Removing christmas trees stumps

eyi · Mar 19, 2017

Hi all,

Bought a 20 acres field loaded with christmas trees which will be cut next fall.

My plan is to converse most of it into a nice deer food plot. The question is what to do with the stumps ?

Leave them rot would be a solution, but how long would it take ? Probably a problem to work the soil correctly for 3-5 years ? Too long ...

Could i remove it with my Kubota L3800, with a rachet rake on the bucket ? I fear l may have a hard time with the largest ones ?

Any implement comes to your mind ?

Thanks

Creamer · Mar 19, 2017

I am curious as to the responses you get. I am not sure how to do this.

TheMadOne · Mar 19, 2017

If you have 20 acres to do, an excavator would be the fastest solution. I don't think you be able to rent one and do them all in one go, so you might have to chip away at them for a few years.

Another possibility would be a subsoiler. Use it to cut the roots around each stump and make it easier to deal with, though that does leave the tap root intact, if the species in question has them. Some don't. Then the 3800 should be able to knock the stumps over. You could insist that the stumps be left...10 inches or more tall, which should allow you to get a choke chain on and use the three point lift to "pop" them out.

How do you plan on dealing with the holes?

4570Man · Mar 19, 2017

Rent a trackhoe or hire it done. Your tractor isn't up to the task. A CTL would work too, but if you're renting anyway a trackhoe is the tool for the job.

txdon · Mar 19, 2017

My root grapple would pop them right out.
Grapple was made by "The Rake Shop", they also make root rakes.

But 20 acres would take a long time.

Halftrack · Mar 19, 2017

Assuming the pines are planted in some sort of pattern, I would consider a subsoiler and use it to cut roots in either a triangular or square pattern across the field, close to the stumps. Also, assuming the pines are planted in sand, it should be a rather easy pull for your 3800. Between the rachet rake and the subsoiler, you should be able to pull or lift the stumps out after the cut.

Tractor Seabee · Mar 20, 2017

Are you selling the trees as Christmas trees or trashing them? What is the stump diameter? Key points in your project to get good info. I push out 4" alder trees with my little BX with no sweat. Alders have a more extensive root system than any conifers I have pushed or dug out (more than a few). A bunch of less than 4" trees I could dig out with the BX BH in minutes and not put down the outriggers. That is with 500# of ballast in the FEL to stabilize.

Another key element is what is your budget and how fast do want to get it done. small equipment will get it done but take longer.

Ron

Magicman710 · Mar 20, 2017

Christmas trees stumps should pretty small... A dozer with a root rake on front would probably be the best machine for the job.

Cat_Driver · Mar 20, 2017

If the stumps are 4" your tractor is fine the more wet the soil the better after a rain would be best. Reny dozer if they are bigger you'll need the dozer at least two days,

Tomtint · Mar 20, 2017

I think a mini x with a thumb would work fine. I would expect to be able to do maybe 2 acres a day pretty easily.

eyi · Mar 20, 2017

I bought it some years ago but gave some time to the previous owner to finish this culture. Now it's done, time has expired.

I figure most stumps would have a diameter of 4-5 inches or smaller. Some at 6 inches but not many.

TheMadOne · Mar 20, 2017

What species of tree is it? If it has web or surface roots the subsoiler and ratchet rake would work well. Even better if they're planted in a grid.

rd_macgregor · Mar 20, 2017

Since these would be transplanted as tiny seedlings, they shouldn't have anything like tap roots. This means they'd come out fairly easily. Still, 20ac. would be a pretty big job...time-consuming if you do it yourself with a tractor and expensive if you rent bigger equipment or hire out the job.

I presume the trees are planted in rows. How widely spaced are the rows? Would it work to cut them flush and plant your food plot between the rows for the few years it would take for the tree roots to rot? After 5 years, I bet you could just plow up the whole field without much of a problem.

Thomas · Mar 20, 2017

Good dozer operator can remove and level ground short time,let dry for couple years than burn.

Egon · Mar 20, 2017

There are different options:

Dozer with root rake. Large tractor with root rake.
Dozer/tractor pulling a heavy disk and then rake it.

Smaller equipment like your tractor will work but take longer. The bucket should have teeth about sixteen in. Long and spaced at about one foot apart. Using curl should lift your stumps.

Oldoak · Mar 20, 2017

Tomtint said:
I think a mini x with a thumb would work fine. I would expect to be able to do maybe 2 acres a day pretty easily.

That would do it just fine. Be like a dentist pulling teeth. That's the way I would do it. Although it would take some time pulling one by one.

Sprinklerman · Mar 20, 2017

What about a stump grinder ?

TheMadOne · Mar 20, 2017

Sprinklerman said:
What about a stump grinder ?

Wouldn't get all of it, and correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you want to get the roots out anyway, to allow the grass to have more room to take root? Something like a box blade with the scarifiers all the way down after the stumps are removed to pull all the trash, or a root grapple if you have one.