Breaking Plow for Old Timber Clearcut

[BWDawg]

Hello all,
About 7-8 years ago, I clear cut some timber and had stumps removed, and in the near future I'm thinking of planting certain areas. Although the larger stumps were removed and backfilled, I'm sure there are many smaller stumps and roots that were covered, so I'm afraid a regular 2-3 bottom breaking plow would only hang up. What type of breaking plow would you recommend?I'm only considering breaking up small areas anywhere from 1-3 acres, and my tractor is a 35 hp MF 135 so it can't be much, but I'm thinking about a 100 hp tractor in the near future. Any thoughts or ideas much appreciated.

 

[rdbigfarmboy]

A disc turning plow. They were very common 50 years ago. You might like a 2 disc model. they are 3 pt hitch and some have a tail wheel. Basically its a large disc blade like 24 to 30 inches across and it cuts in a rolling motion. The rolling motion will cut many vines, debris and roots that hang up.
I have had 2 or 3. They sell for between 250 and 500. dont bother with brands theyre all made by the same company. Replacing the cutting disc is expensive.
Other options select burn of areas and a heavy cutting disc or bogg disc.

 

[JerryG]

I'll second what Bigboy said about the disc plow. They are the best plow around for new ground since the discs don't hang on roots and stumps as bad as other plows.
If you will check the link below and then click on the one that is listed as "plow 32", you will see one.
Used Equipment for Sale Pg. 2

 

[Egon]

Welcome Dawg.

For the 1 to 3 acre plots I'd recommend using the rippers on a box blade to go over the area first and clear the stumps etc with it. Then plough as normal or use a disc plough. We used to call them tillers.

The 100 HP. tractor is a different animal. With that you may be able to do the work with a small heavily built disk that is weighted down.

 

[Foodplot]

We use fireline plows to create fire lines (bare strips to help contain fires) when burning forested or mid-successional areas. They are either exteme duty disc plows or specially beefed-up plows that look like a big single furrower on steroids and are pulled by a tracked dozer. The former type you can pull behind a large tractor--call your state forestry people, they may be able to hook you up with someone that has one, or that you can pay to come do this for you. I wouldn't subject my equipment to the beating if you can pay someone for it.
There are several manufacturers, just Google fireline plow.

 

[N80]

Something like this might work:

This is a disc plow:

http://www.sweettractors.com/newpics/fall2006/images/F1002.jpg

 

[BWDawg]

Thanks for all the info everybody, I really appreciate your time and help!

 

[dixie306]

Hello all,
About 7-8 years ago, I clear cut some timber and had stumps removed, and in the near future I'm thinking of planting certain areas. Although the larger stumps were removed and backfilled, I'm sure there are many smaller stumps and roots that were covered, so I'm afraid a regular 2-3 bottom breaking plow would only hang up. What type of breaking plow would you recommend?I'm only considering breaking up small areas anywhere from 1-3 acres, and my tractor is a 35 hp MF 135 so it can't be much, but I'm thinking about a 100 hp tractor in the near future. Any thoughts or ideas much appreciated.

BW, I had to do the same thing a few years back, it was a stand of pines, appox three years after cutting, the roots had mostly rotted out, I used a set of all purpose plows and they did fine where the pines had been. The only "problem" I had was with the rocks I plowed up in the new ground, good luck with your project.

 

[N80]

I have cleared several acres of young pines with remnants of the previous cut. After clearing the young pines I have been able to use a 2 bottom plow with no problems. The buried stumps from the previous cut were rotten. Sometimes there would be a hard core of a stump. The plow usually pulls these right up.

 

[dillo99]

This year I put a garden in a field that was cleared several years ago. I decided to use my backhoe to turn over the earth for the first time (don't have any kind of plow or cultivator). I would not want to do this on 3 Acres but on a 150' by 200' garden it worked great. I was able to get rid of remaining stumps and all the large rocks. I then tilled it with a garden tiller.