Best way to convert sticks and brush to soil

putt_putt_green · Jun 25, 2012

This is on our retirement property in western Michigan, which we will start building on in 2 years from now.

We had about 15 acres of red pines clear cut 2 1/2 years ago. The stumps are gradually rotting away. Some of the stumps fall apart when I drive on them with the 16000 pound backhoe, some don't. I'm planning to let them rot in the ground. But they will be there while I get rid of the sticks.

There are tons of sticks from harvesting the pines on the ground, anywhere from 4 inches thick to sparsely covered, which are not rotting very well, because there isn't always good ground contact. I'd like the sticks to decompose into the soil within the next 2 years.

My current thoughts:
A) Buy a disk harrow narrow enough to fit between the stumps for my CUT and try to bust the branches up into smaller pieces and get them into ground so they can decompose faster. This is my preferred option, if it would work. This would keep the top soil on top and not take too much time.
B) Dig a bunch of giant holes, somehow get the sticks into the holes (FEL, backblade, rake, etc). Bury the sticks, let them decompose. Once decomposed, I'd have pickets of composted sticks.
C) Push into piles and burn. No composting value with this option. Probably do this for the area which are heavily covered.

I'd appreciate other suggestions or improvements to my ideas.

Thanks.

LD1 · Jun 25, 2012

Rent a skid loader with mulching attachment and be dont in no-time

crazyal · Jun 25, 2012

I use my dozer. I just keep driving over them breaking them up once they dry. I'm not sure if I would try it with a tractor though, tires are not as forgiving and a stump hole is not going to flip a dozer very easy.

putt_putt_green · Jun 25, 2012

The skid loader with mulcher looks impressive. I found one place that rents them. $500 delivery, $900 per day or $3600 per week.

Carl_NH · Jun 25, 2012

You may be able to hire the mulching done for a similar price. This would get rid of most if not all of the stumps at ground level too. Mulchers dont care for ledge and rocks so if you have sandy soil they should be able to grind most of this slash into smaller pieces.

I would probably talk to a mulcher co and get their take on what the best tool (s) and how they would approach it.

Once you have a finer mess on the ground (vs a fine mess now) you could disc the remains into the soil and plant some grass/ground cover.

saltbranch · Jun 25, 2012

I am piling up the dead fall from clearing fence lines about 2-3 yrs ago around each stump and burning. I take a paddle bit and drill into center of stump and fill with diesel, do this a couple of times, then pile up dead fall and burn. Burns stump and all into ground. Some of the Mesquite stumps take more time with diesel but its working. Come back with a disc and clean up. Also have been cleaning up the mess left by the mulcher machines that came in for Seismegraph testing on our place. Scraping up all the small chucks and piling them up on the stumps too. Have some nice aroads around the place now.