Best way or tool to remove small pine saplings?

[connor77]

What's the most effective way to remove small pine saplings? I have access to a bunch of hardwood that I intend to cut down and split for firewood and have a slew of small pine saplings in my way. Not really interested in going the chainsaw route and cutting them - would prefer to completely remove them. Have seen a tool that Gempler's sells that is intended for this purpose but I'm wondering if there are other options. Where I'm working it's hilly and challenging to navigate due to the terrain - for whatever that's worth. If people use the ratchet rake how effective is this for removing saplings? Are there better attachments for this task?

 

[leonz]

The brush grubber or the choker chain brush puller are the least expensive of the options and a shear woukld be terribly expensive to rent for a very small lot.


you will probably be money and agravation ahead by buying a 12 volt winch
using the kubota for the 12 volt dc power, chaining the winch to the tree trunk using a shakle sided for the winch and chain that is cinched tight.


and use the winch and the choker with a very safe way to do it from a central location in the area you want to clear. the cable will pay out freely and the choker will do its job as long as the choker has tension and can maintain the tension. The grubber is the scizzors and it needs a quick yank to dig in the teeth and hold.



The other option is a chain come along and ratcheting out the saplings with the choker and a length of chain.

dont bother with any of the available straps as they will slip


You would get more year round use out of a 12 volt heavy duty winch than the chain come along too I think as you could pile the firewood on a car hood and safely bring it down from where you are cutting.


I would have no idea what a chain come along of five tons capacity would cost from mcmaster carr but the problem of only using it once for this job is another issue-perhaps you could sell it in the swap sheet or craigs list after its all said and done

The winch would see more year round use and the majority are able to be mounted using automotive hitches on your tractor.


The winch could make quick use of a sheave block for the cable to increase its pulling power with much less effort on the winches part.

The sheave or sheaves would create additional mechanical advantage for the winch with low amperage loading on the winch motor.

chaining sheave blocks to larger trees would allow a longer pulling distance for safetys sake also as very liitle effort will create huge amounts of pulling energy and the sheave blocks will eliminate any cable damage and allow a smooth pull at all times.


leon

 

[woodchuckie]

I use my FEL at times especially when the ground is fairly wet. They push out easy. Up to around 3 inches diameter I also use the bush hog. Pine don't grow back when cut and the stumps and branches are rotted by the time I come around again to clear the trail.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Bucket! Drive over them with the FEL and scrape them up/out

 

[20 20]

they'll usually pull out without any trouble not deep rooted. I'm with the others just use the FEL and scarpe them out.

 

[Oldtrout]

A bush saw,unlike hardwoods pine do not sucker, we cut and drop on average an acre a day / man of pine in the 3 to 8 foot range for 300 dollars an acre. If the owner wants the stumps removed we just use the box blade, however in most cases we just chip the pine on site returning the chips back to nature. of course the chipper or box blade will add another 360 $ per day.

 

[KU Gator]

I have spent some time trying to clear sumac with the brush grubber tool and a B2920. The sumac has a slick bark so it is hard to get a good grip, but still the brush grubber tool is pretty good. Would probably work better on small pine though. You would not need the heavy duty. I ordered one of them and eventually ordered a regular duty one as it is plenty heavy enough for my tractor and easier to spring apart and lighter to work with. It is a task best suited to two people so you don't have to get off the tractor so much. Also traction with the tires can be an issue if you have R4's.

The Quick Spade that can go on the front of the bucket is also pretty good, but it looks like you have a BX and the method to attach the quick spade to the bucket is to wrap a chain around the bucket and use a ratchet to tighten it. Even the smallest ratchet may not work, so you would probably need to revise the method. But the Quick Spade is very heavy built and can be usefull.

 

[mcnitt]

I was able to get rid of a bunch of pine saplings by accidently starting a small forest fire...but I don't recommend it. The firemen urged me to find another way.

 

[Denwa]

What's the most effective way to remove small pine saplings? I have access to a bunch of hardwood that I intend to cut down and split for firewood and have a slew of small pine saplings in my way. Not really interested in going the chainsaw route and cutting them - would prefer to completely remove them.

You didn't say how large the saplings are, which is a major operative in what you might do. But, you know, you're going to need kindling. I heat w/ wood and when I cut trees I use everything down to about 2" diameter. Waste not and all that .... It's easy to cut the branches of a standing tree and then
cut kindling to size down to ground level.

The above would likely take less time than any other option besides pushing
the saplings over w/ ur FEL which you said would be problematic anyhow.

FWIW,
Dennis

 

[brin]

Up to about 2 inches I use my FEL and push them over and then run them over and gind them up with the bush hog as I go...I just keep on pushing and bush hogging just like it was high grass and it works for me..then just keep up with it or they will grow back.

 

[connor77]

Thanks guys.

What is a brush grubber tool? Can someone send a link to one?

Also, the size of the saplings is 3" and down. Anything bigger and I'd need to chainsaw it which I'll do. Probably most of what's in my way is 2" in diameter. Haven't been back in the woods with my FEL yet but will try knocking stuff down with the bucket and see how that works. I can also use any small pieces that don't get destroyed for kindling as suggested.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Thanks guys.

What is a brush grubber tool? Can someone send a link to one?

Also, the size of the saplings is 3" and down. Anything bigger and I'd need to chainsaw it which I'll do. Probably most of what's in my way is 2" in diameter. Haven't been back in the woods with my FEL yet but will try knocking stuff down with the bucket and see how that works. I can also use any small pieces that don't get destroyed for kindling as suggested.

The best technique I have found for pushing out small saplings with the loader it to put the bucket right at ground level. On a larger tree you start by pushing up high to get more leverage, but these little pine saplings are too springy. If you set your bucket flat and push right at ground level generally they push right out. If they get partially uprooted but don't come out, take the edge of the bucket under the exposed root ball and lift/push, they'll roll right out of the ground.

 

[KU Gator]

Here is a link to the regular duty brush grubber sold thru Gemplers

Brush Grubber Brush Tongs / Tree Tongs, Logging Supplies - GEMPLER'S

I have used it by hooking a chain thu it and to the draw bar on the tractor and also running a chain thru it and hooking each end of the chain over bucket hooks and raising the bucket. The harder you pull on it the harder it digs into the tree. It works best if the tree is at least 1/2" and up to about 2". The heavy duty one will handle bigger trees, but I doubt your BX will unless you have another tractor to use.

 

[Deano]

The best technique I have found for pushing out small saplings with the loader it to put the bucket right at ground level. On a larger tree you start by pushing up high to get more leverage, but these little pine saplings are too springy. If you set your bucket flat and push right at ground level generally they push right out. If they get partially uprooted but don't come out, take the edge of the bucket under the exposed root ball and lift/push, they'll roll right out of the ground.

Right on the money!! Add a toothbar and it is a breeze!!

Deano

 

[Tollster]

I have had the best luck with the least amount of ground damage using the hitch, a good size rope and "D" rings. Tie in the "D" rings so you can overlap the rope and it won't cut or bind on itself. Then loop one end onto the tree, , but make sure its within 6" of the base, hook the other "D" ring onto the rear hitch. Get a spare tire and place it under the rope and as close to the tree base as you can get it, then sinch up the tension and snatch it out. The tire will apply the leverage in an upward motion. You do need another hand to hold the tire up while you tighen up the line. But after that, its like pulling the cork on a wine bottle on anything under 6" diameter and bigger on softwoods.
When you tie off on the base, the tire rolls a little and you actually lift the root ball out of the ground, this snaps off the tap root and the drip line roots without tearing the sod (like it would if you just pulled on it at a right angle)
In your case if you can pull straight downhill it would be best and prolly the safest for sure.
Sorry its such a long instruction for such a simple application.
Works like a champ and since I tried this over 20 years ago, I have not tried it anyother way.

 

[Chilly807]

Here's a thread I'll think you'll find helpful, I'm planning on building one myself in the spring.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/129506-tree-puller-hard-get-trees.html

Chilly

 

[IdahoTractor]

Flail mowers are popular here in Idaho . . . .

Flail Mowers

 

[frugalangler]

Old thread, but worth re-visiting.

Over the weekend, I needed to clear some saplings, and at the last minute thought to snap a pic of what I've used for years to pull mulberry trees that the birds transplant everywhere. I used to just wrap around the sapling and hook to my Jeep Eco-diesel in 4X4-Low and 'idle' it out, but tried using the BH - some I had to break some roots w/ the ripper, but many I just grabbed with the choker and hooked to the ripper, curled it, and out they came, easy peasy!



Here's the choker I have used for 15 years now
Brush Grubber Shrub/Clump Grubber, Model# BG-16 | Weed Control Brush Removal| Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[mark in portugal]

I had to pull out some hundreds of small and medium invasive bushes from a forest that came with our property.
I made a simple hook that mounted on the 3-point; just backed it up. Pulled forward until it cut into the stem, then lifted and pulled forward.
When reversing and dropping the 3-point, the plant would usually pop out, so I didn't need to dismount at all.
It didn't look as cool as your setup, but it was cheap and fast.
I cut it up for re-use when I was done.

 

[Egon]

Bolt a couple of spikes/teeth/ forks to the bottom of the bucket. Then dig them in under the tree and curl & lift while going forward.