Clearing Alders

[Oldtrout]

Lloyd,

There is a book called "Getting Rid of Alders", Which actually is taken from the pages of,Rural Delivery Magazine.It was printed in 2001. The publisher is Nimbus Publishing.
The title is a bit mis leading however it is full of information and humor,and one chapter is actually about alders. I found it to be a good read,and would recommend it.
If you can't locate it let me know and I will lend you my copy.

 

[sixdogs]

They are actually poplar as opposed to alder and when I lived in Maine I hated those things. I once cleared two acres of them by hand with a chainsaw. Whatever the name, we are talking about the same problem.
The easiest and best way is to saw them nearly flush with the ground and leave no sharp point to the stump to injure an animal or tire. Come spring, paint the stumps with a strong concentrate of Roundup and you are good to go. Maybe mix in some brush cutter. Works like a charm.
Some will grow but the cows will eat them. In fact, cattle would solve the problem by eating the growth. If no cows, spray and mow.

Digging up the ground, at least for maybe five years, just made a mess for me. That is, unless you want a lawn. The roots are very long and intertwined and until they rot are a real knot of dirt and runners. That's my story.

Oh, they don't burn well in a pile (bark is waterproof) but that's for another day.

 

[Q-Saw]

Lloyd,

I prefer to push small trees over with the FEL - it usually pops the rootball right out. Once you cut them, you lose some leverage for pushing them over.
I think it's best to try to get as many roots as possible to reduce resprouting. I'd use the brush hog for smaller stems, and then I'd use the box blade to level-out/fill-in the holes.


If you've already cut the stems, you might think about the following tool:

Brush Grubber HD, Crop, Turf & Nursery Production - GEMPLER'S

Does anyone have any experience with one of these? I've been thinking about getting one, but I'd like to know how well it works first.


- Marty

 

[Q-Saw]

Sorry Folks,

I should have done a search - I just found this earlier thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/129706-brush-grubber.html

- Marty

 

[Lloyd_E]

oldtrout: Have the book...good read. Especially sitting by a fire made from alder brush!

sixdogs: I prefer not to use any chemicals on the land. And you are correct about not burning well - unless they have dried for about 5 years!!!!

q-saw: I am going to look into that tool. I have a local surplus company that had something similar to the tool - minus the teeth. But if they still have it I can weld some 'teeth' onto it.

Below is a shot of some clearing I did in an adjacent area. The shot shows the type of tree/bush that we call alder.

We are expecting up to 1.5" of rain in the next 24 hours. So hopefully that will beat the snow down and I can do some more cutting this week.

Did a search on google and I think we have the following type of alder:
Smooth Alder(Common Alder)Alnus serrulata, Tree Size: height 6' - 20' : diameter 1" - 4"

Alder burns really hot. In fact blacksmiths who couldn't get coal often turned to dried alder for fuel. So hot, you could get a welding heat no problem. Not wise to burn in your wood stove.



lloyd

 

[Oldtrout]

The correct name is Speckled Alder, "Alnus Incans"; If I recall from my forestry school days,the leaves are unequal at the base,and are double toothed. I cut about an acre last spring, the customer burnt the brush,and I went back with the hoe on and dug out the stumps,it went fairly fast,than with the pile of stumps he wanted me to build a stump fence,the thumb paid for itself on that job......

 

[CurlyDave]

If you want to justify a new attachment, this is one of the best uses for a 4-n-1 bucket on your FEL.

Open it up, drop it over the 4" diameter x 18" high stump, close it, and you can usually just pull it right out of the ground. If it doesn't come, push forward, pull back and try again.

I would try to leave them 24-30" inches high instead of 18" just to get more leverage in pushing & pulling.

Do this while the ground is still moist in spring and they will pop right out.

 

[studor]

I too have speckled alder in a number of places on my property. It seems to attract beaver very nicely. I push it over with the bucket and drive over it with the brush hog. I am not immediately replanting those areas so I just keep bushogging them for a couple of years and that seems to stop it. If it is really big I wrap a chain around it and pull with the 3ph or chain saw then bush hog. Pile it up for a few months and then fire it up with a propane roofing torch -- or buy a book from Lee Valley called Rustic Carpentry and make all kinds of things with it
Regards
Steve

 

[rdbrumfield]

we have the red alder out here in the west. The wood is white and can be stained to look like any wood available. It is hard and one of the greatest of woods that can be planed, and shaped without much sanding. If you get it wet though it will discolor and be rotted in two years.
It is the wood used here for smoking salmon also. Grows like weeds and is not uncommon to see them 2ft or more at the stump.

 

[RadarTech]

I have read numerous posts on this topic and several threads...

After having tried chains and likeing it, there was little appeal to try the grubbers...

BUT check this one out...


BrushGrubber | Skid Loader Heavy Duty Brush Grubber

Put it on the bucket and open and close from the seat..
now that may be a little better idea..
but many it is $$$$$


whatcha think?

J