Subsoiler for small stump removal???

[Trails End]

Has anyone used a subsoiler to remove small sapling ( up to 3 - 4" dia) stumps?

I have many small saplings surrounding the house that I'd like to remove. Using
the grapple has not worked well, as they tend to break off instead of uprooting
the tree in one piece. Trying to dig up the root system with the grapple just results
in my tires spinning. The tractor is a Bobcat CT335 with loaded rear tires and a
475 lb. boxblade for additional weight in the rear.

Consequently, I've been thinging about just cutting them down with a chain saw,
and removing the stumps by breaking up the roots with a subsoiler and then use
the grapple to remove the stump.

Any comments (pro or con) will be appreciated!

 

[Trails End]

As an added note, I don't currently own a subsoiler and local rental places don't have them. I
was hoping to rent one, if available, to answer my own question.

 

[Texomahog]

Yes sir. They work pretty well. I have removed a score of small stumps with mine. It works great on piss elms, which I am plagued with.

 

[DJ54]

I have removed quite a few with one on my little Super C Farmall. Cut the roots out a ways, then hooked them out. Mine is an IH built, Fast Hitch model, and has a tempered shank, and replaceable foot.

If you buy a subsoiler, buy a decent one. My buddy bought one at TSC, and put it on his 5400 Deere, and promptly bent it. More than likely why you don't see them at rental yards. If you do find one to rent, believe I'd get the insurance, just in case...

 

[EverythingAttachments]

For your application, a subsoiler with shear pin protection, like our ETA Subsoiler, would be a good feature to have.

When we were unable to get the subsoiler from Fred Cain, we started making our own exactly like it, here in our factory.

Here is our video of the Fred Cain in action:

 

[Texasmark]

I run a Hay King pasture renovator, which is a multi shank with coulters subsoiler of sorts. I run a 4 shank on a 57 PTO hp tractor. You can run it 10 to 12 inches deep. I have cut through 2-3" roots while renovating pasture near trees. It has shear bolts for safety. Would probably work. I bought mine from the local JD dealer for $1500 a few years ago. I use it every year somewhere on the place to keep the clay soil smoothed out and help the Bermuda grass spread by breaking up the runners which makes a new plant root system.

HTH,
Mark

 

[s219]

Have you tried a brush grubber? It works well if you leave a high stump to grab onto for leverage.

For that matter, for a 3-4" sapling, I imagine you could push it over with the front bucket hydraulics.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I have used my home made sub soil tool as said to cut roots all around stumps to aid removal...

Also, like said, leave the stump 6 - 10" tall so you can get over the stump with the sub soil tool..
And have enough to hook a chain, cable, or other gripping tool to aid pulling out...

Good luck
===

 

[Baby Grand]

I've had good luck with a TSC subsoiler (the yellow one) pulling up to 6" stumps as long as they don't have big tap roots.
As DJ54 describes, cut the roots around the stump, then pull them out.
Cutting the stump almost to ground level helps, as a tall stump always seems to be in the way of either the subsoiler or one of the rear tires.

 

[Texomahog]

I have had no problems with a TSC subsoiler either. I was told by someone on this forum to take it slow and easy, and, that is what I do.

 

[Trails End]

Have you tried a brush grubber? It works well if you leave a high stump to grab onto for leverage.

For that matter, for a 3-4" sapling, I imagine you could push it over with the front bucket hydraulics.

No, I haven't tried a brush grubber, but the disadvantage with it is it requires either two people, or climbing on and
off the tractor to attach it to the stump. As far as pushing them over with the bucket or grapple, they usually
break off instead of raising the root ball up.

It looks like from all the responses, that a subsoiler will do the job if I use it correctly.

Thanks for all the responses. TBN comes through again.

 

[sparc]

Have you tried a brush grubber? It works well if you leave a high stump to grab onto for leverage.

For that matter, for a 3-4" sapling, I imagine you could push it over with the front bucket hydraulics.

just be sure to use a chain and not a rope, cable, or nylon strap which can come flying back at you if they should break.
a chain looses its energy pretty quickly and will fall to the ground.

Kinda like the difference between testing PVC pipe with air (a no-no) and water.

 

[JimRB]

I noticed a cracked link in one of my chains last time I used it. I suppose it is good to inspect chains once in a while when grubbing stumps. I use my home made subsoiler to grub at roots. Little stumps of 6" or less I can get out easily enough. Last stump I grubbed out was probably 24-30 inches. That took a lot of time and a fair bit of axe swinging and hand digging. Actually the stump was too heavy for my loader but it cracked in two which was slightly more manageable.

 

[breadtrk]

I have an old fred cain and it it don't stop the tractor it will cut through. The ones that do stop it, I just move out farther and work my way back in. Seems to always get the job done with my 37 horse that is really only probably 30 horse after you figure in the HST.

 

[TomSeller]

Subsoilers don't work well on trees with big vertical tap roots. But they can work on threes with shallow, horizontally spreading roots. So study your tree root patterns.