Opinions please: Shrub removal near house foundation

Dougster · Mar 30, 2007

Landed a small job removing a bunch of large, tough old shrubs right up against an old concrete block foundation and some newer concrete footings for a wooden porch. I know my ~7,000 lb Mahindra 4110 w/Bradco 509 BH has all the power in the world to pull these nasty things up and out, but I am concerned about potential damage to the foundation, footings and any nearby buried pipes. To keep things as quick and neat as possible... but also to minimize the potential for collateral damage... would you senior experienced expert folks: a) Simply dig them out with the backhoe? b) Pull them up and out with a wrapped chain using the FEL or BH? c) Cut them off with a chainsaw first and then carefully dig out the root ball?, d) Use my new root/rock grapple and scare the heck out of the homeowner? or e) Some combination of the above?

Any and all opinions appreciated!

Dougster

scott_vt · Mar 30, 2007

Mornin Doug,
You really dont say how big the shrubs are ? Im thinking along the lines of fairly good sized rhotodendrans sp? or such. If thats the case and you can use your backhoe without damaging the foundation or house I would try and partially dig and loosen the shrubs and then wrap a chain and pull them out slowly. Im thinking with your machine you have a couple of options to use to get that job done !

I have pulled small shrubs out with my old Farmall after digging slightly around said shrub and then pulling it out with a chain. I dont think you want to cut the tops off because you will need that to wrap the chain around !

deereguy · Mar 30, 2007

I would be inclined to cut the tops off, leaving a foot or so above the ground of stump. Then dig with the BH a bucket scoop on the left side then on the right (going down a foot or so each time), then try to pull the stump with the bucket and see where it is still holding on. Keep doing this until its out. If the majority of the roots are towards the foundation (they probably will be), then you may need an axe to chop at them and loosen them up so they can be pulled out with the BH.

Good Luck!!

1bush2hog · Mar 30, 2007

I've pulled some 15 yr old holly's out of the ground next to my house by wrapping a chain around the base and using my truck. Tractor would have no problem doing this either.

You did not mention type, size, or age, or how many of these shrubs so it's hard to say what will be your best method with least amount of residual impact.

A 7000lb tractor can damage a yard and could also potentially damage drainage lines and fields, etc. Then again so can a shovel.

My vote would be to pull them out of the ground. Water the area around the shrub to soften the soil the day before and go slow - you may have to trim a few roots too.

EddieWalker · Mar 30, 2007

Not knowing what they look like, or how big, I'm gonna say to use the backhoe bucket. Dig out a little around them to minimize the amount of hold the roots will have on the ground, then drage the bucket over the plant and pull it out. This works great for small trees too.

Do you know where the plumbing lines are? If you are anywhere close to them, get a spotter and locate those lines first. In that area, I'd be very hesitant with the backhoe and use a shovel for most of it.

Of course, after your first plant, you should know what the roots are like and how much digging you'll need to do.

Good luck,
Eddie

Egon · Mar 30, 2007

Apply some roundup and wait several weeks. Then clip them at ground level and forget about them.

Dougster · Mar 30, 2007

Wow! Many good thoughts and ideas already! You guys are fast!

I will try to answer a few questions... but it was dark when I was over there last night and no one was even home. He wanted a quote ASAP! I'm going back later today for a better look and to see where the water, gas and sewer lines enter his basement. I'll try to borrow my girlfriend's digital camera. I'll be calling DigSafe to be sure!

To me, shrubs are shrubs. To me they are all just overgrown weeds... or in this case, practically trees! I should know what they are, but I don't. I'm not even sure that the owner knows or cares... he just wants them out of there ASAP! He took some out last year and wants the rest out this year. I don't blame him. They are not very pretty. The main reason I was thinking of cutting first was to better see where I was digging. I hate working this close to houses, even though I put up 3/4" plywood sheets to prevent any house damage. And I am more than aware that my tractor could damage his house, foundation, lawn and even crush old sewer pipes... hence my extreme caution. If I can't do it safe, I won't do it at all.

Dougster

Dougster · Mar 30, 2007

Egon said:
Apply some roundup and wait several weeks. Then clip them at ground level and forget about them.

Geeze Egon!!!

What are you doing here on a tractor website?

Don't you want me to have any fun???

Dougster

AlanB · Mar 30, 2007

We would,
Get the homeowner to call digsafe (we call it one call) and yours may be different, but different rules apply to contractors calling then the homeowner.

We would remove with a chain wrapped around them, or a choker, or an endless loop sling, and then pull them out with the bucket / 3 pt.

This is assuming that they are small enough too pull this way.

If it was within 3' of pipes or lines, out would come the shovel.

Also be aware that the one call, or whatever, will only mark "their" lines, and more then likely the water line into the house is the "homeowners" line, so in our neck of the woods, the street will be marked, but from the meter to the house, you are on your own.