Going from timber to grass.....

[PSDStu]

And heres one after some work with the root rake.

I still need to disc it for some of the roots and vines still need to be chopped up.

 

[chrishet]

Thanks Highbeam and Stu, can you point me to an appropriate disc that I could use behind the D5? I was thinking about using the tractor to clean up behind the dozer but if the dozer would do a better job.... Thanks for your help and nice pics, both.

 

[JoeinTX]

It sounds like you may have a plan, but have you considered a roller-chopper for this job?

They have been used to good effect here in reclaiming pasture overgrown with small cedar and mequite. Basically, a large roling steel drum with cuttings edges that you pull over the trees...similar to the way you would plow a field. This breaks them down and creates a dense, dying amount of foliage close to the ground which then is very easily burned in controlled burns. After the burn, you go in with a dozer and rake the left over material, plow, and re-seed.

Now, from your pic, these pines look to be about 10' or so...? I've a D-6D pulling a roller chopper work over a pasture full of cab-high cedars with relative ease...and do it much quicker than pure grubbing. Maybe you should check with an experienced clearing contractor about this option and see what he thinks.

 

[chrishet]

We'll look into this idea, Thanks!

 

[Highbeam]

"This Kubota D37 did a good job on what was a real mess."
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you meant Komatsu. The D37 is a decent sized machine, similar to that D5 or maybe a scosch smaller.

The reason for using the dozer to pull the disc is that you can get a macho super heavy duty chopping disc that will actually break up and chop stumps, roots, and debris into submission. A typical tractor is not capable of pulling this size of a disc. Big like 6 or 8 foot diameter discs that take mucho traction and power to pull through. These disc implements aren't very wide, just tall and heavy. Contact the rental place.

Got to agree that after a dozer with rootrake does its job, there will be very little left to chop up.

 

[PSDStu]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "This Kubota D37 did a good job on what was a real mess."
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you meant Komatsu. The D37 is a decent sized machine, similar to that D5 or maybe a scosch smaller.)</font>

Kubota......Komatsu.............. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Geshhhhhhhhh....

The fact that the D37 is Yellow....should have been my first clue! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Highbeam]

Yea, I know, couldn't resist. My international is somewhat related to a Komatsu.

 

[MMM]

If you don't plan to plant immediately and there aren't bigger stumps mixed in with small pines, a HD rotary cutter and subsequent burn would take care of it cheap. I did 10a of neglected pasture grown into pine thicket on my property. The 3" pine "stumps " left from burn rot amazingly fast. There's not much root to a 3" pine. I was able to disc it a year and a half later and plant bahia The pines need to be cut close so you don't cut a tire.
I used my Cyclone72, but if your nervous there's this.
Cutter

 

[MarkV]

I am thinking TBN rally. About a 100 smaller tractors with a variety of rotary mowers, grapples, and backhoes chewing up the woods. It would be a weekend to remember. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Chrishet, contact your county extension agent and see if they have any ideas. I am in N.W. Georgia and the extension agent has been a great source of information. At the very least you will want to get some soil test done before you plant grass. Almost all land in Georgia needs to be limed to help the acidic soil.

Good luck, it is going to be a big project.

MarkV

 

[chrishet]

Hey I like this idea! I'll buy the beer!

I just got back from our property and met with the forestry agent. What a great source of information. They were very helpful and gave me some great pointers. He also gave us the name of the soil and water agent for the county. Great idea!

His recommendation was to;

1) root rake the entire site with dozer
2) wait a few weeks
3) burn
4) disc harrow with a HD tractor
5) then go over it with my tractor and clean up the bits
6) either harrow again, lighter disc
7) harley rake, till, or pulverizer
8) plant grass seed

We close next week and hopefully we can get started in a week or 2. I'll post pics!

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am thinking TBN rally. About a 100 smaller tractors with a variety of rotary mowers, grapples, and backhoes chewing up the woods. It would be a weekend to remember. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Chrishet, contact your county extension agent and see if they have any ideas. I am in N.W. Georgia and the extension agent has been a great source of information. At the very least you will want to get some soil test done before you plant grass. Almost all land in Georgia needs to be limed to help the acidic soil.

Good luck, it is going to be a big project.

MarkV
)</font>

 

[chrishet]

Now that everyone knows the project... (btw, I will post a new list w/pics on the Projects list once we start...) here is our current tractor config, comments?

Kubota 5030 HST
(Tire Recommendation?)
Canopy
Kubota 853 FEL
Tooth Bar for Bucket
Wr Long RBG Grapple
Kubota BH 90 Backhoe
Bush Hog 285 Mower
Bush Hog MLR Landscape Rake with Gauge Wheels
Bush Hog MBX 72" Box Blade

Any other suggesions on the config? We'll probably rent the disc harrow and Harley Rake.

Thanks!

 

[gabby]

Whatever you do, make sure it is SMOOTH AS A BABY'S BUTT before you grass it. If it isn't, you will regret it every time you mow it or drive across it! And allow plenty of time for the smoothing phase because you'll need it.
gabby

 

[chrishet]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Whatever you do, make sure it is SMOOTH AS A BABY'S BUTT before you grass it. If it isn't, you will regret it every time you mow it or drive across it! And allow plenty of time for the smoothing phase because you'll need it.
gabby )</font>

Thanks Gabby. I was thinking this exact same thing as I was playing golf today. I'm hoping to rent a Harley Rake to really get it nice before we seed.

 

[chrishet]

GREAT ADVICE FROM THIS GROUP, THANKS!

So far we have cleared approx 40 acres. We hired a contractor to clear about half of this. The other half we did ourselves with a Cat D5 and a root rake. We are doing the burn and all the cleanup. Hopefully we'll be ready to plant seed in a few weeks.

The root rake, for the dozer, we had to buy ourselves but has been well worth it. It makes a quick job of clearing and leaves a clean area. It has also been very helpful in our burn.

Our Cat dealer was so very kind enough to rent is a D5 with an air conditioned cab (this was a big surprise actually!). I cannot tell you how nice this has been! The D5 is a very easy to operate machine. None of us had ever operated a dozer before and within a few hours felt very comfortable and efficient.

The WR Long Root rake has been our best investment to date. We love it. It is lightweight and really opens wide. I think our tractor dealer will be selling more of these.....

Updated project pics...2 mb slideshow
DAV Land Clearing Slideshow

Thanks again!
-Chris