Digging up tree with backhoe

[green duck]

I have a very large oak tree that I want to dig up on my property. I want to dig it up instead of cutting it down so I don't have a huge stump out there. I have a big John Deere backhoe.

So, how should I do this so that sucker doesn't fall on me? If you imagine the tree as a clock, I was thinking I could park the backhoe at 6 o'clock. Then dig at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. So if the tree did fall then it would not fall toward the 6 o'clock, where I am sitting.

Once I dig for a while then back far enough away and try and pull it over with a heavy duty cable hooked fairly high up the trunk. Does this sound like a good plan? I have dug and cleaned out plenty of ditches with the backhoe and dug up smaller trees but nothing close to the size of this oak.

Any suggestions would be helpful, Thanks.

 

[Richard]

Usually Pine trees for me but... what I'll do is ascertain where I think/want the tree to fall. Put my backhoe (full sized industrial) on the opposite side, pre-setup with stabilizers down, backhoe raised and in place against the tree.

Go to tree, make my notch cut, cut SOME of my hinge cut... and then go back to my machine and "simply" push it over in the direction I've prepared for it to go.

THUS FAR (knocking on wood, cause trees always make me nervous) it's worked great every time.

I've even been able to "steer" the tree just a bit to try to help fine tune it to fall between branches of other treees (only a SMALL bit though) Once the tree starts to fall, it's heading down, regardless of the 'steering' I tried to do.

Although I presume there is an element of danger here, I'll admit to feeling a bit more safe doing it this way than having nothing around me and being 100% exposed under the tree (as contrasted to having a steel canopy over my head)

I would NOT cut the notch/hinge down low on this tree. If I was cutting your tree (absent seeing any pictures) I'd try to cut the notch 4' off the ground and then simply dig the stump out and use the 4' stump as a lever.

I've done enough digging of flush cut stumps and a lever makes it a LOT easier to grab & wrestle

 

[green duck]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking instead of cutting it down I would use tall height of the tree to pull it over after digging around it. But, you are saying just cut it then dig the stump up after the tree is down? That definitely sounds safer.

I guess I was trying to cut some corners and save time. Which should be last on the list when talking about safety.

Thanks

 

[dave1949]

I agree with Richard, cut the tree down with a chainsaw, then work on the stump.

You really have to carefully 'read' the weight distribution of a large tree to have any idea where it is going when it falls. That takes experience. And then there are older trees with rot or voids in them that change the whole ball game, and won't realize it until it's maybe too late.

Be careful!

Dave.

 

[Richard]

Be careful!

I don't think that can ever be said enough so...

Be careful!

 

[SkyPup]

I always cut down the tree trunk to 4-5 feet out of the ground before I dig out the stump and rootball with the BH.

Digging out around an intact tree is NOT a good idea....

 

[Charlesaf3]

How big is the diameter? I've done a lot of oaks, but no bigger than 2 feet in diameter/60-80 feet high.

I dig them with the backhoe without cutting, and think it is safer. But I top rope them first with my timber rope, and put my pickup on the other end of the rope with a loooong line. Then have my wife slowly maintain pressure on the tree once it gets to the point where it might go over.

I try to do this in the direction the tree wants to fall, and never against the wind.

I find its more accurate then dropping them with the saw, and saves a LOT of digging around the stump, which pops out nicely.

btw - never put pressure on the top rope if you are cutting with a saw - otherwise the tree could barber chair

 

[green duck]

This is a big homestead oak, without measuring I'd say about 4' diameter no problem. I have lots of experience with a saw and feel very comfortable cutting it down. I was just trying to avoid having a big stump to dig up.

I guess though, with the shallower running roots of an oak it wouldn't be that hard to dig up, compared to a pine. As far as worrying about where it falls if I cut it, that's not a problem as it sits right in the middle of the field.

Thanks

 

[jdmar]

I guess though, with the shallower running roots of an oak it wouldn't be that hard to dig up, compared to a pine. As far as worrying about where it falls if I cut it, that's not a problem as it sits right in the middle of the field.

Thanks

Careful, some oaks have a very deep tap root. Maples often have shallow roots (and tear up a drive if planted too close). But many oaks have deep roots and a larger central root. I still think your plan would work. Primarliy because of the very large moment arm of tying a heavy line up very high. Be careful please...and send a pic of the (safe) result.
Peter

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have used the same plan to take out many trees with full six equipment as the weight of the tree just pops the stump right out. Just be smart about it and be carfull. I have seen a 220 Komatsu that the operator was killed because he pulled on the tree with the hoe instead of pushing it away from him and it came right threw the cab and crushed him.