getting rid of blackberry thicket

Phred · Sep 2, 2003

TD,

Good thinking.

In my case I suspect that I would just end up feeding the local canine population.
Also fencing is an issue for this solution.

Cutting is a lot better than letting it flower and spread further, but it won't solve the problem.
A manual cutting technquie won't work well if you have a lot of these things. They tend to have multiple stalks that are not very thick so it would be a huge pain to cut with a saw, unless its just one or two. In this case I would just use a hand held sprayer.

I have a hill side of ~4-5 acers that contains a good collection of misc briars.
I will try brush killer in a 3-pt sprayer next year.

Fred

bgott · Sep 3, 2003

Give 'em machete's. They are cheaper and third world help can be hard on mechanical equipment. By the time they get competent with power tools they also wise up to the fact that they can find work other than cutting sticker bushes.

F350Lawman · Sep 3, 2003

On thing Doc, use your cheap saw or an old bar and chain on your good saw. Cutting this scrub brush always leads to hitting stuff like dirt, rocks, barbed wire, etc. I went through one bar and about 4 chains this summer, there's no avoiding it when you are poking the saw in close to the ground with poor visibility. I like using a small not too powerful saw because you're are cutting under tough circumstances and need the manueverability plus it's light and you may be in awkward positions. With the "wimpy" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif saw, even if it hangs up and kicks it doesn't have too much power so it's easy to manage.

Just sharpen that chain often and use it until it's trash...and it will be!

Slamfire · Sep 3, 2003

I shudder to think what happens with 50 or so machetes in the hands of folks skilled in their use, when they find out they are bein' paid half of minimum wage. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

F350Lawman · Sep 3, 2003

I shudder to think what happens with 50 or so machetes in the hands of folks skilled in their use, when they find out they are bein' paid half of minimum wage.

Nothing...that's why Doc stays in the tower with the 30-06, a cowboy hat and those cool mirrored shades, just like a scene out of Cool Hand Luke!
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

pruntyc · Sep 3, 2003

You mention hitting barbed wire, with a chain saw. My wife read a story one time. About a man that did that and it kicked back and cut his throat. He died right there. So anytime I go to cut around a fence she reminds me of it. So Dave if you use the chainsaw BE CAREFUL that wire can make the chainsaw do things you don't want done. Better off to use loppers, they won't hurt you.

F350Lawman · Sep 3, 2003

I usually end up finding it in the center of the tree! No way to see it until it's too late and the chain is messed up. That is why the lower powered saw is nice, the kick is very controllable. the Husky kickback feature is great, often even when I catch it and the kick was nothing I find the safety was tripped when I go to restart. It is very sensitive which makes it safer.

I either end up cutting them way up high above the old wire fence line or if I've weakened them enough I snap them down with the truck.

Taylortractornut · Sep 3, 2003

Dave I cleand up a farm that had cultured black berries in 4 foot wide rows. I made a pin in bucket rake for my Ford Backhoe. It pinned inside the bucket and sat out fron about a foot and a half. Id just push through and have my bucket holding the teeth a few inches in the ground. I worked it up like that for a few alrge piles and let them dry a a few days while i did other work. I then lit them up. Not the sprouts that com up i used a wick wiper to poison them and they are gone now. But the rake really helped by gettin them up rooted and stacked.

Docsknotinn · Sep 3, 2003

Honestly guys I really think a chain saw is a poor choice except for those thick clumps. Now the stuff that the lawmans photos show are in my mind wayyyy beyond a blackberry thicket. Thats like friggen Mesquite scrub. Most Blackberrys are only about 1/4" in diameter so a brush cutter would seem the best choice initially. I tend to shy away from the hog idea for the intial pass. The ground has a way of throwing unpleasant suprises your way on the first pass. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif But I suppose keeping the FEL low and going slow will let you know about any unexpected rocks or stumps....but then there those dips and soft spots filled with leafs. Most of the saw work I do is thinning poplars and makeing trails, clearing planting sites etc. My land was part of a huge section owned by a lumber co for the past 100 years so it was commercially forested. I have poplars that need to be thinned. I have a 10 year deed restriction against cutting cedars, which is Ok as I have a Huge stand that is now a part of my potential retirement fund. I do keep a chain and bar for the dirty work but I wear a helmet and I am still very wary. I know too many docs who like to tell reconstruction storys of guys that have split their melon in half from kick back. You definately want to see and know what your cutting into. Its very easy to think aw heck this will just take a second....and it will. Flesh cuts fast. I know from first hand experience and have a few saw battle scars to prove it. lol. Tractornut, Thats a good idea. I dont have a tooth bar for my FEL bucket but do you think that would kinda work the same ? what is a wick ?? Dave

F350Lawman · Sep 3, 2003

Now the stuff that the lawmans photos show are in my mind wayyyy beyond a blackberry thicket. Thats like friggen Mesquite scrub.

Ahh, you feel my pain! Don't worry I will post the photo when I send those green meanies to a firey grave tomorrow!

I like to burn when it's wet out but it was pouring today and I wasn't going to stand in the rain tending the bonfire all day. Neighbors already look at me strange /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif