Removing a Bush

[Iplayfarmer]

I finally got my tractor back from my Dad's house. By the looks of his corral and garden, I think he made good use of it the whole time it was there.

Now that I have the tractor again, I'm back to thinking of all the messes I can make and the things I need (want) to do.

I have two lilac bushes in the front yard that probably looked pretty good when they were younger/smaller. Now they are both too big, and I want to remove one. Not only will this look better, but it will make it easier to mow between the bush and the fence too.

I have a small Iseki TX1500, so I can get into some pretty tight spaces. I just don't have a lot of power. I've got a front end loader and a tiller, but no backhoe.

I know that I could do the shovel/axe/crowbar method and get the bush out eventually, but that takes all the fun out of having a tractor. What advice can you give to dig up a bush with a FEL?

 

[bczoom]

IPlay,

I've done similar and here's what I do.

First, drive right up to it and push with the bucket. Lots of small trees and bushes will pop right out. (feels real good when it does). I've taken out 20' tall, 8" diameter trees on first push using a 23hp tractor.

OK, if that didn't work...

Optional step but handy is to use a chainsaw or whatever and trim off the branches near the bottom (4' or so) of the bush. This will make the trunk more visible and provide easier access.

Using your FEL, dig around the perimeter of the bush, breaking the roots as you go.

Every once in awhile, with your FEL bucket flat and as high as you and the tree are comfortable (you're safe and the bush isn't bending over), use the front edge of the bucket and push on the bush.

If it comes out, you're good to go, haul away. If not, repeat the dig with FEL then try pushing again until it does come out.

Brian

 

[Nasty135]

Playfarmer, Do you have a toothbar? If so I have been succesful by running it into the ground about a foot from the bush a driving under the bush (I moved two lilacs last year this way) ...A toothbar isn't absolutely necessary but did make it pretty easy,also if the ground isn't rock hard it really helps ... maybe wait til after a good rain to soften up the soil a little ...this will help alot /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RedRocker]

I wouldn't ask John Kerry, he didn't have any luck. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sorry, just couldn't help myself.

 

[Farwell]

If I can't get a bush with the first couple of tries with my FEL I go get a chain, wrap it around the bush base in a manner that will hold tight and pull it out. Less ground repair work than digging it out.
Wish we lived close, I would love to have a few more lilac bushes, they take so long to grow here in Michigan.
Fawell

 

[Nasty135]

Red, That was a good'n /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Farewell , About tearing up the ground boy aint that the truth! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
A little hard on the bush though...ripping it out by the base you might just being saying farewell to the bush... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I wouldn't ask John Kerry, he didn't have any luck. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sorry, just couldn't help myself. )</font>

Hahahaha! Very nice! Hahahaha! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AndyM]

I'm not going to remove a Bush... he does all my yardwork... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Iplayfarmer]

<font color="blue"> I wouldn't ask John Kerry, he didn't have any luck.
</font>

Great one...Hillarous! I am laughing so hard I can't type.

There's a pretty staunch democrat who lives accross the street from me. I'll have to ask him if he can dig up some old National Guard records and try again to replace a Bush with two Johns.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Nasty, I don't have a tooth bar. Just a simple bucket.

Farwell, Not a bad idea about just pulling the bush out. It really is too bad that there's no way to get the bush to you. It's not a bad looking lilac, but it just doesn't fit in my landscape anywhere. You did give me the idea, though, to maybe look around here and see if someone wants an 8 foot lilac.

One question about the chain method... With the chain on the base of the bush, would you try to pull it to the side (i.e. drive the tractor) or would you try to pull it straight up (i.e. hook to the FEL and raise the bucket)?

 

[MMM]

Pull straight up as possible. If your tractor has enough weight, it should pop out with fel Or you can also run a chain over a big rim and pull off drawbar. Some weight in bucket will help. I'd attack perimeter roots with fel first in either case.

 

[Farwell]

Most of the time I drag the bush out, but I have used the FEL if the bush is located in an area where I have trouble getting to with the back of the tractor. If the bush is real stubborn I lower the FEL and will dig to China to get it out. ( an anger management problem I have)
I have a log chain that has a 3 inch round loop on one end and I thread the log chain around the bush, through the loop, hook the chain to my clevis on my draw bar, and slowly pull the bush out. As the chain tightens around the bush, it rarely slides off. I have never pulled Lilac so do not know the root pattern but I have done this to some very hardy bushes and it has worked well for me. I have a John Deere 2010 and it is around 45 horse power so they come out quite easily. Any thing I want to keep I dig by hand, trying my best to limit any plant damage, load it into my FEL and move it to where I want to transplant it.

 

[SteveInMD]

I agree with the pull it out method. Just wrap a chain around it and hook it to the drawbar. It leaves the least amount of cleanup to do. I pulled out 5 Lilac last year. None put up much of a fight.