Mulching/clearing opinions

[ScottOkla]

Well, I just now got back to the computer after the weekend. No pictures due to tractor issues at the farm, but hopefully tomorrow or Thursday.

In my case, I don't care about stump removal, I just want them level with the ground for mowing and to run pecan harvesters. Can the mulcher level off large (24") stumps from trees that have recently been cut? I have plenty of those that I usually just mark and cover with soil for a few years until gone. I mow two to three times per year and that takes care of most stump re-growth except the mid-sized to large trees which are the ones I chemically treat and cover.

I don't mind the ground being torn up by a dozer as long as it is in Aug-Oct so I can put down the clover seed, but clover would also do very well where the trees were mulched since clover loves P but does not need N.

I will post picures when I get them, but I noticed this weekend that much of what remains to be cleared of my place has many, many tall skinny hardwood seedlings in the 4 to 6 inch category. They can be anywhere from 15' to 25' tall. The rest is shrubs and vines. No rocks.

Good information in this thread!

 

[cbturf]

Any mulcher will grind any tree or stump as long as you have the time to gnaw on it. You really need larger more powerful machines for the big daddys though. 4-6 inch stuff is no problem for even the small machines. I just passed by you on Saturday evening headed from NM back to Nashville. If I could see the job I could give you a better estimate of the cost and the results you should expect. I still think that if you want to avoid a dozer because of the destructive clearing that a dozer does and your need to keep the pecan trees in production without stress.

 

[finspop]

Lots of good info. I'm very interested in mulching.

Does anyone know if there are any operators in New England?

My googling isn't turning up anyone.

Or maybe cbturf wants to take a drive

Thanks.

 

[RobJ]

I am afraid that you are making a few incorrect assumptions. I run a dedicated purpose built mulcher that cost over $155k. In heavy material it will guzzle a 52 gallon load of fuel in 7 hours. And I would not reccomend pulling my 15,300 lb machine on a bumper pull trailer.

Oh!

Got any pics or movies? They are cool to watch!

Rob

 

[cbturf]

Lots of good info. I'm very interested in mulching.

Does anyone know if there are any operators in New England?

My googling isn't turning up anyone.

Or maybe cbturf wants to take a drive

Thanks.

I will go anywhere if the job is big enough. I have been from NC, AL, NM, OK, TX, KY, AZ and AR. I even priced one in AK. Kinda glad I lost on that one. Seems like I have been working everywhere except TN! How huch do you have?

 

[finspop]

about 5-acres. Probably not enough to get you up here.

I did find someone in NH with a brontosauraus (sp?) mulching attachment for an excavator. But he can only do stuff that's 17-feet tall or less. He said I should saw or shear the trees and have someone come in with a big chipper. Does that make any sense?

Thanks for your input.

 

[cbturf]

I heard that the Forest Service tried to use chippers but the the chips are so uniform that they lay down and form a blanket that actually prevents regrowth. One of our boys here on the site is up there he will find this thread I am sure.

Looks like both Quickdraw and TMTS are up there in your area.

 

[QwikDraw]

I'm in CT and TMTS(Eric) is up in NH, I'm sure we can do whatever you need done.

TR Landworks
Tucker Mountain Tree

 

[TMTS]

finspop- not sure if your the person I spoke with on the phone this evening, but if not, give me a call...contact info in link in my signature...

cheers-

eric

 

[HeyUvaVT]

Clear View Group - Land and Lot Clearing in Kilmarnock, Virginia

mulching is by far the best answer for the jobs described in these posts...

 

[finspop]

Hey Eric,

yup, that waz me. Thanks again for your time and insight. I found a local operator with a feller buncher; I've known the guy for a while and never knew he had the equipment, so I feel good about working with him. He's coming to look at the project and agrees that we might be able to offset a significant chunk of his fee with pulp logs. He charges $125/hour, and says he can do at least 2-acres/day. This seems quite reasonable, particularly if we get a portion of that back.

One question for you (or anyone else): I suspect he'll leave quite a mess of limbs and whatnot. Would it then make sense for you to come in and mulch this stuff? Or would he not make as much of a mess as I suspect?

Thanks again.

 

[john_bud]

. He charges $125/hour, and says he can do at least 2-acres/day. This seems quite reasonable, particularly if we get a portion of that back.

One question for you (or anyone else): I suspect he'll leave quite a mess of limbs and whatnot. Would it then make sense for you to come in and mulch this stuff? Or would he not make as much of a mess as I suspect?

Thanks again.

Why do you want to pay the same as a mulcher (give or take) and then have to work your buns off cleaning up, stumping, burning, etc afterwards? Just pay a mulcher to leave it pristine for the same money.

 

[finspop]

Mostly b/c it seems like I might get some $ for the logs.

And also b/c there are some pretty sizable trees in there; it might be fairly slow going with a mulcher.

but my mind's not made up yet.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Yes a mulcher would cleanup behind harvesting trees well. And yes the hearvester will make a mess. Given the size of the mulching tractor it might even be good to have the mulcher come in first and clear out some of the smaller stuff to make way for the harvester. Then he could either work with the harvester or after to cleanup. It would be good to have the harvester cut the trunks as low as possible to speed the final planing by the mulcher. A few inches on every stump will save big at the end ofthe day.

 

[TMTS]

Finspop-

A good feller-buncher operator will not leave as much of a mess as you might suspect. Could also come in before the FB operator- but let me know what the local logging contractor says he can get out of the poplar pulp. Robbie's advice about leaving as low a stump as possible is a key one...if the logging operator does leave a mess then give me a call and I can see if mulching after to grind up slash and grind stumps at the same time might make sense. Poplar stumps are pretty easy to grind up...even ones that are 10" +/-. would be an alterantive to excavator-based stumping. you can then overseed and get some pasture grass going in no time...

cheers-

Eric

 

[john_bud]

Mostly b/c it seems like I might get some $ for the logs.

And also b/c there are some pretty sizable trees in there; it might be fairly slow going with a mulcher.

but my mind's not made up yet.

Well, that's always a good thought. But, 5 acres isn't going to have many board feet. It may be best to mulch first, then log. You may be able to dictate that the logger pile the tops so you can easily burn them? Also, your tractor may be able to clean up the tops by pushing or dragging to a pile fairly easily if the rest of the ground is clear.

 

[ScottOkla]

Finally got some pictures of my place yesterday. These are fairly typical, at least the parts I can get to. It gets a bit thicker the deeper in you go. There are more tall skinny trees in the 6"-8" range than I got in these pictures.

Some of this stuff can be cleared just fine with the stuff I have, but some of it is really time-consuming. It would take me a few years at least to get to all 60 acres, or even the 20 or 30 that is the most useful to me.

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Ahhh Thats sooooo MULCHABLE......

 

[HeyUvaVT]

Ahhh Thats sooooo MULCHABLE......

i have to agree..thats the kinda stuff I file under "jobs I would LOVE to get my hands on"

 

[cbturf]

Yes they are both right that is a prime candidate for mulching but I would like to add something. When you clear small material like this with a dozer you end up with as much dirt in your piles as you do brush (see john-buds clearing pictures). As you know dirt will not burn and you will have these piles laying around for years until the brush decomposes or you have time to sift through them and get the dirt out. Just another reason why mulchers are better than dozers right boys.