removing 100's of small saplings and bushes

[ITHINKICAN]

If you have plenty of time - why not experiment with several options? Chronicle it with pictures of course. If you have alternate options like vicinity of the project why not explore them too. Hope it works out. Good luck!

 

[rd_macgregor]

Here's a ref on ID and toxicity: http://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/Prunus%20Poisoning%20June%2026_08.pdf

The invader/colonizer Prunus here in PEI is mostly pin cherry. We have several patches in our pastures which are slowly dieing back. So far (over more than ten years), none of the horses has exhibited symptoms of poisoning (but maybe we've just been lucky...our very low stocking rate probably helps, since the horses have plenty of forage). Once the small cherry trees are cut back, regular mowing (a time or two per growing season) will keep them suppressed until they die out. For me, it is more challenging to keep them from growing up outside/along the fenceline, where it is more difficult to mow.

BOB

 

[forgeblast]

I was reading our local classified and a person was advertising land clearing.
they use a fecon foresty mower. I guess its advertised as "trees and brush any ehight and up to 10'' in diameter--shredded flush with the ground, no stumps or jagged ends. leaves a carpet of wood mulch. I guess you could use this then burn or rake it up.

 

[Dave5264]

Thanks for all the Input and Ideas guys.

I'll try a few of them out for sure.

I like that tree puller video, that fel attachment would realy do the trick !

Once the snow has cleared in the spring we'll start picking away at it.

I"ll post pictures of the "Hill" as well, you can see what Im dealing with, quite close to the barn so the burn approach worries me a bit.

regardless, lots of ideas here.


thanks

 

[Dave5264]

Here's a ref on ID and toxicity: http://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/Prunus%20Poisoning%20June%2026_08.pdf

The invader/colonizer Prunus here in PEI is mostly pin cherry. We have several patches in our pastures which are slowly dieing back. So far (over more than ten years), none of the horses has exhibited symptoms of poisoning (but maybe we've just been lucky...our very low stocking rate probably helps, since the horses have plenty of forage). Once the small cherry trees are cut back, regular mowing (a time or two per growing season) will keep them suppressed until they die out. For me, it is more challenging to keep them from growing up outside/along the fenceline, where it is more difficult to mow.

BOB

Thanks Bob, intersting read, I knew they were very toxic, didnt realize they contain cyanide.

 

[Argosy]

I"ll post pictures of the "Hill" as well, you can see what Im dealing with, quite close to the barn so the burn approach worries me a bit.

You could clear back from the barn a safe distance and let the FD burn the rest.

As another poster said you need to remove the rocks. Soon enough the horses will take off across the pasture, you don't want anything they can trip on. If this is multi-year project brush hogging would be viable. Anything it leaves will rot fairly quickly, and keeping it cut down for a couple of years will kill off brush that sprouts, the roots.

 

[jake98]

The brushgrubbers on a chain work well. If I had hundreds to do in a single location I'd consider hooking up a treadle control with ropes, (hst trans). The tractor only has to move a foot or two and they're out.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I'd mow it with heavy duty brush cutter. Go very slowly and collect the large rocks in your front end loader as you go. If the land is to be pasture, you'll want to remove the rocks anyway.
Mike

 

[nybirdman]

Dave 5264
You must identify these trees you are calling "pin cherry",we have what THOUGHT was pin cherrry and it turned out to be Common Buckthorn.Very evasive and TOXIC.Please look up this up and identify.
I am in northern NY and we started seeing these about 20 years ago and they have spread greatly.
These are small trees ,shiney bark,purple berries.
THEY ARE VERY DEEP ROOTED AND YOU WILL NOT PULL EVEN WITH A 50 HORSE TRACTOR.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I have to agree with folks about getting rid of the rocks. No matter how you decide to deal with the chokecherries, you'll still want the rocks outta there!
Also, I'm surprised that nobody mentioned a flail mower. If your biggest dia stem is about 2", you ought to be able to really whack them with a flail...pretty much right down to the ground.
BOB