Need to Cut 3" - 4" HoneySuckle with Billy Goat?

[JAT1]

Hi all - newbie here.
Have about an acre of 3" - 4" Honeysuckle. Anyone know if I can get away with renting a Billy Goat walk behind? I know it will be hard work but I don't mind if the machine can do it. If not, my only other option is rent a Tractor w/ brush cutter but that would cost significantly more. I've never ran a skid so that's not really an option.

 

[leonz]

NO, NO, NO, the brush is too thick. Rent a skid steer with a forestry flail mower.
Skid steer loaders are not that difficult to operate, you cannot safely use
them near roads with a flail mower or rotary cutter.

The only other option would be to hire a dozer for a day etc.

 

[JAT1]

NO, NO, NO, the brush is too thick. Rent a skid steer with a forestry flail mower.
Skid steer loaders are not that difficult to operate, you cannot safely use
them near roads with a flail mower or rotary cutter.

The only other option would be to hire a dozer for a day etc.

I got a two quotes for forestry mulching that were both about $3,500/day. Sounds really high to me.

 

[leonz]

No its not really, the operator will be able to dig down and destroy every
honeysuckle stump below the ground for you and later on you can
spot spray the suckers with woody brush killer.

With any land clearing you add the cost of clearing it to value of
the land.

The day rate is simpler because they provide the fuel, labor and machinery.

Just be sure to ask for copies of compensation insurance and blanket liability
insurance for your attorney before you sign the contract and they unload
the mulcher to begin work.

The larger the forestry mulcher they bring in the more effective the clearing
will be as the mulcher will have reserve power to dig deep.

 

[2manyrocks]

I got a two quotes for forestry mulching that were both about $3,500/day. Sounds really high to me.

I paid $180 hour in middle Tennessee a year ago. Cat299d with cat mulcher and operator.

 

[jyoutz]

Check with your local state forestry office for a list of forestry contractors with masticators. Many of the people who are high specialize in residential projects at a high cost per acre and they charge by the hour. People who do forestry work typically bid by the acre (after viewing the job) and are much more economical and efficient because they are experienced with doing lots of acres. Never bid forestry types of work by the hour, always by the acre. Otherwise you are giving an inefficient operator a blank check.

 

[2manyrocks]

The guy I hired worked at a fast pace. It is more a question of hiring the right operator.

They had a 4 hour minimum as I recall which wasn't an issue for me because of the amount of work I had. The OP's issue will be only having 1 acre to mulch which might take 15 minutes with a forestry mulcher.

 

[gstrom99]

I got a two quotes for forestry mulching that were both about $3,500/day. Sounds really high to me.

If it's a one time thing, paying to have it done by an expert is the way to go. A good operator is amazing to watch. Get some more estimates, but if you're real rural the options are few(er) and the price goes up.

 

[2manyrocks]

I also got a quote from a guy who advertises doing forestry mulching. Seems like he proposed bringing a CTL and a mini-ex to the tune of $3,500 or something a day. Then he sent me a written proposal .....but couldn't understand why I told him no.

edit: perhaps worth mentioning is this guy I did not hire had a webpage for his mulching services, business card, showed up in new shiny truck, and had to go back home to email his proposal I recall being $3,500/day or something like it.

The guys I hired at $180 hour just had their machine parked outside their office one day when I drove by. I called them. They came out, looked, said $180/hour with 4 hour minimum and then estimated how long it would take which was pretty accurate. When I saw how quickly they got things done, I added onto the project. Later learned they had a facebook page, but I think most of their customers come by word of mouth.

My recommendation to the OP is to keep looking for a reliable operator. $3,500 to clear 1 acre of honeysuckle seems like a lot to me. So much that I'd probably put that money towards a chinese mini-ex and pull it out by the roots before I paid $3,500 for what might be 30 minutes of mulching.

 

[jyoutz]

The guy I hired worked at a fast pace. It is more a question of hiring the right operator.

They had a 4 hour minimum as I recall which wasn't an issue for me because of the amount of work I had. The OP's issue will be only having 1 acre to mulch which might take 15 minutes with a forestry mulcher.

I’ve never seen woods mastication work be completed at the rate of 15 minutes per acre.