Couple of newbie questions on stumps and rakes

[JImRinCentralTX]

Been a new owner (my first tractor) of a L2800 for about a month now.

Got a couple of questions that hopefully wont be too silly..

1 - wondering what to do for pulling small stumps. Stumps are cedar, 5" - 8" diameter and are in sandy loam (red dirt) and have were cut before I bought the place.

2 - landscape / rock rakes. I have a portion of the property that has small sticks and rocks (nothing big, but a lot more than I want to walk around and pick up) and was wondering if these actually work and is it better to have wheels or not?

Trying to prepare about 4 acres to grow hay on rather than buying $120 round bales to feed the cows.

Thanks for the info.
Jim

 

[N80]

Cedar stumps can be tough. The wood is hard and the taproot is deep sometimes. Do you have an FEL? If so, you can dig them out. How you do that depends on the soil type and how wet it is. Where I live, if the soil (clay) is hard and dry, you might as well forget about it. If it is wet, dig around the stump. Rock it loose with the bucket. Finally, when it is loose enough, hook the bucket edge under the roots and curl and lift. I used a chain to pull them out too.

Good luck.

 

[sonofczechgun]

Stumps - I used couple ways:

- cutting a vertical slots with chainsaw (plunge cut) and using stump remover. It makes them rot faster

- axe, pick axe, shovel and lots and lots of bad words - it works fairly well, but takes time

- chainsaw first to cut as low as possible and axe later to chop it low enough for the mower not to touch it

- when burning branches and fallen down trees I usually build the fire on the stump and - depends on the fire - it takes care of it

- stumpgrinder works too, aint as easy as it looks

 

[JImRinCentralTX]

Thanks for he info. Have a FEL and lots of HD chains, will try digging and lifting out - supposed to be a real frog strangler tomorrow night and clear out early am Saturday and soil is sandy red dirt with a little caliche, in that area

Have planty of bad words, chainsaw and matches but limited on time for the next few weeks - besides, getting low on blood pressure pills....

Thanks again.

Jim

 

[texasjohn]

Jim, welcome to TBN. Maybe you could fill out your profile a little more... it gives a reference point for some answers. Seems like you are in Central Texas.. me too.. just north of Austin. As you likely know the cedar stumps you are talking about are very rot resistant...will last maybe 50 years or so in the ground. Wow... I pay about $30 to $35 for a round bale... must be the drought that has run up your costs. I'd use chains... attached to the strongest point of your tractor... the drawbar... from under the tractor... low center of gravity is very necessary.... you may need weight on front as well... I suggest you wait until ground is damp but dry on top so that you have tractor traction... hope you have 4wd and a low range gear!

Best wishes!

 

[rdsaustintx]

Hey bubba howdy. (buncha Tejanos here)

Jim, I can't tell what machine you have from your profile. I have dug a few Texas cedars (actually blue juniper), attached is photo of a 10" stump. I'm on creek bottom (red clay) and they tend to come up with as much rock as wood.

Pardon me, but I may use one word you don't wanna hear.

Backhoe. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Happy Trails,

Russell

 

[texasjohn]

Well, I think that rdsaustintx has given you a wonderful example of the size of the problem you are facing. A few inches across above ground and a few feet across below!

By the way... takes quite a bit of acreage to grow hay and make it pay... With 20+ animal units (cows) I find that purchasing round bales is the way to go. PM me and I'll give you details.

Yep, rdsaustintx, a tejano here.... 6th generation Texan!