How do you excavate/remove tree stumps??

[Laminarman]

This is premature since I don't own my land and tractor yet (will sign paperwork finalizing both within a month...77 acres and a NH TC45D)...but how do you remove tree stumps? I did a search here, found nothing. Do you "bang it" with the loader, or buy a BH?? I have this image of a chain or tow strap letting loose from a tree or stump and whacking me in the head and my wife living an easy life on my generous life insurance policy. I do have some trees to be removed for habitat development. Nothing behemoth, but some pines and maples up to about 12" in diameter. I'd like to get the stumps out to put food plots in. Thanks, in advance.

 

[theonlybull]

the way we do it, is with our 580 ck backhoe, and our 420 JD dozor.....

it can be done with a front end loader, but it's alot of work. backhoe attachment would be a great asset to you.

 

[Laminarman]

So what you're saying is I now have an official excuse to purchase a backhoe?? Thanks!

 

[Boondox]

I'll second that. Backhoeing is the most fun you can have fully dressed!

12" stumps would be childs play with a tractor that size. I have a Kubota L3010 with a Woods 7500 backhoe that makes short work of stumps that size. Though the two or three foot diameter stumps require much repositioning and sometimes hours of working away at them. Tried using the FEL in the days BH (Before Hoe) and found it a complete waste of time.

Pete

 

[Hambone]

<font color="red"> I did a search here, found nothing </font>

Try doing search for tree stumps. I got some hits there. Also search under owning operating. There has been plenty of talk on this.

Congrats on your new purchases and hope everything works out okay!

 

[EddieWalker]

I use a New Holland 555E backhoe for stumps and trees. Most trees have roots that spread out, which is the easiest to remove. Just dig a shallow trench on either side and push. The trees with tap roots are much more work. You need to really dig down deep on all sides for them to break free. I've gone 12 feet deep all around before on some before I could get them to break free. In my area, this is called a bull pine.

Stumps work the same as trees, just much harder. If you havn't cut the tree down yet, don't! The wieght and height of the tree will work in you favor and save you hours of work.

If you already have stumps to deal with, then you must decide if you ever plan to build over any of the area you are diggin out. If you are just going to plant food plots, then dig a whole on one side of the stump big enough for it to fit in, dig around the stump a little and push it into the hole and burry it. It will rot and decompose over time and you might get some settling, but more than likely you will never see it.

If you build over any landfill, you will notice it over time when your foundation starts to crack.

Good Luck

 

[GregJ]

This is just one of many excuses to get a BH. I use mine all the time. There was a thread running recently that went into stump removal in detail. Here is the link: I'm Stumped . Hope this helps.

Greg

 

[dmccarty]

LaminarMan,

Search for dmccarty and stumps. I think you will find alot of
info.

I have a JD4700 with a JD48 backhoe. I have pulled up
hundreds of stumps. Some 36 inches in diameter. It can take
hours to do.

It is a time and money thing. You can pay someone to pull up
the stumps or you can buy a BH and do it yourself. Depends on
how much time, money and work you have to do.

The backhoe is a good tool to have. Mine goes back on the
tractor in a couple of weeks to dig some dirt some I can build
some piers. And I have some more stumps to dig up......

I think I'll be digging up stumps for the rest of my life.....

BTW. If you have stump over a 4-6 inch in diameter, with a
decent root system, you ain't gonna move them with a FEL.
The best I have done is used the 4n1 bucket to pull pine stumps
out of the ground. But the ground has to be wet and the
stumps are 2-3 inches max.

Later,
Dan

 

[billfires]

Laminarman, do a search in the projects forum with "unbelievable" , Spencer removed stumps with a set of forks on his New Holland. Bill C

 

[ducati996]

Well its not a backhoe of course, so you use the tool you got until you get the "hoe" I used my JD 4100 and this stump is on the larger side of what I have been dealing with lately..3 hours it took on for this one...most were less..did 20 thus far, pulled it out via chain and jeep grand Cherokee V-8...
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Ducati996

 

[ducati996]

another picture of the pit I dug around each stump...
I know, I know a backhoe would be better, but I dont have one yet : (

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rdbrumfield]

For real quick work of clearing and grubbing of stumps and debries nothing out performs a trackhoe with a thumb. Being able to knock stumps around to get the dirt off by dropping or using the teeth to rake it out of the roots and stack for burning is a great way to go if one is available to you.
Here in the northwest it is not uncommon to be up against oldgrowth stumps in excess of 4 ft dia. Of course big stump = big hole, but being able to pick them up and stack for burning or hauling off is a big plus. And of course loading tub grinders for chipping them is a must.
If you have a lot of clearing to do, the best way is to take the trees while standing so the stumps come out with them. Just take the roots from one side and ease them over. That way the limbs and such can be taken care in planned areas instead of cutting and limbing each tree where it falls just to have the cleanup and stumping to do after, makes for a much bigger mess and more work.

 

[woodmills1]

A backhoe or a dozer will be much easier than a tractor bucket but it can be done. Definately use the tree for help or at the very least If you do fell the tree first leave a high stump to add to leverage. I found a site that was from the army about how to use a dozer and the process started by taking passes around the tree to sever the roots close to the surface. With my Kioti I take out small trees and start with a pass that is far enough away so the bucket can just rip off the roots. Working my way closer as I ring around the tree.

 

[John_Mc]

I've heard of guys using a single-shank subsoiler and using it to run a tight circle around the stump to break as many roots as possible. Not tried it myself, so can't say how well it works. It does make sense though, for many trees, but you'll have troubles with oak (or similar trees) which have a long taproot in the center. After cutting as many roots as possible, pop it out with your loader, or hook on a chain.

This isn't as effective as a backhoe, but it's a whole lot cheaper.

John Mc

 

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It does make sense though, for many trees, but you'll have troubles with oak (or similar trees) which have a long taproot in the center. )</font>

John, I used to think oaks had a tap root too. I had 6 oaks blow down in the last hurricane, 3 didderent types. None had tap roots.

Cut the roots, reach up high and push! Cutting the roots is the hard part. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( how do you remove tree stumps? )</font>

Best was is to remove the stumps while they are still attached to the trees.

I removed about 30 trees, ranging from arm sized to about 10" in diameter. Hitch a long, strong chain high up on the tree and get out of the way. If traction is good, the tree will go. Your larger trees will be more of a problem, but it will be interesting to see what size trees the TC45 can pull out. I think I could have pulled out a 12 inch tree by pulling while chopping on the tensioned roots. All this was with my old TC29, not my current TC35.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I have the same problem. I've a lot of stumps to remove from around the lake and no backhoe. Man, I really need that backhoe ... perhaps Santa will bring one. In the meantime I was thinking of hiring a stumpgrinder for the weekend and seeing how that went. I should be able to grind the stumps 6'' below ground level and backfill/cover it with dirt and let the rest of it rot out. I thought that 6" below ground would be deep enough not to interfere with any tilling and levelling I might do later on. Do you think this method would work?

 

[Justaplain]

Check into the price of a stump grinder by the day, it is less than a twisted frame or bucket on your FEL, and no big soft holes. bcs

 

[riptides]

I am in the process of doing this now with a 30hp Kubota 7800. No backhoe, just a chain saw and FEL. I usually clear as much brush and stuff out of the way first. Then I fell the tree leaving 3-4 feet. This provides leverage to rock back and forth with the FEL, AFTER, I dig into and sometimes under the stump.

Now since I am in the woods, once you start, you have a path cleared to get under the rest of them. Slow work, but somewhat satisfying. I'll post some pics if the weather cooperates this w/e. Area is about 150'-200'. Maybe 40 trees average size 10" round.

-HTH
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GareyD]

After readin this whole thread...nobody seems to use leverage to their advantage....Granpappy always pulled stumps with a span of mules...

Dig around the stump to loosen up most of the roots (Backhoe, FEL, or pick - shovel & axe)...Take a chain (longer is better) with a slip hook and double wrap around the stump as close to the ground as possible...hook the chain to a clevis on the drawbar of the tractor/mules...stand a 3-4 foot piece of 4x4 (Grandpappy used an oak tree about 5 inch in caliper) vertically next to the stump, under the chain...climb on the tractor, (or gittty up Beck & Dottie) and tug that sucker outta the ground....may take a little back and forth from different sides, but eventually all but the most stubborn will come outta the ground.

Playtex has it right "Lift and Separate!!"

GareyD

P.S. Put a piece of strap iron on the top of the post with some ears bent up to hold the chain in place if ya have a lot of stumps to pull (will make the post last longer) and if the ground is soft, put a piece of 2x12 or equivalent under the post to keep it from sinking!!!