L35 back hoe and tree stumps

[sss]

A good friend of mine has a L35 w/FEL and backhoe and has offered to let me use it to remove a pecan tree stump left from a dead tree that was just cut down. Can I expect to actually be able to remove the stump by digging around it, breaking up the roots and getting it free from the earth. The stump is about 5-6 ft in diameter and was probably 100 years old (guessing there). I plan to burn the stump along with some of the other small branches and chain saw shavings before trying to dig it up. I'm thinking if I can get the deeper roots that spread out dug up/broken, then I could pull the stump over with the tractor and/or my F-250. Since its in the middle of my front yard, I really want to get rid of it. I'm not worried about making a mess because I'll have dirt and grass brought in to cover the area - its already torn up from the tree coming down. So, can the L35 help me or would I be wasting my time and risking damaging his tractor. I've used his back hoe before for other projects and it is truly amazing

 

[mswanson]

I am no expert by any means but I have removed some good sized stumps with my smaller backhoe. I have found that you need to be patient and work your way around the stump. If a root is large then just follow it farther away from the stump until you can break it. Dig all the way around until all the surface roots around the stump have been cut then try to pry it out. If it is the kind of tree that also has a tap root or lots of small roots going down from the base of the stump you might have some pick and shovel work to do. With the strength of the L35 you shouldn't have a problem. Unfortunately I haven't removed a pecan stump so I can't give you any specific advice.

 

[mswanson]

Also, what I have done in the past is, once it is loose, lift it out of the hole with the backhoe, dig the hole bigger and deeper, push the stump back in the hole with the loader and back fill. This way you don't have a huge stump to burn.

 

[miki]

I would also push the stump back in the larger hole and back fill. A stump this size will burn forever!

 

[sss]

I would love to bury the stump where it is but the boss's plans call for at least 1 tree to be planted in the vacinity. With that in mine, I'll see if moving the new tree(s) around a little so that the stump can be buried. Thanks for the idea guys - I hadn't thought of that.

 

[Kub]

I'm not sure but what happens when the buried stump decays, wouldn't you have a rather large depression in your front lawn?

Kub

 

[DavidInNH]

We had a "stump push" on the front of our property that was put there when they cleared the roads for the subdivision - just a pile of stumps covered with some loam. It had been there over 10 years when we dug it up and the stumps looked just like new. So maybe you don't need to worry too much about the stump rotting and developing a sink hole.

If I remember correctly, pecan trees do have tap roots. I bet a tree that big has a pretty big tap root.

-david

 

[Tags]

sss,
The L35 will definitely be able to dig around it as long as you start away from it and work closer as you break roots,the biggest problems I see is not being able to break it loose once dug around and also not being able to lift it out of the hole,your best bet is one you have dug all around it you may have to work your way under it with a pick to knock the dirt away that is stuck around the roots,this will eliminate alot of extra weight and will make getting it out of the hole easier,if you have to you could also dig a ramp and drag the sucker out of the hole then push it to its final resting place.

 

[Boondox]

If I want to minimize the torn up area I'll expose the roots and use a Sawzall to cut through them.

Pete

 

[sss]

Thanks for the replys - the stump is buring right now so hopefully this weekend I can attack it. The tree sits in the middle of my front yard away from anything else - and, well lets just say, it wasn't surrounded by "grass" and the area is now torn up from the branches falling, etc. My plan is to get the stump out and then haul in top soil and grass and really fix the area up. So, I think I'll dig around the stump, breaking up the roots and then dig out one side a little more and try and get to the tap root. I'm thinking if I can get the tap root exposed and get either a chain saw or Sawzall to at least weaken it, I can pull it over with my truck. Once its out, I'll move it to the back of the property to a burn area thats out of sight. Thanks again for the help.