Any Southerners here with experience pulling palmetto bushes?

mshumack · Oct 13, 2015

I have acres of palmetto bush (in central FL) and I'd like to remove some.

First I tried digging/cutting the roots out as much as I could by hand, then wrapping my tow strap around them and pulling with my 500HP 4X4. Couldn't pull any out even with a short running start (broke my strap). They're even tough to cut with a chainsaw.

Last year I had some cleared out with a CAT950 front-end loader w/ grapple - these plants have large root systems.

So I just bought a BX2370 with FEL (and a Grapple coming soon). Will that do the job?

JPRambo · Oct 13, 2015

Yah, thats the only way I have been successful. I'm in Charlotte county,Florida. A large loader with root rake or a backhoe. It takes a lot to pull they out of the ground.

phiferpharm · Oct 13, 2015

I have a Kioti DK45 with grapple. Sadly, the palmetto bushes laughed at me; I rented a mini excavator and was able to clear about a 10' X10' area a day sorta. Finally a nearby neighborhood acquaintance with a big Cat offered to clear it for $200. a day. 3 days later, it was done (maybe a 1-2 acre area).

mshumack · Oct 13, 2015

So it sounds like my BX isn't big enough for palmetto pulling. That's what I was expecting to hear.
I'll just rent a bigger machine for that job and use the little Kubota for everything else.

jeff9366 · Oct 13, 2015

I used a Bucket Solutions' Bucket Spade on my Kubota B3300 SU to remove Palmettos. Bucket Spade worked quite well, considering how cautious I operated to be sure I did not deform the light, standard bucket.

Now I use the same Bucket Spade clamped on optional L2296 Heavy-Duty, Round-Back Bucket on my 5,500 pound Kubota L3560 and it pops out seven foot long Palmettos in two or three 'stabs'. Bucket Spade mount on L2296 bucket is absolutely rigid and requires no special caution in use.

A Good Tool and removing Palmettos is a good use for this tool. A bit slow for acres and acres of Palmettos, as you have to attack one Palmetto at a time.

It is easier to remove Palmettos when the soil has a little moisture in it.

LINKS WITH PHOTOS: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/328798-bucket-spade-today-fel-bucket.html?highlight=

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...da-planting-sand-pears-kubota.html?highlight=

It is POSSIBLE a Ratchet Rake (brand) Rip & Dig might remove Palmettos with a 3-Pt. ballasted BX. This MAY work where the grapple will not, because Rip and Dig will cut roots under the Palmetto and you can apply more leverage with the Rip and Dig using earth as the fulcrum. $370 delivered.

LINK: Rip and Dig

MahindraDon · Oct 13, 2015

That sounds like a huge task for that little lawn tractor. Them things are tough tractors, but do you mean real palmettos? Swamp palmettos are a little less resilient but still I think that rear end will come off the ground. You can pick up a bx just by leaning on the rops if the loader is off the ground. If it does it, please report back. That would be interesting to hear if it will. The rent on that excavator pales in comparison to the price of that BX too doesn't it?

jeff9366 · Oct 13, 2015

Had you posted this thread in the OWNING/OPERATING forum, rather than the KUBOTA forum, you would have received additional responses.

mshumack · Oct 13, 2015

jeff9366 said:
Had you posted this thread in the OWNING/OPERATING forum, rather than the KUBOTA forum, you would have received additional responses.

yes, probably true for getting tips/techniques advise - but I want to know if my BX2370 would up to the task, so it seemed like this would be a good place to ask other BX owners what they think.
Thanks.

KennyV · Oct 15, 2015

mshumack said:
Last year I had some cleared out with a CAT950 front-end loader w/ grapple - these plants have large root systems.

So I just bought a BX2370 with FEL (and a Grapple coming soon). Will that do the job?

If the Cat 950 handled the job, I can see why you figured the BX could also.....