Bob, I have pretty good luck tugging backwards. For saplings, it works well to use the FEL. Go forward and bend the sapling over, and while dumping/lowering the bucket, back up with the wheels cut to trap the sapling between the teeth. With the sapling kinda woven through the teeth, it usually does the trick. I'd expect the abuse to the trunk also helps loosen up the ground around the roots..................chim
BTW, did I ever tell you I love the bouncy tractor in your signature?