How best to clear shallow roots and vines and fern

[Smf834]

I have a compact tractor that i am still getting familiar with. I have couple acres of an area filled by a dozen or so holly trees that i'm trying to clear. The trees will be chop down and worked on, but what i'm trying to also accomplish is to make the area more walkable. Right now, after years of neglect, it is filled with gopher holes, uneven ground, seasonal blackberry ground vines, small holly brush and old shallow roots, and lots of ferns spread throughout. What is the best way to tackle this? Would a landscape rake be able to rip shallow roots and a create a rough grade that i can then use a box blade later? The area is also on a gentle downslope as well.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[ruffdog]

Maybe a Ratchet rake too.

 

[jeff9366]

The ground is uneven and loaded with gopher holes, seasonal blackberry ground vines, small holly brush, old shallow roots, and lots of ferns

Dirt Dog - All Purpose Plow / Field Cultivator REVIEW + PICTURES

Dirt Dog All Purpose Plow / Field Cultivator Dirt Dog Model APP 66-5 Total Width 66", Working Width 62", Five Tines, Weight 284 Pounds, Paid $835.00 (2010) Field Cultivator: A Three Point Hitch mounted, secondary tillage implement, used to perform operations such as soil aeration...

www.tractorbynet.com

A 4-WD Kubota L2501 can pull a four (4) tine APP through moist soil.

The APP can be considered a rake with widely spaced tines.

Plan on killing the Blackberries with Crossbow herbicide before working the ground or they may (?) be spread.

 

[2manyrocks]

Picture would help to offer suggestions specific to your situation...

I suspect the first problem would be that if the area is really overgrown, you might need to clear off the vegetation with a rotary cutter. If it's really, really overgrown, you might even need to hire someone with a compact track loader/mulcher. You want to reduce the amount of material as much as you can.

I tend to think that once the vegetation is knocked down, perhaps try a box blade with root rippers taking shallow passes.

A landscape rake is more suited to an area that is already cleared. You can break the tines on a landscape rake if you try to remove vines and roots that are too big. If there is a lot of material to be removed, it's going to tangle in the tines and you'll likely find it frustrating having to stop and untangle the tines.

 

[setxjeff]

The ratchet rake actually works good clearing vines and shallow rooted brush. I also mount mine on a non FEL tractor on the 3 point straight blade it works great there also and leaves the other tractor for the grapple. I did change the mounting system to use 5/16 chain and turn buckles.

 

[bcp]

I have a compact tractor that i am still getting familiar with. I have couple acres of an area filled by a dozen or so holly trees that i'm trying to clear. The trees will be chop down and worked on, but what i'm trying to also accomplish is to make the area more walkable. Right now, after years of neglect, it is filled with gopher holes, uneven ground, seasonal blackberry ground vines, small holly brush and old shallow roots, and lots of ferns spread throughout. What is the best way to tackle this? Would a landscape rake be able to rip shallow roots and a create a rough grade that i can then use a box blade later? The area is also on a gentle downslope as well.

Thanks for the advice.

I'm also in SW WA, so probably have the same vegetation.

I would use my rotary cutter, then the box blade rippers with as many passes as needed. Clean up with the landscape rake.

What implements do you have?

Bruce

 

[Smf834]

i have a toothbar on my bucket, stump bucket. I have attached a few pic. Most volunteers are from holly, hazelnut and poplar variety. The numerous ferns are everywhere

 

[2manyrocks]

That's not as grown up as I imagined. My concern with the toothbar on the FEL is potentially getting hung on a stump or rock.

What about a pull behind spike drag harrow?

 

[Smf834]

i tried using the toothbar, but with the uneven ground, i kept digging into the ground instead of an even scrape over the surface. Maybe i just need more practice

 

[jyoutz]

Rotary cutter, then Fred Cain plow.