How to attack this fence line ?

bcp · Apr 26, 2015

Tracked skid steer with mower on the front. Lift, advance, and drop. Repeat as needed.

Avoid the fence.

Bruce

mjcountrybumpkin · Apr 26, 2015

Mini excavator. That 350 yards is about 5-8 hrs. Work with one. 8-10 if you want to leave the fence.

Cat_Driver · Apr 26, 2015

I had the same problem only my "brush" was mesquite trees. I was quoted 7K for a crew with saws to take it back 20' from the fence.
I dove in with the Cat and grappler and cleaned it up in two days. Again these were trees with hard wood.

This video is sped up to not waste your time.

I did lose a $100.00 windshield, but only cost me some tome and fuel. Thinking I saved $6,500.00

Sysop · Apr 26, 2015

My old falling brushed up fencelines are getting dozed into a ball and left in a hole to dry out. Then I'm installing new, and after the old dries up, I burn it. Whatever wire is left I ball up and toss in the dump trailer and drop off with other stuff to the recyclers. After that I cover the hole up and reseed the grass. Mine looked much like yours do...

GirlWhoWantsTractor · Apr 27, 2015

What kind of fence is under there? Wood or wire? And do you run animals yourself and need to maintain the fence?

TomSeller · Apr 27, 2015

Sysop said:
My old falling brushed up fencelines are getting dozed into a ball and left in a hole to dry out. Then I'm installing new, and after the old dries up, I burn it. Whatever wire is left I ball up and toss in the dump trailer and drop off with other stuff to the recyclers. After that I cover the hole up and reseed the grass. Mine looked much like yours do...

Do the recyclers take burned up and oxidized barbed wire? I have a pile of barbed wire, chicken wire, hog wire, hot wire, etc. that I have been wondering what to do with, some pretty rusty. If so, I have a trailer full of metals as it is and it can just go on top.

StuartDK45SE · Apr 27, 2015

GirlWhoWantsTractor said:
What kind of fence is under there? Wood or wire? And do you run animals yourself and need to maintain the fence?

It's a barbed wire fence. We don't run any animals now, we converted over and grow jigs grass for hay. A couple of months ago I was seeing a couple of horses on the other side, so I have to be careful not to open up a way out for them. I like the idea of the ratchet rake for now. In some spots, the growth has creeped 5 or 6 feet onto our side, so I have room to work in areas without disturbing the fence. If I do compromise the fence, I'll just patch it up. My goal for now is more to clean the brush up back to the fence vs having a pristine fence line.

Sysop · Apr 27, 2015

TomSeller said:
Do the recyclers take burned up and oxidized barbed wire? I have a pile of barbed wire, chicken wire, hog wire, hot wire, etc. that I have been wondering what to do with, some pretty rusty. If so, I have a trailer full of metals as it is and it can just go on top.

Not really sure what they take. They recycle metal, so any spare scrap I have gets dumped at their place. I work the same hours they do so I generally am there when they're not. They leave the gate open on a lot for the public to come in and drop stuff off and license plates are monitored going in and out. If they had a problem with me dropping off old rusted fence I'm sure I would have heard by now. Generally there is some stuff in my loads they would typically pay money for, but since I'm only around after hours I just drop it with the rest. I guess if the fence wire is useless to them, the aluminum, old batteries, and whatever else happens to make that load makes up for it.

Creamer · Apr 27, 2015

350 yds is not a lot. Once you get behind the brush you should have good access to the stumps. Spray is certainly an option although not very precision. If it was me i mow as close as i could to it to - I would use my sickle bar and reach under it. Then i would cut a path in behind it and start cutting and being sure to put Tordon or equivalent on the fresh cut stumps to make sure they don't grow back. let it dry, pile it and burn it.

I have done this to my fence line about every ten years but then I got smart and bought the sickle bar which will reach under the trees and bushes and keep it trimmed back so it doesn't get too wild. I mow it at least once a year now and it is a lot less work.

StuartDK45SE · Apr 27, 2015

Went and picked up a rachet rake from TS and tried it out on a random spot. I have to admit I'm impressed with it so far and I'll only get better at using it.

Before shot and after shot. Definetly going to need a pole saw to reach in and cut limbs that are overhanging the fence.