How do you excavate/remove tree stumps??

Laminarman · Oct 15, 2003

This is premature since I don't own my land and tractor yet (will sign paperwork finalizing both within a month...77 acres and a NH TC45D)...but how do you remove tree stumps? I did a search here, found nothing. Do you "bang it" with the loader, or buy a BH?? I have this image of a chain or tow strap letting loose from a tree or stump and whacking me in the head and my wife living an easy life on my generous life insurance policy. I do have some trees to be removed for habitat development. Nothing behemoth, but some pines and maples up to about 12" in diameter. I'd like to get the stumps out to put food plots in. Thanks, in advance.

theonlybull · Oct 15, 2003

the way we do it, is with our 580 ck backhoe, and our 420 JD dozor.....

it can be done with a front end loader, but it's alot of work. backhoe attachment would be a great asset to you.

Laminarman · Oct 15, 2003

So what you're saying is I now have an official excuse to purchase a backhoe?? Thanks!

Boondox · Oct 15, 2003

I'll second that. Backhoeing is the most fun you can have fully dressed!

12" stumps would be childs play with a tractor that size. I have a Kubota L3010 with a Woods 7500 backhoe that makes short work of stumps that size. Though the two or three foot diameter stumps require much repositioning and sometimes hours of working away at them. Tried using the FEL in the days BH (Before Hoe) and found it a complete waste of time.

Pete

Hambone · Oct 15, 2003

<font color="red"> I did a search here, found nothing </font>

Try doing search for tree stumps. I got some hits there. Also search under owning operating. There has been plenty of talk on this.

Congrats on your new purchases and hope everything works out okay!

EddieWalker · Oct 15, 2003

I use a New Holland 555E backhoe for stumps and trees. Most trees have roots that spread out, which is the easiest to remove. Just dig a shallow trench on either side and push. The trees with tap roots are much more work. You need to really dig down deep on all sides for them to break free. I've gone 12 feet deep all around before on some before I could get them to break free. In my area, this is called a bull pine.

Stumps work the same as trees, just much harder. If you havn't cut the tree down yet, don't! The wieght and height of the tree will work in you favor and save you hours of work.

If you already have stumps to deal with, then you must decide if you ever plan to build over any of the area you are diggin out. If you are just going to plant food plots, then dig a whole on one side of the stump big enough for it to fit in, dig around the stump a little and push it into the hole and burry it. It will rot and decompose over time and you might get some settling, but more than likely you will never see it.

If you build over any landfill, you will notice it over time when your foundation starts to crack.

Good Luck

GregJ · Oct 15, 2003

This is just one of many excuses to get a BH. I use mine all the time. There was a thread running recently that went into stump removal in detail. Here is the link: I'm Stumped . Hope this helps.

Greg

dmccarty · Oct 15, 2003

LaminarMan,

Search for dmccarty and stumps. I think you will find alot of
info.

I have a JD4700 with a JD48 backhoe. I have pulled up
hundreds of stumps. Some 36 inches in diameter. It can take
hours to do.

It is a time and money thing. You can pay someone to pull up
the stumps or you can buy a BH and do it yourself. Depends on
how much time, money and work you have to do.

The backhoe is a good tool to have. Mine goes back on the
tractor in a couple of weeks to dig some dirt some I can build
some piers. And I have some more stumps to dig up......

I think I'll be digging up stumps for the rest of my life.....

BTW. If you have stump over a 4-6 inch in diameter, with a
decent root system, you ain't gonna move them with a FEL.
The best I have done is used the 4n1 bucket to pull pine stumps
out of the ground. But the ground has to be wet and the
stumps are 2-3 inches max.

Later,
Dan

billfires · Oct 15, 2003

Laminarman, do a search in the projects forum with "unbelievable" , Spencer removed stumps with a set of forks on his New Holland. Bill C

ducati996 · Oct 15, 2003

Well its not a backhoe of course, so you use the tool you got until you get the "hoe" I used my JD 4100 and this stump is on the larger side of what I have been dealing with lately..3 hours it took on for this one...most were less..did 20 thus far, pulled it out via chain and jeep grand Cherokee V-8...
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Ducati996