Removal of big nasty bush

[jmc]

Between last fall and this spring, the wife and I pulled about 30 hybrid willows. We ran a chain through a short piece of about 4" pipe, around the bushes and then back through the pipe and hooked to the pipe wall. That chokes the tree and the pipe bites in and won't slip.

I'm going to remember that trick. Thanks.

 

[KWentling]

"also look for a "bush grubber" think a "choke collar" for a dog, but has teeth on it. and grabs in a bit better. there is also some that are more like a big pair of scissors that can grab a hold."

I looked at those but I couldn't find any that were heavy enough for what I was doing. Seems most were to be used with garden tractors or 4-wheelers and made of 1/4" chain if I remember correctly. The pipe and chain worked great and I had the pipe laying around, so free!

 

[sixdogs]

Save yourself some time and money. Brush a light coat of glyphosate on the stumps immediately after cutting.

Steve

This is all you need to do so don't overthink it. We have pulled and killed hundreds of trees and bushes. Just brush a little full strength Roundup/glyphosate around the outside edge of the tree trunk immediately after cutting. Works like a champ and is so fast I feel guilty.

We have done it every way from hard to easy and this is the only way to fly.

 

[JWR]

From the picture, they are almost in the water. I'm guessing root structure is not that extensive and in soft stuff. The "chain around it through a pc of 4" pipe" from KWentling sounds good to me. The old steel wheel trick (chain over the wheel) to get upward force may or may not be needed. Maybe even something stiff and higher than a wheel ? If pulling it out fails, just do a one-time hire of someone with an articulated arm cutter to reach out over it and cut it down to the roots. Then use the brush killer painted on the roots as others suggested. Maybe the small excavator could be just as cheap as the arm cutter depending on who/whether you can find anyone nearby with that capability. So if you can't pull it hire it done. ... and don't go too close the water with your machine...