Wahoo - retirement means playing on a tractor!

[EmeraldCity]

We bought a 2,000sq ft rambler on 2.75 acres in Maple Valley, WA and are in the processing of completely redoing everything. Doesn't make sense. Except that this is a project that fuels my passions more than anything else I can think of. Maybe I need therapy. House is very well constructed (2x6 framing, tile roof, 7 skylights, etc.). We've stripped everything out, re-wired it all, installed an energy efficient HVAC, heat pump water heater, BIB insulation, hickory flooring, granite counter tops, yadda, yadda, yadda. Now is the time to clear the property. There are some beautiful huge cedar and maple trees that I'd like to emphasize, but they are largely covered up by intrusive alder and cottonwoods. And blackberry bushes were so thick it took 2 months of daily work to clear them out. Afterwards, I can see all the downed trees and limbs that need removed. I've cut many of the alder and cottonwood but have dozens left. I have a Kubota BX-24 but am realizing the limitations. I hope to pull many of the smaller trees (less than 3" diameter at the base) out with the root ball - either using the tractor or my Tundra (either in 4WD). I also need to buy a riding mower for all the grass. I've already spent hours reading many posts on land clearing and what mower to buy (John Deere?!!). Wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for the wealth of info herein. My background is in manufacturing (www.MapleKnoll.com). Look forward to learning more.

Richard aka "EmeraldCity" (since Seattle is the predominant city here)

 

[TBN Support]

Hi and welcome to the forum. :welcome: Nice project!

I'm going to move your thread over to the buying, pricing and comparisons section to see if we can get you some insight into what you should be purchasing.

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To TBN Richard. I found that if you got out just after a good rain, then it is much easier to push trees over to easily get at their roots.
When I retired we took over an old horse farm, 11.5 acres, that had sat for a few years. I know what you mean about the blackberry bushes, they spread and get big quickly. I am still clearing the land and thinning out trees. Good luck.

 

[Tomtint]

I had a BX 22, it was a little work horse but it did have its limitations. Not seeing your yard or scope of what needs to be done, My first thoughts would be to, 1 keep your BX and get a mower deck for it. 2 re t a mini X for a week or weekend to do the tough stuff. ( 2.5 acres could easily be cleaned up in a weekend )

 

[Gary Fowler]

I fought with sweet gum saplings on my 11 acres for years, bush hogging them, pushing them over with FEL and even using a chain and yanking out the root ball. All of it worked but pulling them out by the roots was best but time consuming for 1 man what with dragging out the tree then dragging back the chain, the getting the puller (tractor or RTV) located again.


I finally bought a TLB (Kubota B26) and after getting proficient with the backhoe-it has a hydraulic thumb also), I was able to make short work of thinning out the sweet gum thicket, collecting the trees, piling them and grading the area to remove the stump holes. I would highly recommend a back hoe to do this work, either rent or buy. I am glad I bought mine as it has been a lifesaver. I got it used with 60 hours on the clock and after 3 years of use, it has close to 400 hours on it now. I use it for all my dirt work where precision is needed. Due to its small size, it is much better than my 70 HP LS with cab for precise work. I use the LS to haul with but the Kubota does the final grade work.

I find that after cleaning out blackberry bushes, you will need to do a couple of sprayings with glyphosate on the sprouts to get them completely dead. I don't have so much problem with blackberry but do have tons of saw briars that if left unchecked will take over a fence line in a couple of years. Roundup application yearly keeps them in check. They will continue to come back due to the large amount of rhizomes in the ground but they don't get too big in a year.

 

[vulcancowboy]

You might try a Piranha tooth bar and a ratchet rake. They should greatly increase what your BX can do.

 

[oosik]

Welcome to the forum Richard. I'm just across the state on the "dry side". This year that is becoming no joke. I have only Ponderosa pine and a few birch, alder & aspen. I annually thin the stands of small pines and chip all those I thin out. I have never worried about the stump - around here the tree stump will be gone in 6-8 years from rot.

I have no berry bushes - thank goodness - I sure have my share of wild rose bramble though. I clear the bramble with the grapple on my tractor. I use & abuse a John Deere G100 to mow anything and everything on the property. If I can drive over it - I will mow it.

Good luck with the work on your property - - be careful and work safe.