Backhoe what is the best way to backhoe out stumps?

   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #1  

aardvark

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2004
Messages
458
I found as I was digging out some stumps over the weekend, that starting near the stump base would put the backhoe bucket in the middle of alot of roots. So many roots, that the bucket didn't have room to penetrate the ground between the roots. The stump is from a native Florida pine. If I started far out from the stump base (7 ft?) and dug in towards the stump it was easier to get the roots out, but it took alot longer because I was moving alot more dirt. How does everyone else backhoe out stumps?
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #2  
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #3  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I usually split the difference at about 3 ft out from tree (4 ft for larger stumps). Dig deep enough to sever all roots on all 4 sides and then put the bucket behind the stiump and go deep to get the tap root and out she comes.--Ken Sweet )</font>

Every stump I've removed so far has been within 6 feet of a fence and in between other desirable trees or large bushes. If you got room to work, stump pulling is easier than you expect it to be. If your access angle is less than 45 degrees, it certainly makes it more difficult to dig out around the stump in question.. In this situation, I start digging on the oposite side, reaching over the stump, then come the sides, then you can do the access side and hope you don't need to get to the back again. I end up sawing roots off sometimes and hoping the root will die off. Not always true with Mullberry, never ture with Buckthorn (small stump) bit it works with Siberian Elm.

One other interesting note. Sometimes, after you've removed the main part, you can catch the end of a large feeder root and pull it out like a big worm. Depends on the tree type as to whether you want to bother with this or not.

Cliff
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #4  
Leave the tree attached to it. Other wise pick arounf and find a spot where you can get underneath feeders. If you find they are too tough you'll have to move out where they get smaller.
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #5  
Sounds like you have been given some good advice from other TBN members to get the stump loose. If you are planning on pulling it out of the hole use the BH to turn it on it's side and then clean the excess soil off the stump using the BH bucket teeth. That extra dirt can make the stump weigh sometimes twice as much as it actually does and it's a lot easier on your equipment to lift the bare stump out of the hole if it weighs less. Course if you are working with a small diameter stump to begin with then this really isn't an issue.
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
The stumps I'm digging out now are from trees that basically snapped during Hurricane Jeanne. However, after digging at them most of Saturday, I began to think along the lines of what you said. What I will do next to remove complete trees is:

1) Dig a somewhat deep mote around the perimeter of the tree. Maybe 3 feet deep and as far in towards the stump as I can get. Dig out to maybe an 8 ft radius?
2) Hook up a come-along to the tree about 20 ft up from the base.
3) Pressure wsh the rest of the dirt away from the roots close to the base and let the mote fill with the water.
4) Put alot of tension on the come-along and hope the tree falls over due to the exposed roots and base. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I have no idea if this will work, but I guess it's worth a try.
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #7  
For safety sake, reverse steps 1 and 2. You don't want to be climbing a ladder beside a tree with cut or open roots because it's not secure. A good puff of wind could send the whole thing crashing down while you're hooking up your come-along.
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #8  
aardvark, if you must work alone, the ***-along will have to do. If you have someone who could work with you, tie up high on the tree, before you dig, and be ready to pull with a truck, making sure that you have tied up high enough that you won't hit the truck when the tree comes down.
I haven't found any better way to handle the roots than to cut out further, where they're the weakest, and work in.
The pines I've been taking out have been so huge that the tap root is as far down again as I have already dug with my 6.5' backhoe, so I usually dig as far down as possible, wash off as much dirt as I can, and then cut off about 4' of the stump and fill in the hole. I know that eventually the stump will rot and maybe leave a depression on the surface, but it's a whole lot better than fighting with another 6' of tap root.
Why, I haven't even been able to wobble some of them after digging all the way down, all the way around! These trees were all about 80' to 100' tall when felled.
If the trees I have left to take out weren't so close to the house, I'd tie on, dig deep, and pull them over. Scared of that since they're all within striking distance of either one or the other of my houses. John
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #9  
Jared
I removed a couple of stumps a few weeks ago. Here is a picture of the com-along that I used. I did not think the light weight unit would help. However, adding the block pulley broke the larger stump loose once the outer roots were cut. The moat is about 5' deep.
 
   / what is the best way to backhoe out stumps? #10  
A few months ago I removed 4-5 stumps with my light weigth
back hole.
I got the job done but it was a bit of work!
The thing is I still had 17 more stumps to remove!
While on the hunt for a heavy duty come-along 4-5 ton
I stoped in the local tool rental store.
They had a brand new Stump Grinder sittin there!
I really didnt want to grind them, wanted the roots out also.
Anyway I rented the machine, and glad I did!
This machine done a really nice clean fast job.
It rented for $100 for 4 hrs or $200 for 24 hrs
So for $200 I got 17 stumps gone with much less effort
and no big holes to fill.
Another nice tool for roots is a Saw Zaw with a long wood blade.
Good luck.
Gene
 
 
 
Top