Digging up tree with backhoe

[LBrown59]

lbrown, with due respect, I don't think you've downed many trees - the cut of the stump is the same either way, but the digging of the stump is the big deal - even with a big backhoe it can soak up a good portion of the day. Whereas
*popping the stump out by using the leverage of the trunk is faster, and you get more control. Its how the pros do it around here if they can get the heavy equipment in for that reason.

You really want to make sure that tree isn't coming back at you... I wouldn't want to test the FOPS that way, though it'd be better than relying on a helmet in that circumstance.

*It's also more subject to these kind of incidents.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Well that would anwer any questions on how to do it wrong. So please use caution and yes the branch that falls from the shaking can also get you also.

 

[Stradbash]

I have knocked over a number or large trees with my little tractor hoe just a 28hp tractor with 8' hoe. I did try to push over the first tree but found out it wobbles quite a bit and widow maker can fall down completely silent. I have since dug all around the tree on a windless day while anchoring it to a truck a long distance away. Once all the tap roots are busted a large tree is easy to pull over if the rope is high enough up the tree in the first place. My little hoe I have managed to rip through 12'' tap roots without to much trouble.

One trick I use is to dig as far under the tree as you can on the side you want it to fall and not as much on the opposite side.

How accurately can you get a tree to fall using this method? I have a cherry tree with two nearly vertical trunks that is about 15 feet from my house that needs to go down parallel to the side of the house. Power lines and other trees preventing me from taking it any other way...

 

[Samandothers]

I have knocked over a number or large trees with my little tractor hoe just a 28hp tractor with 8' hoe. I did try to push over the first tree but found out it wobbles quite a bit and widow maker can fall down completely silent. I have since dug all around the tree on a windless day while anchoring it to a truck a long distance away. Once all the tap roots are busted a large tree is easy to pull over if the rope is high enough up the tree in the first place. My little hoe I have managed to rip through 12'' tap roots without to much trouble.

One trick I use is to dig as far under the tree as you can on the side you want it to fall and not as much on the opposite side.

All Toys,
I have not pushed over large trees before. However, I usually dig on all the sides except the one In which I want the tree to go. I do this to hold the tree while I dig out on the other three sides. I then push from the side oppsite the side that has not been disturbed. This works well and keeps roots from coming up under the tractor.
Does pushing from the undug side or pulling oppsite the undug side work pretty good?

 

[JoelD]

I've tried with a small hoe and got my self in a world of trouble, if the tree ever wants to come back (wind, whatever), it will quickly overpower a small machine.

I've done a number of trees with an excavator (25,000 lb machine) and the trees were oaks about 40 - 50 foot high, the excavator can get about half way up the tree to push.

I've never felled a tree, other than very small, in a direction other than the one it was leaning towards.

I'll dig out the roots on the oposite side and then push the tree over with the excavator.

When in doubt with a tree I'll cut it down and then deal with the stump, I'd much rather be running away than trying to climb out of a machine if something were to go wrong.

Then again can always hire an expert if the tree is in a really tough spot.

Oaks at my house are nasty to get out, deep tap root, and they weigh a ton, they'll grab every rock within 10 foot of them.


Joel

 

[alltoys]

All Toys,
I have not pushed over large trees before. However, I usually dig on all the sides except the one In which I want the tree to go. I do this to hold the tree while I dig out on the other three sides. I then push from the side oppsite the side that has not been disturbed. This works well and keeps roots from coming up under the tractor.
Does pushing from the undug side or pulling oppsite the undug side work pretty good?

You should pull on the undug side!!!!

Much safer to pull than push, it doesn't take much to pull them over. I had four trees in the 70 foot range two were grown together pulled on the one and the other came with it. On my first tree I pushed it over on the opposite side of the lean. It took a lot of grunting from my machine to do it. Although I had dug on the leaning side and moved around to dig completely around the tree I will never do that again.

Once your tree is down it will still be attached to the ground from the tap root. Run a chain around the base of the tree at a 90* angle to the length of the tree then attached to the tractor so that when you take off with the tractor it rolls the tree towards you. This breaks the remaining tap roots very easily and you can remove the tree or cut in shorter lengths what ever you desire.

 

[Charlesaf3]

lbrown - you didn't read my post fully, that's why I rope it. Usually to the pickup through a snatch block with my tree rope.

I find the combo of pickup and backhoe puts most big oaks right where I want them. I still try to drop them the way they want to go.

And yeah, I dig the roots in the direction of fall last - that way they are holding the tree from falling on the backhoe.