Removing thorn bushes - looking for suggestions

[fordmantpw]

I ripped out about 150-200 SF of invasive multiflora rose last weekend in about 15 minutes on an L3800 with a grapple.

That stuff is nasty! We've got that all through the woods at our place. I hate it with a passion!

 

[huffy2404]

Where in Texas are you located?
I couldn't really tell in the picture, but the trees look a bit like mesquite.
If you're dealing with mesquite, you really need to research how to get rid of them. They are not like normal trees.

I'm located in the Wichita Falls area. There are a LOT of mesquite trees in this area, but strangely enough there aren't many on this property. The trees in question are not mesquite (which I am very familiar with), but without seeing any leaves yet I have not been able to determine what they are.

 

[bhh]

That stuff is nasty! We've got that all through the woods at our place. I hate it with a passion!

Same here. We just bought this place in September and the multiflora rose and wild grape vines are everywhere. The multiflora is super easy to tear out though as long as I can get a good bite on the roots with the grapple. MUCH easier than going at it with a weed-wacker.

 

[fordmantpw]

Same here. We just bought this place in September and the multiflora rose and wild grape vines are everywhere. The multiflora is super easy to tear out though as long as I can get a good bite on the roots with the grapple. MUCH easier than going at it with a weed-wacker.

I've been brushhogging it as I don't have any real way to rip it out. The hog tears it up pretty well, but does leave the stumps.

 

[BXpanded]

This Tooth Bar Piranha by BXpanded

 

[crowbar032]

If those are honey locusts, you'll need a lot of tire plugs.

 

[silvertramp]

I don't know what type of growth that is, but I bush hogged 8' thorny stuff. Once it was down, I just went over it 2-3 times a year. Everything came back to grass. Like it was never there.

 

[AKfish]

If those are honey locusts, you'll need a lot of tire plugs.

We had a fair amount of honey locust where I grew up in South Dakota. IIRC - mostly smooth bark on the trees. The trees in the pics did not look like honey locust - IMO. And, yes those thorns would poke holes in every tire I ever saw - except the heaviest construction loaders, road graders and belly scrapers.

Really nasty! Sometimes, there'd be this big ol' ball of 'em in the crooks between the branches and limbs!

AKfish

 

[huffy2404]

Based on pictures I have seen I don't think it is honey locust.

Doesn't look like any TSC in my area carries the ratchet rake. I guess I may have to order it online and pay the shipping.

 

[huffy2404]

This Tooth Bar Piranha by BXpanded

Is there any video available showing how the Piranha does with clearing brush? It looks like a good product, but it would be really nice to see a demonstration.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I'd go with one of these.

 

[jeff9366]

Doesn't look like any TSC in my area carries the ratchet rake. I guess I may have to order it online and pay the shipping.

Can't you go to TSC's web site and order it on-line for "free" delivery to your closest TSC?

 

[huffy2404]

I'd go with one of these.

View attachment 313462

With the drought we are in in this part of the world I am sure that thing would do the job and then some!

Can't you go to TSC's web site and order it on-line for "free" delivery to your closest TSC?

It doesn't appear that I can do anything other than check store availability on TSC web site.

 

[GreenWannabe]

Some items it allows you to order online; others it does not. Apparently the Rachet Rake is one of those items which must be ordered in the store. None of the stores in my area have one, so it would have to be ordered.

 

[jerrybob]

I've heard great things about the RR and the Piranha bar for such jobs, but I have yet to use either of them. I have, however, cleared lots of areas on my property that look similar to yours. I haven't yet found a method that is an acceptable level of work. I usually just end up doing more work than I thought I would/should have, cussing a lot, and promising to come up with a better method. To that end, I'll be following this thread with great interest.

The Piranha works great and can also be used for light digging. I use one for blackberry bushes on a much smaller tractor....excellent tool. Good people to deal with as well. Good luck!
BXpanded

 

[huffy2404]

My Ratchet Rake arrived today, so if it's not raining after work I'll try to get some pictures of the before and after.

 

[rekees4300]

Avoid running over those thorns and ending up with flat tire(s). Look forward to the pictures.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Welcome, I feel your pain. Depends on if you have more time or more money which option is best.

You can root plow with a BIG dozer, or you can spray and wait. I think what ever they are, the spray method for mesquite will probably work.

Mesquite « Texas Natural Resources Server

I like the looks of that ratchet rake.

 

[Jd5203]

We have 300 acres of thorn trees that we bought and what works the best is to bush hog them with a hd mower and then take a roll bar hay rake, cut out a section, then rake into a windrow, then push up into a pile with your loader.make sure you don't get to much of a section because you'll clog your rake. Also, we've cleared about 80 acres and only a small tire leak.

 

[JoeL4330]

perhaps black locust v honey locust:

Black locust is the more common. They can get large (24 inch plus trunks) the bark is rather coarse, and the wood tends to be greenish yellow. It will turn amber when it ages. Trunks tend to have a lot of deep bark inclusions. Not much in the way of thorns, especially in larger trees. The wood also smells kind of bitter. Seed pods are a couple inches long with small seeds in them. Makes excellent split rail fences.

For the Honey locust, there are 2 types. The wild version, common in the midwest has a lot of thorns in the 6 to almost 12 inch long size. There is a hybrid type (Moraine locust) that is grown ornamentally which is more common out west. The wild type seldom get very big, not much more than 10 inch diameter trunks. The Moraine can get up to 24 to 30 inch diameter trunks. The seed pods get big (1 inch wide and 8 or more inches long), and the seeds look kind of like milk duds. Bark is coarse, but more flat pieces rather than ridges like Black locust. Wood is brown to amber with distinct dark and light rings, and it smells kind of sweet when turned.

Black locust makes great, super-durable fence posts and rails, and hot burning firewood