cedar trees

[tankeryanker]

OK I'm new with a front-end loader any body know any tricks on getting out cedar trees....

 

[KiotiJohn]

Well, if you want to LOAD cedar trees, then you're in the right territory. Loaders are for loading, not removing cedar trees! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That said, it's very difficult to remove most trees unless you have a toothbar on your loader bucket. A loader bucket without teeth is almost useless for that kind of digging.
With a toothbar, you start out where the end of the trees canopy hangs over the ground, where the roots are not as thick. Dig in there moving toward the tree, all around the tree until you're broken all the roots. You can then attach a rope or chain to your drawbar and the tree and pull it down, or you may be able to push it over with the loader.
I wouldn't even attempt doing it anymore without a toothbar though. There's just not enough cut on the cutting edge to do much good digging. John

 

[MMM]

How big is your tractor and how big are cedars? The small ones up to 3" can usually be scraped off at ground level. I take the 4-8" size and dig to cut roots on one side then, push high on tree away from cut to topple it. Next back off and push root ball to free remaing roots. Anything bigger will take digging all around. This is with a 7,000lb tractor though, if yours is bigger. might could take on bigger stuff and vice versa for smaller tractor Also I have sandy loam, clay will be more difficult.

 

[isucrazy]

I have taken out a sack full of cedar with my 4200 deere, about 3000 lbs. Dig on one side and push up high bump it a little ta loosen it up a little and over it will go. My soil is mostly sand and a 10 in. thick cedar aint hard to remove at all. the biggest problem is the roots seam ta run just under the grass . pealing up alot more grass than you would like. If it snaps off than you get ta do alot of digging! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Degree]

Have someone professionaly remove them so you dont mess up your tractor on such big trees(blowing hydraulic lines, tweaking loader arms, bent bucket). Look up tree spade in the phone book.

 

[OkieG]

I wish a loader bucket cut better. Others have posted about using a subsoiler to break roots. It is basically like a single boxblade scarifier. The shank (with tooth) is mounted on a 3PH frame.

As implements go, a subsoiler is not expensive. Once the root is broken, the loader bucket can be used (if necessary) to lift and loosen the root before toppling the tree.

OkieG

 

[johnday]

Good idea; I somehow missed that post. Subsoilers are around 125$ or less at TSC here. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[texbaylea]

I have 30 acres of sandy soil with lots of juniper (cedar) trees and yaupon. I purchased a Hy-Reach Tree Shear (www.precisionmfg.com) with my new Kubota L3130. I have only had the rig a week now so have not reaaly attacked the problem but the preliminary work looks promising. This unit attaches to my loader and can reach out and up. It will cut limbs and trunks up to 8" easily. Coupled with a grapple on my loader bucket, it makes fairly easy work of clearing brush and trees.

Vernon

 

[frank_f15]

KITOIJOHN: pretty much says it all. how many trees do u want to remove? 1 or 2 trees you can mess around with, but if u have a lot then u might want to do it with a Bh.

 

[froggy]

Interesting attachment. What does it cost?

 

[jinman]

I don't know what size cedars you are trying to extract, but I can handle them up to 6" with no problem. Your 5030 should be plenty of tractor to make one undercut and then push the tree over. The root ball should pop up on one side and then you finish it off with the bucket.

On my 45hp tractor, I've used both a bucket with a cutter bar and now have a toothbar. The toothbar is best for doing the undercut, and the teeth let you manipulate things with much more control than a plain blade.

Finding the best height on the trunk to push is the real trick. Some trees will snap off and you'll be left with a stump. Others will be tough and you'll either have to push higher up or undercut more.

After you have a stack of cedar, it is great stuff to make mulch. If you have a chipper-shredder or can rent one, cedar makes a super mulch and also smells nice.

If you are working with really big cedar trees, I think the previous suggestion of a dozer is the best solution.

 

[txdon]

The way that works for me is to push the tree first so it is leaning then with the tooth bar get under the root ball and ease forward in low and tilt up. The attached photo shows the size that is easy to remove with the 5030 (in sandy soil).

 

[texbaylea]

froggy

As part of my deal on a new L3130 it cost me just over $3000 installed. This was just about list price but the installation was not simple. I was getting a quick attach option on my loader so that part was easy but it takes two hydraulic circuits to control; shear and rotation. I had 3 remotes installed with 2 circuits taken forward with 2 sets of QD's at the loader connect point and 2 sets at the front of the loader. I also had a grapple installed on my bucket for picking up the cuttings.

Vernon

 

[AndyMA]

While this would be a problem with some of the smaller tractors, with a 5030, I would push on the trunk of the cedar 3 to 5 feet up and uproot it. I would then come into the uprooted stump parallel to the ground and just push the entire tree forward ripping the rest of the roots out of the ground. A toothbar is not necessary and would not help in this operation. These larger utility tractors can do quite a bit more than the smaller cut's. I take out cedars up to about 8" with my TN.

Andy