Best way to clear unwanted trees from pasture

[ruffdog]

Lots of good perspectives lately on pay someone to do it versus do it yourself. I am happy with the choice we made and how it is working out. Yes, it is a lot of hard work, but I enjoy running the tractor and hanging out with my wife on the weekends. I think I'm making a good investment of my time and saving a lot of money. I do really appreciate all the different opinions here and I hope all your experiences will help others too, which is why we are here! My son recently made another video. Stay healthy!

March 21 Farm Update (1443 trees, 28 burn piles) - YouTube

We use to haul brush to a burn pile using a small trailer on a garden tractor. I should have bought a grapple YEARS ago. We can do in 2 hours now what would of taken us a whole weekend. The wife always said she likes to feed the burn pile....now, she LOVES the grapple.

 

[jjp8182]

Thanks, jjp8182. I enjoyed your earlier "do it yourself" post.

:laughing: almost wish I had some napalm myself right about now to finish burning a couple of the stumps I dug out. Though the interesting thing I've noticed is that after spreading the ash from the last big burn, and planting over where the fire and ash was heaviest the planted winter rye was growing faster in that spot than everywhere else in the garden. So I suspect that if you can get some grass seed worked into the places you've already burned you could end up with quite the lush pasture this summer.

...and then the fun with mowing starts

 

[EddieWalker]

Great video. Is your propertly line where the trees are left standing in straight lines? Is there a fence in those trees? Will you need a fence for animals?

 

[Ed27]

:laughing: almost wish I had some napalm myself right about now to finish burning a couple of the stumps I dug out. Though the interesting thing I've noticed is that after spreading the ash from the last big burn, and planting over where the fire and ash was heaviest the planted winter rye was growing faster in that spot than everywhere else in the garden. So I suspect that if you can get some grass seed worked into the places you've already burned you could end up with quite the lush pasture this summer.

...and then the fun with mowing starts

Lol, I also have fantasies about tree removal!

After we burn each pile, the next week we rake the area well and spread grass seed. The grass is growing very well in those areas.

 

[Ed27]

Great video. Is your propertly line where the trees are left standing in straight lines? Is there a fence in those trees? Will you need a fence for animals?

Hi Eddie,

Yes, the entire perimeter of the property has a barbed wire fence and trees have grown up on the fence lines. Nobody has ever built on the property, but about 10 years ago someone leased the land and had cattle on it. Look at minute 2:56 - you see three lines of trees going from the top to the bottom of the screen. The rows to the far left and right are property boundaries. The interior row to the left is a cross fence. Look at minute 3:49 - the bright green trees are a few more Bradford pear trees that need to go. Above it is a stand of large trees that will stay, about 4 acres. Finally, look an minute 6:38 - in the upper right of the frame is a bigger stand of mature trees; about 11 acres, and this will stay too. So, about 15 acres of woods and 35 acres of pasture. My wife has many horses, so I will make 4 rotational pastures for them. I will put the 4 pastures together, with a three board wooden fence around the perimeter of the 4 pastures, then use temporary electric fence on the interior to separate the area into 4 rotational pastures.

Cheers,
Ed

 

[Ed27]

Drone Footage May 1st, 2020 Farm Update - YouTube

 

[two_bit_score]

Thanks for the new video! Great Job!

 

[jjp8182]

Starting to looks like the end is near ... (in a good way) :thumbsup:

 

[Ed27]

Starting to looks like the end is near ... (in a good way) :thumbsup:

Lol, yes, hopefully in a good way! It is very enjoyable to work hard on the farm all weekend after spending the work week at my kitchen table the past many weeks.

 

[jjp8182]

Lol, yes, hopefully in a good way! It is very enjoyable to work hard on the farm all weekend after spending the work week at my kitchen table the past many weeks.

I hear that - in the last couple months I think I've actually used more diesel in my tractor than I have gasoline in my truck. In normal times I'd be going through a tank of gas every week commuting to/from work and the odd ball errands, now it's more like a tank of gas once every six weeks due to teleworking, while the tractor usage has been up due to spring garden work, mowing ....and even driving the tractor to the drive in service at a nearby church (figure it's not far and the tractor takes up less space than the truck & also opens up alternative parking options )

 

[Ed27]

From August 15, 2019 before we started clearing the pasture.


From today, May 24, 2020.

 

[two_bit_score]

Big Difference!

 

[goeduck]

Ed27, you sure have done a GREAT job! That sure looks MUCH better!

 

[showcattle]

Impressive progress!!

 

[jjp8182]

:thumbsup:

 

[EddieWalker]

Love the before and after pics, they really show how much work you have put into this!!!

 

[kenmbz]

Really looks different. I am trying to clear about 1/2 acre and you've made more progress than I have :thumbsup:

 

[Ed27]

Thanks everyone! We still have plenty more tree cutting and burning to do, especially to the smaller pasture at the far left, but trees are removed from all the places we will build. We will build a new house with attached garage, a horse barn for my wife and girls, and, of course, a detached garage mahal for yours truly. It is time in the near future to start interviewing architects, contractors, etc. I have never built a new home before, which makes me a bit nervous, but once I jump in with both feet I'm sure it will be okay. How hard can it be? Famous last words, lol. Seriously, though, I have a couple of friends who recently completed new builds and are happy with the outcome.

 

[Cougsfan]

This thread makes me think of the Palouse region in Eastern Washington. In the mid 1800's it was covered with big pine trees (probably 18" diameter average). 75 years later it was all open fields, and some of the most productive farmland in the world. How on earth did those guys do that back when mules and oxen were the main form of power on a farm?

 

[cqaigy2]

Wow, that's alot of work. Looks good.