How does one remove tree rows of hedge apple

[Fxfymn413]

Does anyone in your area do custom cutting to obtain desirable hardwoods? It may be worth a search to see if someone will cut them in exchange for the wood. You will probably be left with a lot of slash and stumps to clean up though.

The only on-line supplier I could find was asking more than $10.00 a BF.

 

[jk96]

I'm taking a couple of big osage out today. Large track loader and stump bucket. Pics of a few big oaks I've removed. Hardest part about Osage can be clearing enough lower branches to dig around them. It makes for excellent fire wood also.

Edit: will add that if you are talking about a lot of them a large excavator with thumb would be my choice. Can easily dig them out and pile them using the thumb to pick them up.

 

[bjh2915]

Some pretty good idea's. Some a little far fetched. I am sold on the track device and no tires. Great advise about NO KNEELING DOWN. Those thorns will really tear you up. I'm not so concerned about the tree stumps. I just want to remove the upper area that is blocking the sun from hitting the garden area. I have a small Kubota BX23S but I'm afraid of those thorns puncturing the tires.
Even after cutting down, there will be many branches with thorns on them. More then likely I'll burn, but it's getting them out of there without leaving the area full of thorns.

Good comments.

 

[dodge man]

This is not the case with you but it was common these were planted along boundary lines hence the reason fence in them. The fence was put up before the hedge trees were grown up. Used to be very common in my area but most have been bulldozed out.

 

[jk96]

I'm not so concerned about the tree stumps. I just want to remove the upper area that is blocking the sun from hitting the garden area.

If not concerned about stumps then a chainsaw and trackloader with grapple would work. If anyone rents a tree sheer a trackloader with a rotating tree sheer would be even better for cutting and removing the upper branches. Can cut the upper branches and move all from the seat.

 

[bjh2915]

tree sheer a trackloader ---- Yes, this would be what I would be looking for. I'll be able to get a head start looking, now for Spring.
I don't know if anyone rents, but it would be perfect.
I've seen other buckets that dig under the roots and the steer lifts them out of the ground. That could work, but it looks like a lot of work.
I have a chipper that fits on the back of my BX Kubota but I am not so sure that I wouldn't be chipping alot of branches and throwing thorns everywhere.
Thirty years ago this was a great idea, now it is becoming a nightmare.

 

[turnkey4099]

Hedge is top iof the charts for firewood. You might be able to get a wood cutter interested in doing the removal for you. What to do about the thorns left on the ground? i dunno. I removed ONE very small thornless honey locust from my windbreak - it reverted to ltype. I was still getting flats 3-4 years later.

 

[jk96]

I've seen other buckets that dig under the roots and the steer lifts them out of the ground. That could work, but it looks like a lot of work.

I dropped both of my hedge today using the stump bucket. 1st was 45" at the ground and 2nd was 30". Took some pics and video. Will get them posted for you later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[dirttoys]

Some pretty good idea's. Some a little far fetched. I am sold on the track device and no tires. Great advise about NO KNEELING DOWN. Those thorns will really tear you up. I'm not so concerned about the tree stumps. I just want to remove the upper area that is blocking the sun from hitting the garden area. I have a small Kubota BX23S but I'm afraid of those thorns puncturing the tires.
Even after cutting down, there will be many branches with thorns on them. More then likely I'll burn, but it's getting them out of there without leaving the area full of thorns.

Good comments.

Depending on your hurry, ring them with a chainsaw, throw in all your other brush, wait till next fall and burn them in place?

 

[3gunr]

Osage staves for longbows can bring 100 bucks apiece, That large of trees would get lots of staves , I would advertise them.

 

[dodge man]

It’s my understanding you have to be careful burning hedge, using all hedge can get to hot.

 

[jk96]

It’s my understanding you have to be careful burning hedge, using all hedge can get to hot.

It has ruined more than one stove as it can get hot enough to warp the metal. Blue flame is common during a good burn and also creates a pretty good firework show as well when you open the doors and expose a hot fire to extra oxygen.

 

[bjh2915]

I heard about the bow making from the trees. Interesting, might ask around

 

[bjh2915]

I dropped both of my hedge today using the stump bucket. 1st was 45" at the ground and 2nd was 30". Took some pics and video. Will get them posted for you later tonight or tomorrow.

Very interested in seeing them.

 

[jk96]

Here's the biggest of the two I dropped today. This one was 45" at the ground and took me about 18 minutes to lay over. Some of the roots were 9-10" wide. I've sped the video to 3x speed. The smaller one was about 30". I will post video of it next. The 30" tree took just under 6 minutes to drop.

Video
Digging hedge tree with stump bucket

Here are a few pics to give you an idea on size.

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[jk96]

Here's video of the 2nd hedge tree. This one was 30". Took just under 6 minutes to drop with the stump bucket. Video in real speed on this one.

 

[bjh2915]

What device are you calling a "Digger"?
Excavator?
Back Hoe?

 

[bjh2915]

Here's video of the 2nd hedge tree. This one was 30". Took just under 6 minutes to drop with the stump bucket. Video in real speed on this one.

Good watching on how to do it. My question to you is, "What about all of those thorns laying all over the place. Do you plan an putting grass down there? Aren't you afraid of the thorns puncturing your grass cutter tires" Maybe you have tracks on your cutter too????

 

[jk96]

Good watching on how to do it. My question to you is, "What about all of those thorns laying all over the place. Do you plan an putting grass down there? Aren't you afraid of the thorns puncturing your grass cutter tires" Maybe you have tracks on your cutter too????

I have a brush cutter for my CTL but don't typically worry about thorns from osage orange. Usually not very long. Honey locust on the other hand is a different story.

Here's what the thorns from honey locust here look like. Up to 14" long.

 

[bjh2915]

My god that looks like something from a monster movie. Really, that tree is for real?