How to clear Holly tree

[Thomas]

Just because root doesn't pop up from the ground could cause damage under tractor or worse.

 

[Smf834]

I have identified about 15-20 trees that i want to take out, its on a downhill slope, ground very uneven due to years of neglect, i have cleared the under bushes and goats have cleared more, but unsure if a dozer can move freely?

is hiring a excavator still best bet?

 

[Diggin It]

ground very uneven due to years of neglect,

A good dozer operator can fix that too.

15-20 trees and some grading should only take a few hours. One guy here used to get $75/hr, but I haven't talked to him in a while.

 

[4570Man]

Took me less than 1/2hr to become reasonably proficient using an excavator: not a one-off, in which case that learning experience has paid out over many years now (several projects). Heck, even my dog picked it up pretty quickly:

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I would agree that a bulldozer is a different beast: and that's also a good idea to consider hiring one out.

My dog thinks it’s a good place to take a nap.

 

[rgr33]

Not sure if it been mentioned, but if Pulling with a chain, don’t try to pull in uphill direction, and add some weight in front.

 

[tree farmer]

I can feel your pain with holly trees as well. I also live in the PNW, and lots of large english holly, vine maple and blackberries taking over the hillsides. some of the hills are around 30 degree slopes, which I am not comfortable on even with my mini excavator. The blackberries I have sprayed, but the vinemaple and holly are too tall and seem resistant to spraying. (8 to 12 inch diameter) I've been cutting them a foot or so high and soaking the stump with Crossbow. For some reason, holly will resprout after a few years, so it gets resprayed. They do make great firewood after about two years to season. Sorry, I have no simple solutions....Dan.

 

[JethroB]

If dug out be prepared to bring in some dirt for the stump holes. Also a careless operator can make a mess and tear up the ground wherever he goes.

 

[Fallon]

I have identified about 15-20 trees that i want to take out, its on a downhill slope, ground very uneven due to years of neglect, i have cleared the under bushes and goats have cleared more, but unsure if a dozer can move freely?

is hiring a excavator still best bet?

If you hire it out, who cares how they do it? It comes down to cost & results there. A competent operator could use either piece of equipment to get the job done.

Personally I enjoy playing with heavy equipment. Given the choice between a competent operator doing a good job & me doing an okish job, I'm having fun on a bulldozer or excavator. Other people are more focused on results though. In either case I assumed I'd be cleaning up after the big machines with my CUT.

Falling trees is harder than it looks. Rotten trees or things can make them fall back on the equipment be it chainsaw, dozer or excavator. Simply standing uphill or what not may nor be enough. Hiring the job out if you aren't confident in your skills or experience is good risk managment.

 

[Kschwennsen]

if you have forks for your tractor, run them in the ground next to the trunk and tilt them up to loosen the bulk of the roots. then just push it over. That's how I've taken out birch/poplar trees at my place, roosts and all.

 

[Doug Herzberg]

If it's what I'm thinking of, Holly is highly valued by woodturners. Check for a local turning club - they might be willing to pay you something for the trunks, at least, and maybe the big branches. I don't know where you're located, but woodturners are everywhere.

 

[marksmand]

If it's what I'm thinking of, Holly is highly valued by woodturners. Check for a local turning club - they might be willing to pay you something for the trunks, at least, and maybe the big branches. I don't know where you're located, but woodturners are everywhere.

Holly is highly valued for binding and purflings etc. Does need to be dried quickly after it's cut to stay white and pieces need to be pretty much clear. They can be very narrow and still be usablehttps://www.gilmerwood.com/products/180707-american-holly-guitar-binding-billets

 

[Smf834]

I have been asking locally if anyone would be interested, but maybe i should reach out more areas

 

[Little Red Tractor]

A rented excavator for a day would likely have your problem knock out in far less time than any other solution. Once they're down, you have more options on dealing with them.

 

[composter55]

The holly bushes I have dug/pulled try to resprout from even tiny roots I missed. I don't think stump grinding would be permanent.

 

[JWR]

Trying to push out 15” diameter trees isn’t going to end well for your tractor FEL.

Never mind the FEL. You will do very little but spin tires. You say 20 to 30 ft holly trees ? I don't know where you are but that's one hell of a holly tree. Most are more like bushes though granted they can get higher in old age. I do not have the experience as to how hard or easy holly is to uproot. Hopefully someone on here can speak with that experience. If the grove of hollies is fairly concentrated consider renting or hiring a dozer and get it over with all at once.

I just saw your pictures and there is nothing there a person from the East would call a holly tree or bush. I have no idea what you are dealing with. One key question is do you have a gully or logical disposal space? Space for a burn pile ? If so that makes the dozer more attractive. As Fallon say above if you hire it done who cares how they do it?

 

[ning]

Never mind the FEL. You will do very little but spin tires. You say 20 to 30 ft holly trees ? I don't know where you are but that's one hell of a holly tree. Most are more like bushes though granted they can get higher in old age. I do not have the experience as to how hard or easy holly is to uproot. Hopefully someone on here can speak with that experience. If the grove of hollies is fairly concentrated consider renting or hiring a dozer and get it over with all at once.

I have a couple holly bushes next to my house which pretty much look like trees - most shrubs can be pruned into trees which will grow to a decent size, though it takes regular maintenance to keep them from being a thicket.

I keep mine topped to avoid shading upstairs windows that the bushes are below.

 

[etpm]

I have been asking locally if anyone would be interested, but maybe i should reach out more areas

Where in the NW are you located? Not your street address but maybe the nearest city or town? I ask because I'm on Whidbey Island and there are lots of holly groves around.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[Smf834]

I am south of Olympia. I just posted on craigslist too, see if anyone could use the hardwood.

 

[etpm]

I am south of Olympia. I just posted on craigslist too, see if anyone could use the hardwood.

Thanks for the location. I know some folks up on Whidbey that would take it for burning because it makes good firewood apparently, but nobody who wants to drive to Olympia for it.
Eric

 

[billypumper]

How many trees are we talking about, some times it's better to talk to a Forester, they will give you an idea what their value is worth, have a group of lumber businesses bid on the trees, they would remove said trees and you would be left with the branches and stumps, grind the stumps, sell or let neighbors cut branches for firewood, not sure about Holly, but might be good for framing wood.