fordmantpw
Veteran Member
Yep!
You could get a ratchet rake. It works well for clearing up messes like that. It would take a bit more time than the dozer, though.
Blackberring clearing
- Thread starter sikboater
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Yep!
You could get a ratchet rake. It works well for clearing up messes like that. It would take a bit more time than the dozer, though.
CliffordK
Veteran Member
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Blackberries don't like to be mowed. Mow over them for a couple of years, and they'll disappear (except the inaccessible areas, of course).
The small trees are another problem. It depends on what you wish to do with the field. If you wish to do hay, a dozer might be the best alternative. If you want it for pasture, perhaps try one of these tree grinders.
The trees might come back quicker than the blackberries though.
If you doze it, you will need to pile everything up and burn it. And, dirt & tree roots is a pain to deal with, although I've chopped the dirt out of half burnt rootballs and burnt them again... and again, until they finally disappeared.
The small trees are another problem. It depends on what you wish to do with the field. If you wish to do hay, a dozer might be the best alternative. If you want it for pasture, perhaps try one of these tree grinders.
The trees might come back quicker than the blackberries though.
If you doze it, you will need to pile everything up and burn it. And, dirt & tree roots is a pain to deal with, although I've chopped the dirt out of half burnt rootballs and burnt them again... and again, until they finally disappeared.
cqaigy2
Super Member
I use my rough cut mower. It mounts on the front of my tractor on the FEL so make it real easy to see where im mowing and also mows a path for me to travel on. I cut maybe once a year depending on location and every other in others.
Dingeryote
Silver Member
Hit 'em with Garlon. Come back a week later with the brush mower, and go slow.
A flail chopper would work, but seeing as how you don't know exactly whats in the tangles, stick with the Brush mower.
Replacing an inner tube here and there, or a Mower blade is cheap.
Start mangling Flail hammers, and you're into more money than a new Brush mower.
I get tempted to attack stumps with ours now and then, but a couple decades ago I watched the cousin attack one, and do a couple grand worth of damage in a few minuites...so the temptation is always brief.
A flail chopper would work, but seeing as how you don't know exactly whats in the tangles, stick with the Brush mower.
Replacing an inner tube here and there, or a Mower blade is cheap.
Start mangling Flail hammers, and you're into more money than a new Brush mower.
I get tempted to attack stumps with ours now and then, but a couple decades ago I watched the cousin attack one, and do a couple grand worth of damage in a few minuites...so the temptation is always brief.
crazyal
Super Member
I use my dozer on them and then spread grass as soon as possible. But has anyone tried something like a Harley rake? It would be easier to transport than a dozer.
Piston
Elite Member
Could you give some details of this setup?
Tractor size, how the mower works, mower size etc?
scaredychicken
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My first thought was eat the berries, then Burn the overgrown bushes that are in the way. A controlled burn is probably the only way to do it effectively, and probably best done in the fall - so first step is to harvest what you can, and then beat them up with the tractor and equipment throughout the summer, finish them off with a hotdog roast in October. Blackberries (like Rhubarb) are best ONLY in the area that you want them in.
Timm250
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I just finished cleaning up about 17 acres of trees & blackberries. I started out with my tractor & bush hog but ended up renting a brush cutter for my skid steer. All together I spent about 30 hours on it. I was able to cut all of the trees that were 3.5" diameter less.
cqaigy2
Super Member
Not wanting to hijack this thread so ill be brief. Power-Trac made in Tazewell VA. mine is a 22 horse, quick attach implements, mower is hydraulic 48" pretty stable on side hills, articulated so it's easy to get around trees and other obstructions which is the main reason i got one. I wouldn't want to try to plow a field with one.
Well wanted to give an update with some pictures for everyone.... I ended up renting a dozer with a brush rake on the front.. It worked great. The dozer was a JD 450H (about 15k) so had to have it delivered. But there was not too much there to stop it.... Now I just need to figure out how to get rid of the brush pile (no burning at this location, in the urban growth boundary) :^(... I spend about 10 hours on site last Friday working on this. This fall I will keep it mowed down and try and plant grass for him...
One funny part of the story, The first place I was going to rent from decided they did not want to rent to me because I was going to use it to clear blackberries... They did not want to scratch the dozer :laughing: I wonder what you are suppose to use a brush rack for then?
Anyway here are the after shots...
The before shots just to compare...
One funny part of the story, The first place I was going to rent from decided they did not want to rent to me because I was going to use it to clear blackberries... They did not want to scratch the dozer :laughing: I wonder what you are suppose to use a brush rack for then?
Anyway here are the after shots...
The before shots just to compare...
RaydaKub
Veteran Member
Wow, nice job on clearing that out. That probably would have taken quite a spell with your tractor. I'm so glad you rented such a beat up, rusty old beast so you didn't scratch the new one. :confused2:
crazyal
Super Member
Nothing like running a dozer to put a smile on a man's face. :cool2: I swear it's the ultimate caveman's tool. You see it, you wonder can I push it, then you try. If it moves you want to find bigger.
OldMcDonald
Platinum Member
sikboater, Since nobody else has come back to you on geting rid of the brush pile, I would like to offer a couple of suggestions - neither of which might suit you of course!!
On one place I owned and where it was necessary to get rid of the scrub in a hurry, we deep trenched and pulled the next strip into the trench, working our way across maybe 8 acres. It was then successfully grassed down to pasture.
The other possibility - and this involves quite a bit of work, is to clear out the thickest stuff (3 or 4 inches I think you said earlier) possibly using it for firewood. It could be chipped of course, but may cost too much. If there is only small stuff left, then treat it as a huge compost heap. It will eventually break down into good compost. How long depends on your weather. If it dries out in the summer then it will take a lot longer than if it is kept moist. If you are in a position to spread animal manure over the heap, or green vegetable matter, then the time will also be speeded up. It all has to do with the combination of the high amount of carbon you have in there in relation to a low amount of nitrogen. Air and moisture are the only other limiting factors.
On one place I owned and where it was necessary to get rid of the scrub in a hurry, we deep trenched and pulled the next strip into the trench, working our way across maybe 8 acres. It was then successfully grassed down to pasture.
The other possibility - and this involves quite a bit of work, is to clear out the thickest stuff (3 or 4 inches I think you said earlier) possibly using it for firewood. It could be chipped of course, but may cost too much. If there is only small stuff left, then treat it as a huge compost heap. It will eventually break down into good compost. How long depends on your weather. If it dries out in the summer then it will take a lot longer than if it is kept moist. If you are in a position to spread animal manure over the heap, or green vegetable matter, then the time will also be speeded up. It all has to do with the combination of the high amount of carbon you have in there in relation to a low amount of nitrogen. Air and moisture are the only other limiting factors.
I was definitely doing that with the trees.. I pushed down some small ones and just wanted to go bigger....
OldMcDonald, thanks for the suggestions... Still not sure about what we are going to do with the pile. I told the landowner that for now it was going to stay. I think you can take it to the dump for free recycling but have to truck it there. Maybe with a big excavator we could bury it.... If it was my property, I would probably just leave it and slowly work it down over a couple of years.
Tim
OldMcDonald, thanks for the suggestions... Still not sure about what we are going to do with the pile. I told the landowner that for now it was going to stay. I think you can take it to the dump for free recycling but have to truck it there. Maybe with a big excavator we could bury it.... If it was my property, I would probably just leave it and slowly work it down over a couple of years.
Tim
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