Clearing Alders

[Lloyd_E]

I started clearing a couple of acres of alders. There's about 18" of snow on the ground so once the snow is removed I will have to go back and remove the 18" base plus roots.

Seeing what I have for equipment would you:
A/ pull out 18" plus roots with backhoe
B/ pull out 18" plus roots with tractor and logging cable
C/ cut to ground level and bush hog as new stuff grows
D/ pull out 18" plus roots with tractor and box blade

I am reclaiming old pasture. There are a few rocks to remove too. So I am thinking once the alders go I will pass over with box blade to remove rocks and bush hog grass growth for the first part of the summer.

16 years ago I cut some growth in a corner of our pasture and mowed. No growth to date. But this new section has a lot more growth and larger area to rebuild to pasture.

Some of the alders will be used as firewood - 3-4 inches at base and most of the alders will be used to build a woven fence (wattle fence) around a new garden area. What is left will be chipped for mulch.


lloyd

 

[woodlandfarms]

My tractor is not the strongest, so I have to think up of alternates. First thing I do is go after our alders in the spring, when the the ground is still soft and just push them over. Later in the year I am doing C, cut them low. I am not pleased with the results, but my pocket book is cause I am not renting other equipment.

for me I can get the stumps pretty low, if you get too low you kill the blade on your chainsaw. Also this is murder on my back. If you leave the stumps to high you will know it, but for alders, once they are dead the decompose very quickly. I have noticed that after two years a bunch of dead stumps just broke off at the ground when I drove over them. But they sucker, in the worst sort of way. May have to spray them this year to kill them good..

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting thread as I'm just becoming aquainted with Alder wood. I have a client who is having some custom cabinets built from Alder and has hired me to build her a fireplace mantle from Alder. She was going to have the top part sheetrocked for a flat screen TV, but then wanted it done in Alder. Finding it has been a challenge. I had some from the cabinet guy, but then she told him I had enough the day after I told him I needed two more pieces, so the job is on hold now until I get that wood.

It cuts good and sands down nicely. I have some scrap pieces in my shop right now that I'm going to work on matching the stain on her floor to the alder, but that's still a mystery to me how it will turn out. I like how the grain isn't very strong, which is why the homeowner chose it. She doesn't like the way oak looks when stained and had hired the cabinet guy to build them before we met. I'm the third contractor she's hired. The first two couldn't figure out how to create a way to run the wires for the flat screen, and I've done a few of these with before.

Here's a picture of the Alder wood.

Eddie

 

[LarryD]

I'm a little confused, are the stumps 18" or 3"-4"?

If they are 18" then I'd say they have to go because after they rot that's going to be a large void for the tractor to hit. If they are only 3-4" just cut them close to the ground (I've got a $100 chainsaw for this type work) and mow over. I dont pull the small ones because it only pulls rocks up.

You will probably want to spray this spring since the rootball will sprout but once it's dead, they shouldn't be a problem.

Eddie, I've got a neighbor that just dropped several 20"+ alders and it's being bucked up into firewood. I thought Alder was getting a pretty good price at the mil (it was!) but apparently the market went the same path as the stock market. So if you need more just bring a truck up.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

If the tree's are only 3"-4" then I would think just wrap a chain and curl them up with the bucket. Or wrap a chain at the base then go over a large tire rim that is next to the tree. Give the chain a pull and see if the whole tree pops out of the ground. If you pop them out of the ground you may want to chop them off a bit so they don't rock over and whack you in the tractor. Alder is a moisture loving tree. Is there a way to cut a ditch to drain away their source of water?
Like others said they rot quickly. Be careful cutting them off at the ground as they can become Punji sticks for people animals and tires.
Sweet Job there Eddie! Alder was a money tree which surprises me. It is great for firewood and smoking Salmon...I hadn't considered it for woodworking..Sounds like you have a tough boss to work for...

 

[8934]

Rent an mini excavator.... You can pull hundreds per day, often in one swipe after a little practice, and never have to leave the seat.

 

[Lloyd_E]

TreeM: The alders are 3-4" thick at base. I started clearing and once the snow(18") melts there will be 18" in height of alders(base) sticking above the ground. So you use the rim as a fulcrum - correct. The pasture or at least this section of acreage abutts a swampy area which I will leave. So yes, a drainage ditch is on the list along with a small pond - very small pond compared to some projects posted on this site : )!!!!!

Also, I found when you open up more pasture you allow more sunlight to come in and dry out the land.

Eddy: I think your alder wood is different from ours. Ours is a bush/tree - lots of sprouts at base and grows to about 15' tall with no real thickness to trunk - 3-4" at most.

LarryD & Woodlands: did the back breaking thing for years. Now that I have the tractor the only bending will be to hook & unhook the chain hopefully....

I will try several of your suggestions. And post some images. We have more snow coming in the next few days...

Lloyd

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't know anythign about Alder wood. I can't say that I've heard of it before, but the cabinet guy said it's what they are using for all the cabinets on the high end homes that he does. Are there different types of alder trees?

Eddie

 

[Treemonkey1000]

More Info - Know Your Woods

I am familiar with Red alder. Did a google to find out about it and found it is part of the birch family. I didn't know that before. It is soft and grows fairly quick here with our damp climate. Splits very nicely and grows reasonably straight.

 

[Redneck in training]

In the area I grew up as a child the alder trees (Alnus glutinosa) grew in the marshy, swampy areas and often even in standing water. The wood was used for brush handles because it resisted rotting and warpage in water.

The bushy tree might be tree with similar name Elder that is completely different species. It also likes wet area but not necessarily swampy. Some such as Black elder (Sambucus nigra with hollow branches that was brought to America by Scandinavians) have edible blooms and fruits. IKEA sells Elder juice concentate made from the fruit.