Removing invasive trees/shrubs/vines

[GFL]

We have trees-of-heaven (ailanthus), wild roses (multifloria), bitter sweet, wisteria and cats claw. We need an implement to remove the growth and the roots. I believe a root grapple may be a good.

I would appreciate and comments and/or suggestions.

We want to purchase a tractor and the implements.

Thanks,
Gary

 

[wedge40]

Not sure what the root structure is of the plants you mentioned, but root grapple or if a vine or weed you could try the ratchet rake. I have a root grapple and use it on invasive honeysuckle. I've tried cutting and it just comes back bigger the next year.

Wedge

 

[1bush2hog]

Depending on the level of infestation, you may need more than a mechanical means to rid your property of these invasives. If you have oriental bittersweet and wisteria in the tree tops be careful trying to pull these out with a FEL. They can be hiding dead limbs that can dislodge and fall on you or your equipment

Do some research on herbicides and treatment practices that are more effective on these invasives Cutting vines at the base of the tree and treating the cut end with herbicide will take care of the bittersweet and wisteria. What is left in the tree will rot and fall out on its own. Whatever you do don't mow or cut this stuff. It will return with a vengeance

Tree of Heaven will require a basil bark treatment to remove it. While a foliar application will usually take care of the multiflora rose. Mixture rates, application process and timing are all critical and different for each invasive

Be patient as eradication may take several years of follow up treatments

Good luck

 

[Jerry/MT]

We have trees-of-heaven (ailanthus), wild roses (multifloria), bitter sweet, wisteria and cats claw. We need an implement to remove the growth and the roots. I believe a root grapple may be a good.

I would appreciate and comments and/or suggestions.

We want to purchase a tractor and the implements.

Thanks,
Gary

Rent a small crawler with clearing forks on the blade and blade then down and out. Treat any regrowth with Crossbow or an appropriate herbicide approved for use on those plants.

 

[radioman]

ratchet rake. straps onto your FEL. :thumbsup:

 

[murphy1244]

We have trees-of-heaven (ailanthus), wild roses (multifloria), bitter sweet, wisteria and cats claw. We need an implement to remove the growth and the roots. I believe a root grapple may be a good.

I would appreciate and comments and/or suggestions.

We want to purchase a tractor and the implements.

Thanks,
Gary

Do not just cut down tree of heaven. You must slice it and treat with pathfinder etc. If you just cut it down you will have a whole lot of runners giving you lots of new trees.

 

[jeff9366]

It takes an awfully powerful tractor to make use of a root grapple, which is a heavy implement.

Root grapples work better on skid loaders / track loaders which are designed to PUSH than on tractors, which are designed primarily to PULL.

A root grapple should be able to penetrate the dirt 18" and drag out roots at that depth. This requires a lot of power.

A Ratchet Rake does a great job of tearing out brush and other vegetation near the surface. For $299 it is a high value attachment. My Kubota B3300SU has 33 horsepower and that is enough to work my 52" RR satisfactorily.

I generally make a pass or two with my King Kutter Rotary Cutter, wait a week or two, then pull against whatever sprouts with the Ratchet Rake.

I may Ratchet Rake a second time after another week or spot kill with Glycophosphate. A lot depends on the weather.

Wild roses are tough. Only have a few in my area. I dig the corms out with a shovel. They are generally less than 18" underground but generally too deep to be pulled out by the Ratchet Rake. Glycophosphate will kill wild roses but it takes 3-5 applications. I find it simpler to use the shovel to remove the corms.

 

[smstonypoint]

Wild roses are tough. Only have a few in my area. I dig the corms out with a shovel. They are generally less than 18" underground but generally too deep to be pulled out by the Ratchet Rake. Glycophosphate will kill wild roses but it takes 3-5 applications. I find it simpler to use the shovel to remove the corms.

Crossbow(triclopyr & 2,4-D) has done a good job on multiflora roses for me.

Steve

 

[Oaktree]

Not familiar with the plants the OP mentioned, but I have an acre or so of some sort of low-bush sumac (not sure what it is exactly, but the leaves look like sumac). I just bush-hogged it, and keep the area mowed regularly. Seems to have kept the worst of it under control. Unfortunatley some of the area is kind of swampy so I can't mow that as often as I'd like.

A neighbor has had some luck with Roundup on this stuff, for me it didn't really help much.

 

[MtHam]

In our area we have an invasive bush known as Scotch Broom that like other similar plants must be pulled up by the roots, or it will just grow back, stronger than ever. A great tool for dealing with this is the Weed Wrench.

Weed Wrench Company
Weed Wrench Company
Weed Wrench woody plant puller is an all-steel professional grade tool made in the USA.

"Weed Wrench is a manually-operated, all-steel tool designed to remove woody plants by uprooting. Powerful jaws with an 18:1 gripping leverage are teamed with a 6:1 leverage for pulling even the toughest troublemakers. Weed Wrench was patented in 1987 and for 19 years it has been proven effective from coast to coast on a wide variety of woody plants. Weed Wrench is an efficient, safe, selective, permanent means of eliminating unwanted shrubs and sapling trees. With Weed Wrench, soil disturbance is minimal and desirable plants are unharmed. Persons of ordinary strength can use it effectively after only seconds of familiarization. And it's fun! An important part of Weed Wrench's success has been that most people find it fun to use."