Bdavis
Silver Member
Project summary South west Mississippi
I purchased about 14 acres of land a year ago, partially cleared, but contains about 6-7 acres of 6 year aged cutover ( planted pines were harvested). I want to clear the land and replant in pines. I am not on a time table and decided to make this a Fall Winter weekend project. I realized from the beginning that the most efficient method would be to hire a bulldozer. However, I am long on time and short on money so I am doing the project with my Tractor (FEL) , a 5 foot standard duty rotary cutter and hand tools. I have made pretty good progress this past winter and will resume work in a few months. I have really learned a lot from this website site over the past year ( a year ago I had never even driven a tractor). So my hope is by detailing the process I am using it may be of some benefit to others. Also any tips or advice on how to make the process better (and keep cost low) in particular with the preparing of the ground for planting once it is cut would be appreciated.
All the hand tools and equipment that you see pictured I had, except for the Black and Decker alligator loppers ($90.00). I use the loppers to cut my way through the brush and all the trees larger than about 1.5 inches are cut off at the ground with the loppers. I then use wire rope slings, small shackles and my Tractor Fel to pull the larger trees from the growth . I push over and cut the remaining growth with my Tractor and rotary cutter.
After cutting I go back with the loppers and generally clean it up to keep from punching a tire later on. Once I collect a pile , I take a long piece of pipe and run a sling/choker underneath. I then pick up one end with my FEL and drag it backwards to a burn area.
I have found that moving the pile this way is easy to control and makes a tight bundle that burns quickly. I generally cut a couple of big trees off (8 inches) in diameter pretty high (about 4 foot from the ground.) I can then push the bundles up tight against the stump with my tractor . I drive a couple of metal fence posts into the ground to hold them tight. This makes for a good tight quick burn. The loppers I am using or not the battery version ( I thought the battery version would be to heavy and lack the power). I already had the Xpower 1500 (power source - the green box with wheels) for about 5 years and it will power them all day before I need to recharge it. I am doing all the work by myself and I found the loppers safe to work with. The ability to cut any thing from a vine to a 5 or 6 inch sapling is a real advantage when you are trying to get to the larger trees.
Thanks
Bill
I purchased about 14 acres of land a year ago, partially cleared, but contains about 6-7 acres of 6 year aged cutover ( planted pines were harvested). I want to clear the land and replant in pines. I am not on a time table and decided to make this a Fall Winter weekend project. I realized from the beginning that the most efficient method would be to hire a bulldozer. However, I am long on time and short on money so I am doing the project with my Tractor (FEL) , a 5 foot standard duty rotary cutter and hand tools. I have made pretty good progress this past winter and will resume work in a few months. I have really learned a lot from this website site over the past year ( a year ago I had never even driven a tractor). So my hope is by detailing the process I am using it may be of some benefit to others. Also any tips or advice on how to make the process better (and keep cost low) in particular with the preparing of the ground for planting once it is cut would be appreciated.
All the hand tools and equipment that you see pictured I had, except for the Black and Decker alligator loppers ($90.00). I use the loppers to cut my way through the brush and all the trees larger than about 1.5 inches are cut off at the ground with the loppers. I then use wire rope slings, small shackles and my Tractor Fel to pull the larger trees from the growth . I push over and cut the remaining growth with my Tractor and rotary cutter.
After cutting I go back with the loppers and generally clean it up to keep from punching a tire later on. Once I collect a pile , I take a long piece of pipe and run a sling/choker underneath. I then pick up one end with my FEL and drag it backwards to a burn area.
I have found that moving the pile this way is easy to control and makes a tight bundle that burns quickly. I generally cut a couple of big trees off (8 inches) in diameter pretty high (about 4 foot from the ground.) I can then push the bundles up tight against the stump with my tractor . I drive a couple of metal fence posts into the ground to hold them tight. This makes for a good tight quick burn. The loppers I am using or not the battery version ( I thought the battery version would be to heavy and lack the power). I already had the Xpower 1500 (power source - the green box with wheels) for about 5 years and it will power them all day before I need to recharge it. I am doing all the work by myself and I found the loppers safe to work with. The ability to cut any thing from a vine to a 5 or 6 inch sapling is a real advantage when you are trying to get to the larger trees.
Thanks
Bill
