How to clear Holly tree

[marksmand]

If it's what I'm thinking of, Holly is highly valued by woodturners. Check for a local turning club - they might be willing to pay you something for the trunks, at least, and maybe the big branches. I don't know where you're located, but woodturners are everywhere.

Holly is highly valued for binding and purflings etc. Does need to be dried quickly after it's cut to stay white and pieces need to be pretty much clear. They can be very narrow and still be usablehttps://www.gilmerwood.com/products/180707-american-holly-guitar-binding-billets

 

[Smf834]

I have been asking locally if anyone would be interested, but maybe i should reach out more areas

 

[Little Red Tractor]

A rented excavator for a day would likely have your problem knock out in far less time than any other solution. Once they're down, you have more options on dealing with them.

 

[composter55]

The holly bushes I have dug/pulled try to resprout from even tiny roots I missed. I don't think stump grinding would be permanent.

 

[JWR]

Trying to push out 15” diameter trees isn’t going to end well for your tractor FEL.

Never mind the FEL. You will do very little but spin tires. You say 20 to 30 ft holly trees ? I don't know where you are but that's one hell of a holly tree. Most are more like bushes though granted they can get higher in old age. I do not have the experience as to how hard or easy holly is to uproot. Hopefully someone on here can speak with that experience. If the grove of hollies is fairly concentrated consider renting or hiring a dozer and get it over with all at once.

I just saw your pictures and there is nothing there a person from the East would call a holly tree or bush. I have no idea what you are dealing with. One key question is do you have a gully or logical disposal space? Space for a burn pile ? If so that makes the dozer more attractive. As Fallon say above if you hire it done who cares how they do it?

 

[ning]

Never mind the FEL. You will do very little but spin tires. You say 20 to 30 ft holly trees ? I don't know where you are but that's one hell of a holly tree. Most are more like bushes though granted they can get higher in old age. I do not have the experience as to how hard or easy holly is to uproot. Hopefully someone on here can speak with that experience. If the grove of hollies is fairly concentrated consider renting or hiring a dozer and get it over with all at once.

I have a couple holly bushes next to my house which pretty much look like trees - most shrubs can be pruned into trees which will grow to a decent size, though it takes regular maintenance to keep them from being a thicket.

I keep mine topped to avoid shading upstairs windows that the bushes are below.

 

[etpm]

I have been asking locally if anyone would be interested, but maybe i should reach out more areas

Where in the NW are you located? Not your street address but maybe the nearest city or town? I ask because I'm on Whidbey Island and there are lots of holly groves around.
Thanks,
Eric

 

[Smf834]

I am south of Olympia. I just posted on craigslist too, see if anyone could use the hardwood.

 

[etpm]

I am south of Olympia. I just posted on craigslist too, see if anyone could use the hardwood.

Thanks for the location. I know some folks up on Whidbey that would take it for burning because it makes good firewood apparently, but nobody who wants to drive to Olympia for it.
Eric

 

[billypumper]

How many trees are we talking about, some times it's better to talk to a Forester, they will give you an idea what their value is worth, have a group of lumber businesses bid on the trees, they would remove said trees and you would be left with the branches and stumps, grind the stumps, sell or let neighbors cut branches for firewood, not sure about Holly, but might be good for framing wood.