Clearing land

[ch47dpilot]

I have about 20 acres of woods and would like to clear the underbrush. There are many mature trees I want to keep but about 75% of the woods are trees/brush ranging from 1/2" to 4" diameter. The brush hog works great on the areas that contain mainly small stuff that isn't dense. Even the small stuff that痴 densely packed seems to bog down the tractor even at slow speeds. I知 wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to cut the smaller stuff down. I致e tried a chainsaw but it was very time consuming and got awkward climbing all over the cut brush. I壇 consider renting something but not sure what would be the best piece of equipment for this job. The land has some steeper hills so that would be of some concern. My end goal is to cut everything but the trees that are about 8 or greater. I want to get the 4" or less down now so I can see what I have and then selectively cut the more mature trees. I have a Kubota L3400 with a 5 brush hog, what is the largest diameter brush I should consider cutting without causing damage to the tractor or brush hog?

 

[Rustyiron]

If you want a nice job with no stumps, rent an excavator. For trees up to about 8" as you mention, a 6/8 ton or so machine will do the trick. I'd recomend one with a hyd. thumb. You'll still have the tree to deal with but short of hiring a guy with a forrestry mower (this might be expensive for a selective thinning) an ex. can do it without a bunch of driving on the roots of the trees that you want to save. If you're not "handy" with unfamiliar types of eq., you might just keep picking at it with the chain saw. Every time I have an expensive rental machine, I feel rushed to get the most bang for the buck. This stuff (clearing your woods) is better to aproach as relaxing therapy, at least that's how I look at it.
You might post a similar question on the "land clearing" section for an idea from the guys there with these forrestry mowers that are in the business.

 

[ch47dpilot]

thanks didn't even see the land clearing forum

 

[tractchores]

Not sure what they're called, but I've seen an attachment, which is a long bar with a bunch of scissor like blades along it. You see tractors clearing the edge of roadways with them sometimes. One of those might work well as you could cut stuff without bogging and then pick it up easily with a grapple. A mulching attachment would also work well and you can rent those.

 

[sfloggie]

Tractchores,

The attachment sounds like a Rachet Rake. rachetrake.com

Jim

 

[Pete Judd]

Pilot, with 20 acres to clear, rent a excavator and a 450 JD with a brush rake on the blade. The shovel will pull the big stumps and pile them for burning, the 450 will do the cleanup and rake the small stuff up. That is how we do it up here. Should be able to do it in a week. But it's not cheap unless you have friends with the stuff so you can borrow.

Good Luck

 

[tractchores]

Tractchores,

The attachment sounds like a Rachet Rake. rachetrake.com

Jim

Tried to find a pic but couldn't. Its not a rachet rake, but has similar teeth. Its a bar that flips down at mid tractor and sticks out like a boom mower. The bar has teeth on the front that are driven off the mid pto and sheer whatever goes between tbe teeth. The teeth are good size so they can sheer trees up to a few inches. I haven't seen one for a while, but its what they used to use to clear brush on roadsides in rural areas.

 

[yelbike]

Tried to find a pic but couldn't. Its not a rachet rake, but has similar teeth. Its a bar that flips down at mid tractor and sticks out like a boom mower. The bar has teeth on the front that are driven off the mid pto and sheer whatever goes between tbe teeth. The teeth are good size so they can sheer trees up to a few inches. I haven't seen one for a while, but its what they used to use to clear brush on roadsides in rural areas.

Are you thinking of a sickle mower?

 

[tractchores]

Are you thinking of a sickle mower?

yes that's it! Thanks!

 

[newbury]

Have you considered goats??

 

[yelbike]

yes that's it! Thanks!

I've never used a sickle mower but I don't think the intended use was for brush clearing. They are more for haying type applications. I could be wrong though.

 

[nolarefugee]

I would bush hog what you can and then see where you're at after that. I have an old bush hog but it still can go through some big yaupon and small oaks.

The problem I have is after I clear, keeping the new shoots coming up.

 

[tractchores]

I've never used a sickle mower but I don't think the intended use was for brush clearing. They are more for haying type applications. I could be wrong though.

I don't know if there's a bigger size or something, but they worked quite well clearing trails and roads of up to about 3 - 4" trees in the rural area where I grew up.

 

[Western]

If it where me, Id mark the trees I wanted and hire a dozer and operator for a day. A good operator can grub out a tree on his push (tilt blade makes it easy), then cover the hole in reverse, he can also "roll" the trees enough to remove most of the dirt so you can cut fire wood later from the piles. You may have enough firewood to pay you back for some of the dozer rental. You can do the "clean -up" with your tractor and not risk extra damage.

 

[Jstpssng]

Ditto on the land clearing forum :thumbsup: but also consider that the critical root system of any tree extends at least to the outer edge of it's branches... AKA drip line. Any activity insiede that line. whether it's excavating/bulldozing stumps, hauling in fill, or just excessive compaction from running equipment across the roots, will be detrimental or lethal to the health of any trees you want to leave.

 

[ch47dpilot]

Have you considered goats??

Yes, but I need to fence it first and can't do that till its cleared out. Guess I'll get the goats to maintain it some day. What type Billy or Fainting?:laughing:

 

[Stick895]

You can stake the goats out with a chain or rope, long as they have water, they'll eat until their ain't any more eating to be done, then you can just move them.