Suggestions for root cutter

[rubycreekted]

I want to cut tree roots that extend into my food plots. Many are narrow lanes. What would you guys suggest for a 3 pt mounted inplement for my Ford 8N? I expect I should cut down about 18 inches. Thanks.

 

[rharkins]

Our local county extension agent has a root plow that they loan out. They want to encourage farmers to keep their trees on the fence rows, and this plow cuts the roots to keep them from encroaching on the field.

Might be worth asking about.

Rick

 

[rubycreekted]

I was in the local tractor supply today and they had a subsoiler on sale for 49.99 so I sprung for it. I think this will work as long as I drive slow. Says it will cut 12 inches down. Worth a try I believe. Thanks all. Any comments on this plan?

 

[rharkins]

I emailed KingKutter that exact question. I have a ton of tree roots to handle, and I thought that might do the job. KK said the SubSoiler wasn't intended for anything other than soil. I'm sure they're just reading the lawyer script, though.

I even considered having a sharp edge welded onto the front of the subsoiler. Something like the cutting edge on the bottom of a bucket. That ought to help cut the roots.

 

[rubycreekted]

RHANKINS, Thanks for the info. The reason I think a subsoiler will work is because I plowed part of the ground a couple weeks ago and saw the roots that the plow cut without problems. Up to the size of my wrist. I also thought a subsoiler could be sharpened to help cut roots. I believe if I stay in first gear and go slow I can safely cut roots. The subsoiler does not have a shear pin so if I hit something that doesn't give I will have to stop. I will try it when I can. I have planted all the ground with fall cover crops now so I hate to run over it but if we have a long dry spell with little germination I may get a chance to cut some roots first.

 

[tnhomestead]

Which tractor supply store? I need a sub soiler for thatprice!

 

[Ken45101]

The subsoiler does not have a shear pin so if I hit something that doesn't give I will have to stop.

If you use the draft control, when it hits something like that, it should lift up, hopefully loosening whatever stopped you.

However, sometimes it doesn't work that way, especially if you misunderstand the hieroglyphics on the float control lever. I was digging a trench for a low voltage electric line and the subsoiler glanced off the side of an old buried fence post. It bent the top of the subsoiler and twisted the threaded part of the top link 180 degrees and broke it. The rest of the trench was done with the backhoe.

 

[rubycreekted]

TNHOMESTEAD, I got the $49 subsoiler at the Coopersville, MI TS. They had 2. It had a $129 tag and the $49 tag. A little rusty but not bad. The guy that helped me load it said they had been around for year or so.

 

[rubycreekted]

TNHOMESTEAD, I got the $49 subsoiler at the Coopersville, MI TS. They had 2. They had a old $129 tag and the new $49 tag. A little rusty but not bad. The guy that helped me load it said they had been around for year or so.

 

[LD1]

I'm not sure how heavy the subsoilers are built, but I built one, mainly to install 1000' of underground dog fence in an all wooded lot and I knew roots would be a problem. I made it just like the subsoilers, but I used 2 x 4 heavy well tubing for the main structure. And then I used a peice of 1/2 x 3" sharpened and welded on at the angle for the peice that goes in the ground first. It is about 10" long. I also welded an enge on the vertical part of the 2 x 4 tube to help it through the ground better.

All in all it works wonders. If I snag a root that I cant "pull through" I just rais the 3PH and as the root slides down the sharp edge, it cuts right through it. This has worked on up to 4" roots on hard maple. I built it for my l3400 but took it to my dads when he was digging out a 42" maple stump (with no backhoe) and he used it on his JD 2040 (which has way more 3PH power) and we still couldnt break it. But it slices roots like butter.

Best part is it was all scrap I had laying around and didn't cost me anything. But if I had to buy the materials, it would only take a 6' long peice of 2 x 4 tube, a 2' long peice of 1/2 x 2, and two pins. With a few hours and a 12 pack you could be done.

 

[radioman]

ld1- the problem with breaking the maple stump is the long godzillion long taproots.using subsoiler only breaks roots on the outside and doesnt even touch the taproots.

 

[LD1]

Yes they do. It took us about 3 days to remove it. Using the root slicer to sclice roots, then dig till we hit more roots, then sclice some more etc etc. Fortunatally it was on a hillside and we made a set of pallet forks and for the tips we used 1/2" plate and sharpened them. from the downhill side we started stabbing under the stump to cut the taproots underneath. we finally got it out. I wish I had a scanner or some digital photos cause it was impressive. All I have are some still photos.

 

[J_J]

How about something like this.