How do I get rid of a ton of roots?

Diggin It · Mar 8, 2020

Thread Rule One: I'm not buying anything else.! I have a BH, FEL, subsoiler/middlebuster, landscape rake, 48" tiller and a variety of hand tools (which hopefully won't come into play here).

I tore out a bunch of junk greenery, scrub brush, honeysuckle, small trees, etc. Used the BH and FEL to clear most of it. Then went at it with the rake and middlebuster. Turf is broken up and loosened. But it's loaded with roots. A big tangled mess. I plan on going over it again, maybe a few times with the middlebuster and rake to get as much as I can. I can't use the tiller yet as all this would just wind around the tines like rope which would take forever to get freed up.

Suggestions (other than buying something else)?

CADplans · Mar 8, 2020

When my BIL cleared farm land, he would bush hog roots that were sticking up,,
fresh dug roots are soft, and cut easily,,,

Diggin It · Mar 8, 2020

I thought about running the field/brush mower over the area, but it's far too rough right now due to ruts and dirt clods.

old and tired · Mar 8, 2020

Diggin It said:
I thought about running the field/brush mower over the area, but it's far too rough right now due to ruts and dirt clods.

The mower will help level the area and chop up roots!!!

(reason I bought a used mower for cheap!!)

Botaskinner · Mar 9, 2020

Keep it up with the middle buster. Make multiple passes north to south then east to west, then diagonally , 45 and 315 degrees. This should cut them up enough where the rake will work. I don't have a rake and i assume you dont have a box blade, but after i did all that with my middle buster, the box blade did a great job of finishing the destruction of the roots. Bear in mind i was doing this to eradicate bamboo and thicker roots will take longer to dig out.

Diggin It · Mar 9, 2020

^^ That's the only plan I have so far. More passes and cross passes, then rake. Repeat until .....

I've considered getting a rear blade for other tasks, but I can't see as I'll ever have use for a box blade. I'm hoping to find a used one though instead of paying $400+ for something that won't get much use.

ADSOUAE · Mar 9, 2020

Dig under the root ball to remove the roots from the soil, using a mattock which has a beveled head and an ax head. Chop through the large roots with the ax head of the mattock. Use the beveled edge to dig out the soil as you work your way under the root ball.

newbury · Mar 9, 2020

I had a similar problem, but only on 1/4 acre. I used my clamp-on pallet forks with my M4700. I'd angle them down slightly, set them on the ground, "plough" forward, lift and repeat.

HawkinsHollow · Mar 9, 2020

Diggin It said:
^^ That's the only plan I have so far. More passes and cross passes, then rake. Repeat until .....

I've considered getting a rear blade for other tasks, but I can't see as I'll ever have use for a box blade. I'm hoping to find a used one though instead of paying $400+ for something that won't get much use.

I used my box blade with the rippers all the way down and angled such that the blade itself does not engage. The rippers are close enough to get good coverage, but not so close that they get clogged up. Then I used a landscape rake to clean it all up. Worked quite well. The rest of the stuff you do not get will just rot away eventually. Used box blades are easy to find for under $300. Good luck!

Diggin It · Mar 9, 2020

Spent a couple of hours today between the MB and the rake. Got a lot more roots out, more than I expected. Still a lot to go, but it's ready for the tiller now: