Clearing Land

[flomanno]

Hello to all. I've been reading this forum for over a year and would like to thank everyone who contributes. It has provided a great deal of information for someone who knew nothing about tractors. I have a L3010 HTS with FEL and backhoe. I've been clearing land on our property by cutting down trees and removing the stumps and large boulders. Now I have land which has rocks (1" - 12") and a lot of dips, holes and valleys. Any suggestions about how to get the rocks out and smooth the land level for planting?

 

[Boondox]

Frank raises a good point for a reason he probably didn't consider: wives. After spending a LOT on my L3010HST, mower, blade, rake, backhoe and logging winch...the chances of me getting yet another implement (like a box) are slim to none. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif The wife will mutiny! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

So along with the "right implement for the job" responses this thread will prompt, how about some "what else will do the job" responses?

The Wife recently had me remove some rocks from her garden. Okay, the rocks were sometimes as long as the FEL bucket, and I had to use the backhoe to get them up and moved. Caught holy heck for leaving craters in her garden. Used the backhoe, bucket, rake and rear blade to smooth it all out, but then she complained that the weight of my tractor had compacted the soil so much she had to use a shovel to "fluff things up."

Some times improvising works out well, though. Case in point. She wants another garden plot next year. A big one: 80x100'. Told me never to get close to her garden with the backhoe again. So I mounted the rear blade, angled and tilted it till the edge was directly behind the right rear tire, and began turning over a practice patch. I found that if I drove forward with the angled blade set at 4.5 on the 3PH scale, then drove back with it in the fully lowered position to push the loosened dirt back into the trench, then moved a foot to the left and did it all over again...I was able to turn over the sod pretty effectively.

What are some other shortcuts that worked out for you?

Pete

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>the chances of me getting yet another implement (like a box) are slim to none.</font color=blue>

Come on, Pete. I bet you get a box blade for your next wedding anniversary /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Boondox]

<font color=blue>Come on, Pete. I bet you get a box blade for your next wedding anniversary</font color=blue>

Only if I can make something VERY COOL with this backhoe by then!

Pete

 

[Kodiak]

Well Peter:
It sounds like its about time for a nice garden pond using those rocks you mentioned for the waterfall.

 

[Hawkflyer]

I have no personal experiance with these but I am told that a soil shreder might be what you are looking for. Supposedly it will condition the soil and "windrow" the rocks. I do not know if the 12" rocks you mentioned are too big or not.

 

[Hawkflyer]

You guys are not approaching this thing right at all. You have to get something BIG that she wants, then she will feel guilty telling you no when you show up with the implement ad slick.So far my wifes '55 t-bird has been good for an upgrade from a B7100 to a B2410, 2 RFMs, and a grapple. I am currently working on a tree shear./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Boondox]

Garden pond? The kind with cute little plants in it? Gawd, my goldens would reduce it to a wasteland in no time at all! Besides, we already have a tree-lined swimming pond and several waterfalls on the property.

It's gotta be something we don't have and she wants. Tough order!

Pete

 

[JC4HD]

My advise might be a little late at least regarding the large rock but I'm sure my technique could be used for the smaller ones as well.
Don't remove them from the ground... instead dig a deep enough hole next to them and as you dig out the rocks roll them into the hole, then cover 'em up! This prevents the depressions you are experiencing! Just make sure that the hole you put them in is deep enought to allow ground work above them (at least 12").