OK Land Cleaners, gotta question for you

[tractorjackleg]

If you have a large enough machine root balls can be mulched as well. Until recently ALL of my jobs were for developments. I would go through and take out the small things and drop and mulch the large trees leaving about 1 foot above the ground. An excavator would follow me through popping out the root balls and then I would double back and process them. Piece of cake if you have the right equipment. No tub grinder and no burning for less money! No brainer.

Thats what I don't understand. Obviously an excavator can take out a tree and root ball a whole lot easier if it is still in tact. It requires a lot more digging if you don't have the leverage of the tree to work with. Of coarse a big enough machine wouldn't have much trouble either way... but it just kills me that you mulch... then have a machine come back and do the things the mulcher can't. I realize some people can't burn and some don't want to. But if burning is an option I can't see paying a mulcher to come in and then paying an excavator/dozer to finish the job when the excavator/dozer could have done the whole thing to begin with.

 

[C.G.S.]

If you grind the big stumps out 1 to 3 feet below grade you don't need excavator or dozer. I deal with large trees{ Oak, ash,maple ect} some over 3' through. Trees that big are a lot of trouble to burn and make for a big hole to fill in if you dig them out. When it rains those holes turn in to tank traps. It is better not have heavy equipment on a site that needs to perk for spetic systems. Keeper trees hold up much better if your not skinning them all up shoving stuff around with a dozer.

 

[rutwad]

Well I have some pictures, but I can't seem to get them loaded.

 

[tractorjackleg]

If you grind the big stumps out 1 to 3 feet below grade you don't need excavator or dozer. I deal with large trees{ Oak, ash,maple ect} some over 3' through. Trees that big are a lot of trouble to burn and make for a big hole to fill in if you dig them out. When it rains those holes turn in to tank traps. It is better not have heavy equipment on a site that needs to perk for spetic systems. Keeper trees hold up much better if your not skinning them all up shoving stuff around with a dozer.

I can see where your coming from. But those stumps that you don't completely remove will also rot and cause low spots down the road. And you are correct it is easier on the keeper trees... but I've never had a problem with one because the heavier equipment was around it... although it can happen.

 

[cbturf]

In my market burning is NEVER and option! In my opinion burning will not be an option anywhere in a few years. If you are on a development there are very few "keeper trees" so this is not and issue either. The real issue is what will make the most money fastest and that is mulching.

Federal law requires that you scrape and save topsoil to be respread after the grading is done so holes created by root ball extraction is no problem. Federal law also requires that you have sediment control measures in place BEFORE you can begin scraping the site, mulching is considered adequate soil cover so the silt fence can be installed after clearing is done without concern of working around trees. If you install silt fence and then have to run a D-8 on the site you will end up installing the silt fence two or three times.

A dozer is made to push dirt not push trees, use your equipment for what it was made for. Every development that I have worked on clearing was a nuiscence that had to be done before they could start making money doing what they where hired to do (install infastructure and build roads). If you have a 100 acre development and you start the mulcher on Monday by Wednesday you can start the scraping and begin digging the trenches for the sewer and constructing your retention areas. If your mulching contractor can maintain production he will stay out in front of the real crew doing a better clearing job for less money.

No burn and no piles means no smoke and no tub grinder. In a traditional clearing job of a 100 acres or so you will have a good number of piles that you will have to bring the tub grinder in to reduce. If you put the piles near the front of the development they will be in the way as you try to do the above mentioned tasks. If you put the piles near the back of the development the tub grinder will be limited by terrain and weather. Not to mention that you will have to leave access routes into the site limiting your work.

When it comes to commercial development where speed means survival of your business using a dedicated land clearing contractor is a no brainer.