Removing a bush

[Freds]

Keep the suggestions coming guys, a pint of diesel and a 500,000 btu weed torch is looking better and better.

 

[studor]

I'd say spirea as well -- yanked one out of a front lawn once with a Pathfinder in two wheel drive. Should think that a tractor with either a chain or tow strap will do the job. Will only take you a minute to find out

 

[rcrcomputing]

Before I got a tractor, I pulled many a small tree out with my old ford ranger. If the tree didn't come out with a running go at it, the pickup would come to an abrupt stop as the rear end came 3 0r 4 feet off the ground. Sure was fun..

 

[rdbrumfield]

Some bushes can be a real pain. Japanese quince looks something like that and I tell you it has a rootwad the size of the plant it'self.

I see that you have some other good size trees there. When I have place to anchor a cable to besides the pulling unit this really can give you an advantage.

By using what is called a luff here in the northwest you can pull 4X the straight pull of the tractor.
Take two pulleys and lie them in front of the bush, tree you want to pull. Take a cable that will cinch up on the bush and attach it to the pulley nearest the bush. Attach a cable to the second pulley, run it through the one near the bush, and take it to something solid, put a few wraps on it and take it back to the second pulley and put it in it. Hook to the end of the cable and pull easily. the pulley nearest the pulling unit will move twice as fast as sthe one on the bush. You may have to reset them once you have pulled a ways. You will find that you will have incredible power in this fashion. If you need to you can put one more block in line with those, that gives you 8X the pull. Just be sure your deadman can stand the strain. You may need to use multiple deadmen but not for a bush that size.

Be sure that when you are pulling, that there is no one inbetween any of the cables and that you are using large enough lines. You can exert a lot of pull in this configuration.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

if yanking doesn't work, can you build a fire around it and burn it down to the ground?
otherwise tying it up into a tight bundle and going after it with a chainsaw will work, but you'll be beat half to death by stalks as they separate from the bundle. (long handled loppers would take a while but be less hazardous)

and I agree with the votes for Spirea.

 

[Freds]

I just Googled Spirea and yep, that's what it looks like. Good call.
It was supposed to be a nice sunny day today, so of course I woke up to a drizzle. If it doesn't dry up by this afternoon like it's "supposed to" (lol), my project will be pushed back a day, but I'll let you know.

 

[J_J]

Did you know that trees and plants come out of the ground better.when wet.

 

[dangerdoc]

After looking at the picture again, I'd probably just mow over it with the bushhog.

 

[AchingBack]

After looking at the picture again, I'd probably just mow over it with the bushhog.

Yup. SIBKISS

 

[Freds]

Did you know that trees and plants come out of the ground better.when wet.

I kinda figured they did, but I figured there was a point of diminishing returns between softer ground and loss of traction. I'm kicking around going out there now. It looks like it's dried up decently.

 

[NY_Mr Project]

Probably not the best Idea, but I would BURN THE BUSH. KEEP A HOSE CLOSE. Definately not safe, but FUN

 

[AndyMA]

You have a good BH, use it.

I believe I would use the BH to reach across the bush and take several loosening bites, and then dig a little deeper and pluck it out and take it where you want. Bring some dirt back and level the spot.

I would do it this way, but bet it is shallow rooted and will come out with one grab. I woud grab up into the bush a foot or so and also in the soil and see which sorks better. I would then beat up the root ball with the hoe to remove the soil and as my Dad, a nursery man would say give it a hair cut..

Andy

 

[schmism]

i snatch crap like that all the time with my TC33.

double wrap the chain around the bottom of the whole 9yards hook to FEL and pull.

 

[Freds]

Well, giving it a yank did nothing but put tire marks in my yard where I came to a stop. So I took the hoe to it, which is what I wanted to do anyway. I dug around the base and just loosened the dirt up, popping a couple roots along the way. You can still see the sling cinched around the bottom. As I got in close with the boom and dipper stick, the bush started to give way and I knew that was doing the trick. It walked out of there like butta And off we went to my brush pile out back.
Now I'm thinking I'll scrape the area with my hoe to break up the roots more, maybe even run my tiller over it, and decide what to do with it. I'd like another bush there, or maybe I'll find a tree out back and stick it in the ground. I've got some 4' high right now that get white flowers on them in the spring, dogwood maybe? Anyway, got that little project done.

 

[greenmule]

I don't have a backhoe,guess I woulda never been able to get that bush out??

I woulda took a chainsaw and in 5 min [quicker than it takes my tractor to warm up],had that bush down to ground level or beyond.

Than my wife woulda had to pick up the brush.

 

[Freds]

I don't have a backhoe,guess I woulda never been able to get that bush out??

I woulda took a chainsaw and in 5 min [quicker than it takes my tractor to warm up],had that bush down to ground level or beyond.

Than my wife woulda had to pick up the brush.

I'm sure it could have been loosened up with a shovel, too, even though the mushroom shape of the bush would have made that a pain in the butt.
But IMO using a shovel when you have a hoe is like using a wheelbarrow when you have a loader

 

[J_J]

Freds,

I am sure glad you gave that hoe a good workout.

 

[JoelD]

Keep the suggestions coming guys, a pint of diesel and a 500,000 btu weed torch is looking better and better.

That's what I was thinking, burn that puppy out, or maybe dynamite. How about corosive acid, or maybe poison?

How about doing what I do, convince yourself it is one of your wife's favorite flowering bushes; then you are bound to run it over about a 100 times by accident, that seems to make quick work of the shrubs around my house.

Joel

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Looks like a fun day. Hey go turn them hens loose that are in the background picture for a while in the hole.. They will have a Hen party digging in that.

 

[Redbug]

Awww Freds, you went and pulled the bush out! Whadja go and do that for? We was just getting started on how to get it done right...

Seriously though, I sure wish I had a backhoe. Maybe in the future...