I’ve been clearing a few different areas including one for a workshop garage. Our soil is very rocky with just enough clay to glue it all together making it very tough. Most of our trees are oak varying from 14” to 28” in diameter. I don’t know how you would classify the root system on them but it takes about a 3’ to 5’ deep trench around them to cut all the roots.
I guess if you have a big enough tractor/TLB you can push’em over without even digging, or maybe a swipe or two through the roots. With my
B21 I dig a trench all around then pull’em over using a chain around the tree about 20’ up.
At first I used the tractor to pull with but noticed the treads get torn-up. I now use a 4K come along attached to another tree. Some trees come right over and others take all I can muster with the come along.
One thing I’ve noticed when pulling a tree over is it can fall +/- 45 degrees from the pull direction. I think this has a lot to with the root ball configuration? If it starts going way off my intended direction I push some dirt back into the trench to help control the decent - this get dicey when close to a building.
As others have mentioned dealing with the root ball can be tough. After I get the tree down I cut it up leaving about 10’ left on the stump. Then I flip it back & forth as I push dirt into the hole raising it up and level.
Since my root balls weigh more than my tractor I scratch’em down with the BH. Then I remove the rest of the stump from the root ball. Now I either flip or drag it down to my holler – still weighs a couple thousand pounds.
Here are a few of the trees I’ve removed:
<font color="blue">Clearing area for workshop </font> – removed 5 trees here.
<font color="blue">Clearing area for garden</font> – another 5 trees.
<font color="blue">Stump on its way to the holler</font>
Be careful, every tree is different and has the potential to react unexpectedly. Also, know you’re equipment and its limit. This is very dangerous work!
