Root Grapple for Rhododendron removal

[Logan979]

our property has an excessive amount of Rhododendron on it. Has anyone ever removed it with a Root Grapple ?

 

[jeff9366]

Your location would help. Would know something of plant size and your soil composition.

I was born and raised in Seattle where old Rhododendrons are huge and would defeat grapples on all but very heavy tractors.

Where I live in Florida, Rhododendrons are of modest size and most compact tractor grapples could pull them out.

Consider a Bucket Spade if you have a tractor of around 4,000 pounds bare weight. I have used a bucket spade for seven years to remove and transplant 25 - year old Florida Rabbiteye Blueberry bushes as large as Rhododendrons in Seattle, with similar size root balls.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/328798-bucket-spade-today-fel-bucket.html?highlight=

 

[Carl_NH]

I have moved and transplanted large Rhodies 6-8' tall x 6-8' around - they are shallow rooted. I go in with my bucket and get 6- 8" or so deep and under the root ball, then wrap a strap or a chain with burlap to protect the trunk, then tilt the bucket back and take it to its new location.

IF you just want to get rid of them a root grapple will work well. If you don't want to remove topsoil, then just cut them off at ground level and grapple them away.

 

[Logan979]

Your location would help. Would know something of plant size and your soil composition.

I was born and raised in Seattle where old Rhododendrons are huge and would defeat grapples on all but very heavy tractors.

Where I live in Florida, Rhododendrons are of modest size and most compact tractor grapples could pull them out.

Consider a Bucket Spade if you have a tractor of around 4,000 pounds bare weight. I have used a bucket spade for seven years to remove and transplant 25 - year old Florida Rabbiteye Blueberry bushes as large as Rhododendrons in Seattle, with similar size root balls.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/328798-bucket-spade-today-fel-bucket.html?highlight=

Blue Ridge Mnts

 

[Logan979]

I have moved and transplanted large Rhodies 6-8' tall x 6-8' around - they are shallow rooted. I go in with my bucket and get 6- 8" or so deep and under the root ball, then wrap a strap or a chain with burlap to protect the trunk, then tilt the bucket back and take it to its new location.

IF you just want to get rid of them a root grapple will work well. If you don't want to remove topsoil, then just cut them off at ground level and grapple them away.

Just trying to get rid of them.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

our property has an excessive amount of Rhododendron on it. Has anyone ever removed it with a Root Grapple ?

What tractor do you have, Logan?
Travis

 

[Logan979]

What tractor do you have, Logan?
Travis

Kubota L3901

 

[goeduck]

As stated by Carl pthey have shallow roots. Are they large native ones, if so someone might be interested in them if you prep the roots as Carl says.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

A Wicked Grapple rake should make quick and easy work! Most choose a 239 pound Wicked 55 unless they're really gonna put a crazy beat down on it. If so, 400 pound Wicked 60. Currently, both are in stock and the free shipping zone is huge.

The dozer like geometry increases a tractor's pushing/prying ability with a design which enhances the rollback force for popping up rubbish such as your rhododendron.

Here are a few examples..
Travis

 

[Logan979]

I think these grapples have China made cylinders and nothing in the back of the grapple to prevent damage to hoses or other vital parts of Front End Loader from branches, sticks etc.. is this correct ?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I think these grapples have China made cylinders and nothing in the back of the grapple to prevent damage to hoses or other vital parts of Front End Loader from branches, sticks etc.. is this correct ?

The cylinders we use are unfortunately from china. We have maintained the same cylinder source since the first Wicked Grapple was made back in 2012. The performance and reliability has been very good. When you buy Wicked, the investment goes into the premium grapple materials. The cylinders, if a rare failure occurs, are covered under warranty and could be easily sourced locally in a pinch. We like to keep such bolt on hardware non proprietary. If you have a good source for a US Made cylinder, not a US sourced cylinder, please let us know! Concerning front tractor protection, the long bottom Wicked Grapples feature a steel grid, but the rake style models rely on the hose retaining cross channel and the ever popular owner modified grille guard. The Wicked 55 is the most reviewed, photographed and otherwise captured grapple in the industry. You will not be disappointed. Travis

 

[oosik]

BEFORE you get your grapple - consider modifying the OEM grill guard. Limbs, sticks & stobs have a unique way of finding your grill, radiator or battery. I had a local welding shop build this for my Kubota M6040.

View attachment 633954

 

[EverythingAttachments]

BEFORE you get your grapple - consider modifying the OEM grill guard. Limbs, sticks & stobs have a unique way of finding your grill, radiator or battery. I had a local welding shop build this for my Kubota M6040.

View attachment 633954

Great advice! Travis

 

[Logan979]

The cylinders we use are unfortunately from china. We have maintained the same cylinder source since the first Wicked Grapple was made back in 2012. The performance and reliability has been very good. When you buy Wicked, the investment goes into the premium grapple materials. The cylinders, if a rare failure occurs, are covered under warranty and could be easily sourced locally in a pinch. We like to keep such bolt on hardware non proprietary. If you have a good source for a US Made cylinder, not a US sourced cylinder, please let us know! Concerning front tractor protection, the long bottom Wicked Grapples feature a steel grid, but the rake style models rely on the hose retaining cross channel and the ever popular owner modified grille guard. The Wicked 55 is the most reviewed, photographed and otherwise captured grapple in the industry. You will not be disappointed. Travis

Thank you for your reply Travis. if purchased have you ever considered putting some kind of brush guard on the grapple @ extra cost ?

 

[Logan979]

BEFORE you get your grapple - consider modifying the OEM grill guard. Limbs, sticks & stobs have a unique way of finding your grill, radiator or battery. I had a local welding shop build this for my Kubota M6040.

View attachment 633954

Great Idea and advice oosik

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Thank you for your reply Travis. if purchased have you ever considered putting some kind of brush guard on the grapple @ extra cost ?

Ted isn't a fan of expanded metal on the grapple because it limits visibility and increases the chances of fine brush hanging up on it. We do include steel bars on the original long bottom models, but the design of our root rake grapples, which minimizes weight and keeps the load as close to the loader pivot pins as possible, prohibits it. Adding expanded metal to your grill guard is easy and very efficient protection for grapple and bucket work! Travis