Briar removal

Nasty135 · Mar 11, 2005

viking65, I don't know if anyone touched on this yet , Becareful when pulling vines out of trees not only for dead branches coming after you but also breaking branches off that you really want to keep! Vines can really have a big hold on them sometimes. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

viking65 · Mar 11, 2005

I found that out. I pulled out several vines that were all intertwined by wrapping and tying a rope to them and used my truck to yank'em out of the tree. I pulled several branches down with the vines. Luckily I didn't damage the trees severely. I sure damaged the heck out of those vines!

I think I'll pick up a rotary cutter and/or a chipper shredder this weekend to help me eliminate these briars and vines. I'll probably use my chain saw and brushcutter to cut down the briars were I can't get my tractor and rotary cutter into then either run the deris over with the rotary cutter or chip/shred it. But like I mentioned earlier, getting those tangled briars down a shredder or chipper chute will be quite difficult if not impossible. I think somebody said that you should not run vines through a shredder because they will just get wrapped up inside and clog the machine. Maybe the rotary cutter is all I need along with my chainsaw and brushcutter.

Again, thanks for all the great ideas. This website is the best!

JimMorrissey · Mar 11, 2005

Viking,

Why is it that you can't burn this growth? You don't need a large fire.....burning is the way to go, if at all possible.

The other thing I would add, is that it seems to me you are in desperate need of a grapple. They are $$, but a grapple would make life much easier. There's been lots of discussion lately on here about grapples.

MossRoad · Mar 15, 2005

Any better ideas?? I am not having any fun with this project at all. 

Watch this video. I am having fun! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://www.mossroad.com/PT425Videos/PT425MultiFloraRose.WMV

HammerFour · Mar 15, 2005

Rip em out, pile em up, burn em.

Then keep running your rotary cutter over the area they were in every couple weeks until they give up trying to grow and you can get some grass established.

That's what I did, the ripping em out part is the worst. Tackle a small section at at time and chant to yourself "I only have to do this once if I keep em down from now on".

viking65 · Mar 15, 2005

Now that's pretty cool /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

edski · Mar 18, 2005

I've cleared acres of multiflora rose and rusian olive, some so thick a rabbit couldn't get through it. There are basically three methods; animal (cattle, goats), mechanical, and chemical. I've used the latter two methods.
Mechanical:
Chainsaw, chain and drag (big stuff)
Tractor w/ box scrapper used like a dozer - most effective in spring with ground is soft and roots are loose/ pile it up and burn or leave for wildlife.
Tractor w/ hog - smaller stuff and maintanence
Results - successful at a price...I've torn the $4it out of my tractor. Wear Carhartts and prepare to give blood.
Next time I'll rent a D3 size dozer.
Chemical:
2,4 D mixed w/ diesel in early spring (goes through the bark)
Round-up in April and May after leaves come out (growth).
I've a 14 gal sprayer on the back of a quad. This works well on fencelines.

Your mileage may vary.
Cheers, edski

Cactus · Mar 18, 2005

( cattle, )

Cattle wont eat multiflora rose...they will break paths around the bushes making it easier to get in closer to them.....goats will eat the leaves and younger plants...but if the bush's are already well established,and have a lot of size to them you will still have to use some type of mechanical means to remove them.

MossRoad · Mar 18, 2005

That WAS a multiflora rose. Nothing left but mulch! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The little Power Trac with the front mounted brush hog is a beast on these things. Just eats them up. The larger Power Trac models would be even more powerful, so your guess is as good as mine as to what they'd do. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

viking65 · Mar 18, 2005

I have decided to go about my war on multiflora rose in the following manner:

Today I purchased a Simplicity Field and Brush Mower. I checked out the Billy Goat Outback and the Swisher Predator. The Simplicity was the largest and heaviest, electric start, hydrostatic transmission, 13.5hp B&S Intek for $1850, down from list of $2200. The Simplicity also keeps the operator the farthest away from the multiflora rose crap because it is the longest compared to the other 2 machines I looked at.

It was delivered today around 4pm and I worked 'till dark. The machine did a better job than I expected. Some of the sticker bushes I tried to cut were very old and well established. For those I cut in as far as I could with the Simplicity then cut the bush at the base with a chainsaw then cut it up with the Simplicity. I was able to take most of the multiflora down with the Simplicity not having to resort to the chainsaw. It will cut a little bigger than the 2" diameter stuff that it is advertised to cut. It's like a mini bush hog.

So that's it. This is a pretty big job but the Simplicity machine will make it a lot easier than doing it all with the chainsaw and handheld brushcutter. The Simplicity also cuts up the briars so well that trips to the dump won't be necessary. That will save me a bunch of time.

Thanks again for all of your great ideas.