How big might a Hickory tree root ball be?

[Dutch445]

here's what i found with a quick google search. looks like
a substantial tap root, and from what i have seen with hickory,
the wood is extremely heavy!
not sure which species of hickory you have,
excerpt from :
Carya cordiformis (Wangenh

Rooting Habit- Bitternut hickory develops a dense root system with a pronounced taproot. It is windfirm and can be transplanted more successfully than any other hickory species (20).

Early root growth is primarily into the taproot, which typically reaches a depth of 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 in) during the first year (32). Small laterals originate throughout the length of the taproot but may die back during the fall. During the second year, the taproot may reach a depth of 122 ern (48 in) and the laterals grow rapidly. After about 5 years or so, the root system attains its maximum depth, and the horizontal spread of the roots is about double that of the branches. By age 10, the height of the top is about four times the depth of the taproot while the spread of the crown branches is only about half that of the root system.

Mature pecan hickory root systems have a deep taproot, with lateral roots emerging at nearly right angles to the taproot, but no major lateral roots. Pecan hickory roots begin to develop just before spring shoot growth. Roots are more responsive to favorable conditions of soil or climate, and conversely more sensitive to adverse conditions. Depending on environmental conditions, there are usually four to eight cycles of root

 

[BrierPatch]

I say do it like you did the last one. dig out half of the roots and push it over. If it won't push over then cut it with a chainsaw with the thick hinge and push it over that way. You then have to dig the root out, but you already have half of it dug out anyway. No real extra time or effort involved.

Good Luck !

 

[Richard]

Welp, here's the rest of the story.

Tree was probably bigger than 12" diameter and probably equal to or less than 18" diameter. My bucket is 24" for reference.

Turns out the root ball of this was bigger than I expected. Not a huge deal. I tried to push it over once/twice early on and it was going NOWHERE. I kept digging and pushed again. I could tell this time that if I just kept some slow pressure on it that I could work it down.

Fell exactly where I wanted it to fall :thumbsup: You will notice in the last picture my wifes uncle's house... This was one thing keeping me a little on my toes and more nervous than the last one I dropped like this.

There was a dose of apprehension with it as anything. I'll admit that I still feel more comfortable doing something like this with some horsepower behind me than standing under same tree with nothing but my wits and (hopefully) quick reflexes should something happen.

The last picture shows the "hinge" on the ground that (hopefully) keeps an idea like this from becoming one of Darwin's awards.

In the LAST picture (looking back at house/hoe) you can see two trees on the other side of the backhoe. The tree on the right with the fork in it...is another one he wants to drop like this.

I'm not so sure about that one though. It is leaning away from this camera position. He PREFERS the tree to be dropped towards the camera (coming at you as you see picture). I can understand why he wants to do that but I'm not quite so sure about that one given the lay of the land. I'd be below it by 3' or so and that takes away some of my height to reach for leverage.

We're still studying that situation. We wanted to use this one as a gauge on difficulty and how easy it might be to 'control' (I use that word loosely)

I figure he's got a big enough mess on his hands for a while... so I'll let him clean this mess up and then we'll discuss the next tree.

If we drop the next (last) tree towards the camera then I might suggest we get some strong rope and tie it off at the top so the 100hp tractor can pull (from 200/300 feet away) while at the same time I can push on my side. If well executed, little doubt that we could put the tree down next to this existing tree. Or, it could turn into a Darwin moment as anything like this can.

 

[beenthere]

Well done. And nice to have the "tools" to handle it.

Sounds like a good plan for the other trees. If you get a long rope in that tree, you won't need anywhere near a 100hp tractor to pull it down. With leverage, and digging the roots as you are doing, a car, pickup, or CUT will handle the pulling. It won't take much especially with you pushing. Even a come-along on the rope will put some pressure on the tree to get it moving in the direction you want it. Just be careful that there are not roots still attached that will let the tree twist off line during the fall.

Good work!

Take that TN red clay off the root ball, and it won't seem so big

 

[jinman]

Brutus wins again!:thumbsup: Nice job Richard. I call the side where I don't dig my "hinge." Just like cutting a tree and controlling where it will fall, this ground hinge keeps you safe.

 

[crazyal]

If I can get my BH close enough that's how I knock trees down if I want to get the root ball out of the ground. I'm usually very accurate doing it that way. I can even guide the tree down to the ground as they don't come crashing down like if cut with a chainsaw.

I also pick the tree up off the ground so I can cut the stump off the tree. I find that by lifting the root ball of the ground with the BH then drop it several times in a row it shakes off a lot of the dirt and rocks.

 

[Richard]

If I can get my BH close enough that's how I knock trees down if I want to get the root ball out of the ground. I'm usually very accurate doing it that way. I can even guide the tree down to the ground as they don't come crashing down like if cut with a chainsaw.

I also pick the tree up off the ground so I can cut the stump off the tree. I find that by lifting the root ball of the ground with the BH then drop it several times in a row it shakes off a lot of the dirt and rocks.

I agree with every word you typed here... I presume you typed them and didn't dictate them to a secretary while she typed them?

 

[schoolsout]

Did somebody say hickory? Beware the taproot.


-Jim

I've got some small hickory trees I've got growing in buckets and the taproot on them is just about as long as the tree itself!
Pretty sure they aren't as long as an older tree, but those **** taproots drill deep.