Can I pull out invasive willows using my tractor?

[plowhog]

You really just have a king size lawn mower as far as weight is concerned...

Are you saying my Massey SCUT is not well-endowed?

I could bring my Massey 1758 from another property, but that means trailering it 100 miles. Its larger, heavier, and has loaded tires whereas the SCUT does not. If I bought a tree puller that is the tractor I would use it on.

Complicating things is our ditch water. It starts flowing next week, and Friday is my irrigation day. After my pasture is irrigated tractor weight will become a disadvantage instead of an advantage. I'm going to try the SCUT and chains on Monday.

 

[oosik]

I'm lucky. No willows - no poison oak - no poison ivy - no poison sumac. However - I have acres of Buck brush. Knee high - diameter of a pencil. I walk thru the stuff - doing FOD and removal. Then with my riding mower - I will chop a large patch down. Not a permanent solution - but it does last four years or more.

This operation has secondary benefits also. All that chopped up brush certainly cleans out the inside of the mower enclosure.

 

[two_bit_score]

Are you saying my Massey SCUT is not well-endowed?

I could bring my Massey 1758 from another property, but that means trailering it 100 miles. Its larger, heavier, and has loaded tires whereas the SCUT does not. If I bought a tree puller that is the tractor I would use it on.

Complicating things is our ditch water. It starts flowing next week, and Friday is my irrigation day. After my pasture is irrigated tractor weight will become a disadvantage instead of an advantage. I'm going to try the SCUT and chains on Monday.

Ive been pulling up bushes and small (2"-6") trees from a fence row. I DO NOT want to damage the fence as it belongs to an elderly neighbor lady. I have been cutting the trees and painting the stumps with strong 2, 4-D. This has been working well. You can expect some new sprouts occasionally and just cut the new growth and douse it with the 2, 4-D and eventually the stumps will rot away.

Even pulling us some trees will not get all the roots and you will get some sprouts. Keep mowing and spraying and they will be gone.

Doing battle with vegetation is a never ending war. Briars seem to sprout up and grow two feet tall over night this time of year.



TBS

 

[plowhog]

Doing battle with vegetation is a never ending war.

I battle willow in Nevada, and scotch broom in California. The scotch broom has pretty yellow flowers in spring.. It lets me know right where to start eradicating. The willows grow so fast that you can't really overlook them.

 

[airbiscuit]

Can you post some pics of your fence line and willows. what is the typical height and diameter?

 

[Bill Groom]

I bought the BG-08 first, and honestly am not a fan. So I got the chain from them, and when it sinks into the tree, it gets things done! The -08 seems to have a hard time getting a solid purchase on too many trees for my liking.

 

[plowhog]

I bought the BG-08 first, and honestly am not a fan. So I got the chain from them, and when it sinks into the tree, it gets things done! The -08 seems to have a hard time getting a solid purchase on too many trees for my liking.

Thanks for posting. I was skeptical of the "pinch" type devices like the BG-08, which is why I was leaning toward the chain.

btw, I'm in California today but back in Nevada tomorrow. I can post pictures later tomorrow.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[plowhog]

Neighbor said if I take the fence down he will pull the willows with his bobcat. This is the best solution as many are embedded in the fence anyway.

 

[ovrszd]

Get that fence torn down tomorrow before he changes his mind.

Then as a return favor you buy the chemicals and spray the area faithfully, your side and his, to eradicate the roots that are left in the ground. This chemical process will require diligence and patience. Might take 4-5 years to stop regrowth.

I use Remedy. Works great on Willows. Pesky Willows. I hate em. A lot.

 

[Gary Fowler]

One of my fence lines has out-of-control invasive willows. My neighbor finally pulled all of his out, which was 80% of the quantity. So I need to do the 20% on my side.

He used a Bobcat with a 4-in-1 bucket. Clamping down on a clump of willows and pulling them out by the roots. I don't have anything like that. Just a Massey SCUT, regular bucket and 3 point hitch.

I've thought of wrapping nylon rope around each one, then attaching to the bucket and lifting. Obviously a labor intensive and tedious process. There are probably 150 willows left, which would mean 150 times crawling on the ground to wrap the rope and then lift with the bucket. Or maybe 2 at a time?

Any ideas for a better way? I'm too old for this method ....

Your idea of pulling anything bigger than 2" diameter with a SCUT wont come to pass. Now if you still have the 1758 you can do some serious tree pulling with just a chain. I would hook to the drawbar rather than taking a chance with bending your FEL bucket. If you use the FEL, make a Y with your chain with the top of the Y hooked to chain hooks on each side of the bucket and the bottom of the Y used to hook to the tree. This will make an even pull on the FEL. Less likely to damage the bucket, FEL frame or tip the tractor.