I'm interested in learning about attachments for controlling thick woody brush and small trees using only a ~30HP compact tractor. I have 23 acres of heavily overgrown central Texas land that I want to clear to some degree using my Kubota L3400.
My place is a mixture of open formerly cultivated areas (about 7 acres) that are infested with small mesquite and an older woodlot (about 15 acres) with large post oaks that has very thick small yaupon and cedar elm undergrowth. I had some of this stuff cleared by a hired dozer operator (mostly to clear roads and create access around my property) but theres still a huge amount of thick undergrowth that needs to be thinned. I can't hire a dozer for less than $100/hr these days and renting one is going to cost me at least $1000/week plus delivery and fuel. Obviously, I'm not wealthy enough to own my own dozer. I really want to find a way to do this to some degree using my own small tractor, even if it ends up being less efficient since invariably anyone I hire to do it will either do it wrong or do it too slowly.. and I don't really know that renting a dozer would be something I should do if I can do what I want with my own implements.
I know I can keep the mesquite in the more open areas at bay by shredding and spraying with herbicide, but the yaupon and cedar elm are too thick/tall for a shredder and I do not want to risk hurting my beautiful old post oaks by spraying herbicide so close to them. I need some way of getting all that nasty woody brush out of there using only my Kubota L3400.
What about brush grubber tongs like one sold by BrushGrubber | Home ? How well do these actually work for pulling trees out by the roots?
Something like the Dougherty tractor saw ( Tree Removal - Skid Steer Tree Saw - Tractor Saw- Turbo Saw Tree Cutter ) might be overkill, especially since the **** thing costs over $5000, but it at least gives me the ability to use a compact tractor to quickly take down trees up to 10" with relative ease and would put me right up there with a dozer in terms of efficiency in clearing. Would something like this be worth it?
What about skid-steer type tree shears? Ive got a skid steer quick attach adapter on my loader and I could easily get a set of remote hydraulics installed.
What other options do I have for controlling thick woody brush with only a compact tractor?
My place is a mixture of open formerly cultivated areas (about 7 acres) that are infested with small mesquite and an older woodlot (about 15 acres) with large post oaks that has very thick small yaupon and cedar elm undergrowth. I had some of this stuff cleared by a hired dozer operator (mostly to clear roads and create access around my property) but theres still a huge amount of thick undergrowth that needs to be thinned. I can't hire a dozer for less than $100/hr these days and renting one is going to cost me at least $1000/week plus delivery and fuel. Obviously, I'm not wealthy enough to own my own dozer. I really want to find a way to do this to some degree using my own small tractor, even if it ends up being less efficient since invariably anyone I hire to do it will either do it wrong or do it too slowly.. and I don't really know that renting a dozer would be something I should do if I can do what I want with my own implements.
I know I can keep the mesquite in the more open areas at bay by shredding and spraying with herbicide, but the yaupon and cedar elm are too thick/tall for a shredder and I do not want to risk hurting my beautiful old post oaks by spraying herbicide so close to them. I need some way of getting all that nasty woody brush out of there using only my Kubota L3400.
What about brush grubber tongs like one sold by BrushGrubber | Home ? How well do these actually work for pulling trees out by the roots?
Something like the Dougherty tractor saw ( Tree Removal - Skid Steer Tree Saw - Tractor Saw- Turbo Saw Tree Cutter ) might be overkill, especially since the **** thing costs over $5000, but it at least gives me the ability to use a compact tractor to quickly take down trees up to 10" with relative ease and would put me right up there with a dozer in terms of efficiency in clearing. Would something like this be worth it?
What about skid-steer type tree shears? Ive got a skid steer quick attach adapter on my loader and I could easily get a set of remote hydraulics installed.
What other options do I have for controlling thick woody brush with only a compact tractor?