lot. Chainsaw and grinders take forever. A forestery mulcher can make short work but it costs.
To me labor was free as I looked at it as a work out to stay fit. The older I get , the lazier I become and finally last yr got a few acres done by a professional who took care of it in 6hrs..LOL

 

[oosik]

It's not that you are getting lazier. As you get older - you get wiser. "A man has to know his limitations". Harry Callahan

 

[3gunr]

This past weekend we had a guy come in with a skid steer and and a small excavator to clear about 2 acres of cedars and honey locust. He had a thumb on the excavator and pulled all the trees, at least 100. his 14 yr old son ran the skid steer with a grappleand piled them all up. Took about 7 hrs.

 

[rademamj1]

It's not that you are getting lazier. As you get older - you get wiser. "A man has to know his limitations". Harry Callahan

Oosik: you are more correct than you know. When my wife saw the 18 acres cleared in just 4 days for the total cost of just $6,000. She says "Honey, you worked hard for two years, but this week you got smart...so let's plan on a nice vacation this year"

 

[Fuddy1952]

That sure is pretty land. What future plans do you have, some pasture, bushes, etc.?

 

[rademamj1]

Will be allowing native grass to develop, an then an interconnected system of walking trails, park benchs, bird feeders and wildflowers. I also have four water tanks, which average about 130,000 gals each. Should look like a city park when its done.

 

[Hay Dude]

I purchased a 27 acre property here in Texas about four years ago. It is flat terrain and heavily wooded with mainly Mesquite, Elm, Oaks and Cedar trees. Extremely heavy brush composed of Cat Claw and assorted 4" thick vines are everywhere. Using my tractor, chainsaw, stump grinder and chipper, I have selectively cleared 9 acres in 2 years of partime effort.

Last week I hired a land clearing specialist, who uses a 90hp tracked skidsteer with a forestry mulching head, and they basically accomplished the same Selective clearing on 18 acres in just 4 days. That's 4.5 acres cleared per day. Any trees removed were ground down by the mulching head. I was always present with my tractor to pick up any barb wire rolls, which can create problems for the mulching head.

I am completely surprised at the speed and capabilities of these land clearing skidsteers. Anyone else have similar experience with these specialized land equipment.

I'll be experiencing it next week. Have a tracked CAT 297 and mulcher head for 1 week/50 hours. 20 acres to do. ~15 acres in one location and ~5 acres in 2 other locations. Im big enough that fitting in a skid steer is kind of clostrophobic.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here in East Texas, my neighbor has had the same thing done on his land several times. It looks amazing for the first year, but the next year, the weeds really take off and by the end of the second year, it's thicker then before he had it cleared. He says that he's going to keep it mowed, but he's too busy doing other things, and it gets out of control again. I think we are on the third clearing in a dozen years, and it's starting to turn to weeds again.

 

[rademamj1]

Here in East Texas, my neighbor has had the same thing done on his land several times. It looks amazing for the first year, but the next year, the weeds really take off and by the end of the second year, it's thicker then before he had it cleared. He says that he's going to keep it mowed, but he's too busy doing other things, and it gets out of control again. I think we are on the third clearing in a dozen years, and it's starting to turn to weeds again.

That can certainly happen if your not mowing it twice a year. Imagine spending all the time and money on clearing efforts, only to let it grow back again. This picture shows a portion that was selectivity cleared by tractor two years ago. Picture was taken today and is showing no weeds are coming back, and the natural field grass is doing well.View attachment 690286

 

[frogracer]

Although your site is within woods - restoring land to native grass is a great endeavor! My 100+ acres is practically all native grass now and is on a management plan that includes cattle, prescribed burns among manual removal of invasive scrubs etc.

I have been doing this for the past 3.5 years. Just love it - quail population is increasing each year. My little slice of heaven on earth.

 

[frogracer]

All the paths/dirt are the fire breaks for when we do the prescribed burn.

 

[rademamj1]

Absolutely beautiful. Looks like a lot of thought, planning and consistent hard work and effort went into your 100 acre property. Here, on my property, I am not allowed to burn on my property, because the Texas State Conservation Department owns all the adjacent properties and are my neighbors on three sides, and have posted large signs and notices banning burns with prior permission and expressed consent.

 

[frogracer]

Sounds like if you put a burn plan together and hired an experienced burn crew you maybe able to burn with the correct precautions in place which includes the fire breaks which are very very important.

Your land looks great too! All the best enjoying your native grasses. No need to water or fertilize.

 

[JethroB]

Absolutely beautiful. Looks like a lot of thought, planning and consistent hard work and effort went into your 100 acre property. Here, on my property, I am not allowed to burn on my property, because the Texas State Conservation Department owns all the adjacent properties and are my neighbors on three sides, and have posted large signs and notices banning burns with prior permission and expressed consent.

Maybe you could burn when they burn?

 

[SaintPe]

I had my property mulched so we could safely cut the big pines etc and drop them.

Then I've been on my tractor stacking and burning.

If I ever change professions, it'd be buying a huge forestry mulcher

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Here in East Texas, my neighbor has had the same thing done on his land several times. It looks amazing for the first year, but the next year, the weeds really take off and by the end of the second year, it's thicker then before he had it cleared. He says that he's going to keep it mowed, but he's too busy doing other things, and it gets out of control again. I think we are on the third clearing in a dozen years, and it's starting to turn to weeds again.

It's easy to do Eddie! Cleared about 6 acres 2 summers ago about like rademamj1, interspersed with trees. Was busy all last summer building a shop and never got around to bush hogging it, looked like crap at the end of the summer. Plan on doing better this year.

 

[rademamj1]

All it takes is two mowings in a single year, and those darn weeds typically won't come back. I left a lot of trees and that slowed down my mowings with tractor and rotary cutter. So I got a very well used commercial zero turn with 1900 hrs, and that made everything easier from mowing perspective. Just make sure your trees are trimmed head high, and all stumps removed.
View attachment 689745

 

[Thomas]

Like to old saying..."Equipment only as good as the operator"