How do I clean this up?

[City_Boy]

I've got 10 acres turn from heavily covered brush and saplings into clean woods. Mostly, the area is covered with small trees about 2-3" in diameter. There are plenty of trees 3-5" as well. I'm content to leave everything over 6". What I want to do is just clean it up so my boys can ride their 4-wheelers out there.

Within the next couple of days I hope to be bringing home a Mahindra 2810 with FEL, toothbar, 5' rotary cutter, and boxblade. These are the tools I'll be working with.

I don't care how long it takes. It's my project, my land, and I will enjoy every minute I'm working on this. I just don't want to tear me or my tractor up while I'm doing it.

Photo attached.

 

[City_Boy]

Here's another view. Lots of trees and scrubs. It will be pretty tight in there to begin with.

 

[Gatorboy]

If the Rotary Cutter is heavy duty, you should have no problem with that brush. Some small saplings you can just push over and out of the ground with the FEL, and some of the larger ones, cut down with a chainsaw. I would just make some piles of the smaller trees you cut down and let those decay on their own, or if you have a nice clearing somewhere, you can burn them when conditions are right.

 

[Egon]

Are you considering making some trails or is everything under 6 inches going to go?

Egon

 

[Spencer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( There are plenty of trees 3-5" as well. I'm content to leave everything over 6". What I want to do is just clean it up so my boys can ride their 4-wheelers out there. )</font>

You are not going to have to do much to make this a wonderful place for your kids to ride their quads. I wouldn't clean up the whole area, I would just make some paths through there. It is not as fun riding any kind of ATV in an open field as it is riding it through the woods on winding paths (in my opinion). You profile says that you are still shopping for a tractor. I thought you already had one from previous posts but I may have you mistaken for someone else. All you will need is a rotary cutter, although a FEL would help a lot. Take some time and walk through the areas and try to map out some winding paths in your head. You should easily be able to avoid taking out any large trees. Make the paths just wide enough to safely get your tractor down them and they will be plenty wide enough for your kids on their quads.

 

[City_Boy]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I don't think I'll clean up all 10 acres. I'll probably really clean out three or four acres, and then make some paths in the remaining land.

Spencer, I may talk like I already have a tractor...the power of positive thinking. I've looked at the CK20 and the 2810 and have settled on the 2810 if the finances can handle it. Otherwise, it will be the CK20. One of them, though, will be under my tree for Christmas. Well, not under the tree, but just outside the door.

You know, when I started this country living thing, I thought a couple of acres was all I needed. I'm on 6.75 now, but we'll be moving to these ten acres eventually. And I really wish I had 20.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Call the volunteer fire department, ask if they want to practice on a brush fire and consider a controlled burn. It would take out the underbrush and leave the mature growth.

 

[Spencer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Spencer, I may talk like I already have a tractor...the power of positive thinking. I've looked at the CK20 and the 2810 and have settled on the 2810 if the finances can handle it. Otherwise, it will be the CK20. One of them, though, will be under my tree for Christmas. Well, not under the tree, but just outside the door. )</font>

I bought my tractor right at the end of the 2001. I didn't even think about what kind of extra leverage I could of had in buying at that time. I thought the dealer was being pretty nice in delivering the tractor to my house before I even signed the paperwork or gave him a single dollar. I just recently read in another thread how the end of the year should be a great time to buy because the dealers want to get in all the sales they can before December 31st. I don't know if it is true or not but it makes sense to me. You may be able to use this time of year to your advantage. Good luck on your purchase and don't forget the pictures.

 

[gsganzer]

Take any brush that's too big for the rotary cutter and make some rabbit piles. Rabbits are great for the kids to hunt with a .22 or .410 shotgun (supervised by an adult of course).

 

[City_Boy]

The Mahindra dealer says he's giving me his cost on the tractor/loader at $14,800. Add the 5' cutter and 5' box blade and toothbar for a total of $16,200. Mama (wife) had agreed to let me buy the CK20 HST w/same attachments for $14,000. Gotta convince her to spend the extra $2k. Any suggestions?