Whatever you decide to use, begin your dig out far from the main trunk as the roots there are not as large and aggressive as closer. A toothbar on the bucket is what I used most of the time before I got my backhoe on and now I use that most. But working from the outside in has been a great help in getting them out. I often tie onto the tree, high up, attach to drawbar (keep it low!) and pull them over as much as possible. I can then usually see where the roots are coming up, and I work ever closer into the trunk from there. John
Removing small stumps
- Thread starter dbrauner
- Start date
- Views: 2522
Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
If you already have the small stumps you have gotten some good suggestions on how to get them out...
But if you have future stumps, with trees still attached to them, then within limits I have found it best to push the trees over with my loader, and in doing so, cause the stumps and maybe half of the roots to pop out of the ground. Then a push with the loader, expecially if you have a tooth bar on it, with a little lift can pop the whole works out of the ground.
Tree is out and you never got to the point of having to deal with a stump!
A second advantage of doing it this way, is you can get most of the dirt off the roots, by lifting the base end of the tree up, and dropping it a couple times.
Nothing is 100% foolproof though. Sometimes a tree will break off (or just bend) and you have to deal with the stump.
Just throwing this out for consideration. Myself, after getting my tractor, I cut off a number of small trees before realizing it would be better cut them up AFTER I popped the whole works out of the ground... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
But if you have future stumps, with trees still attached to them, then within limits I have found it best to push the trees over with my loader, and in doing so, cause the stumps and maybe half of the roots to pop out of the ground. Then a push with the loader, expecially if you have a tooth bar on it, with a little lift can pop the whole works out of the ground.
Tree is out and you never got to the point of having to deal with a stump!
A second advantage of doing it this way, is you can get most of the dirt off the roots, by lifting the base end of the tree up, and dropping it a couple times.
Nothing is 100% foolproof though. Sometimes a tree will break off (or just bend) and you have to deal with the stump.
Just throwing this out for consideration. Myself, after getting my tractor, I cut off a number of small trees before realizing it would be better cut them up AFTER I popped the whole works out of the ground... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
dbrauner,
Please tell us a little more.
When you say you're bucket doesn't seem to do much, what's the issue?
How tall is the stump?
What kind of tree is it? (If it's elm, not sure much of anything can get it out easily)
What kind of ground are you digging in?
My tractor is smaller than yours yet I can normally remove stumps much larger than 4" using only the loader. When possible, I use the approach Henro stated but I can't do on anything very large (greater than about 6-8").
Please tell us a little more.
When you say you're bucket doesn't seem to do much, what's the issue?
How tall is the stump?
What kind of tree is it? (If it's elm, not sure much of anything can get it out easily)
What kind of ground are you digging in?
My tractor is smaller than yours yet I can normally remove stumps much larger than 4" using only the loader. When possible, I use the approach Henro stated but I can't do on anything very large (greater than about 6-8").
have_blue
Veteran Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is there anything I can use to remove small (<4" diameter)? My bucket doesn't seem to do too much. I have a JD 4310 with a 430 FEL. Maybe a subsoiler or something that digs a little? )</font>
Now that the handle is gone (the tree), it's hard to deal with stumps. If they are tall enough to get a chain onto them, do this:
Back up 3' from the stump, angle the loader 20-30 Deg. downward, and try to cut the roots. Do this in 4-6 places around the stump. If you can cut quite a few roots, your can then pull it out with a chain. You may have to use a fulcrum, like as a 3-5' piece of cross tie. Cut a notch for your chain in 1 end of the tie. Attach the chain, take just enough slack out of it so the fulcrum is tight standing up about 2 feet from the stump. This puts an upward pull on the stump.
Good luck. Next time, leave the handles on, or cut them lower than brush hogging height. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Now that the handle is gone (the tree), it's hard to deal with stumps. If they are tall enough to get a chain onto them, do this:
Back up 3' from the stump, angle the loader 20-30 Deg. downward, and try to cut the roots. Do this in 4-6 places around the stump. If you can cut quite a few roots, your can then pull it out with a chain. You may have to use a fulcrum, like as a 3-5' piece of cross tie. Cut a notch for your chain in 1 end of the tie. Attach the chain, take just enough slack out of it so the fulcrum is tight standing up about 2 feet from the stump. This puts an upward pull on the stump.
Good luck. Next time, leave the handles on, or cut them lower than brush hogging height. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
gabby
Gold Member
The wing runs horizontally beneath the ground. It's welded to the bottom of the subsoiler foot. It's a piece of motor grader blade with a sharp front edge. My digicam is dead so I can't post a picture. It's nothing like a middlebuster.
Gabby
Gabby
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
Here's a thread from three or so years ago. It covers the way a real lazy fella with limited means did it.
stump pulling
stump pulling
Hello Bczoom,
I can probably do it with my FEL, bucket & toothbar. I started to try to push some of them but they wouldn't budge. I need to try to use the teeth to dig a little more and see if that works. I had no idea that I could potentially be able to push over the trees. Most of these small ones are gum ball trees, not sure what the proper name is.
I can probably do it with my FEL, bucket & toothbar. I started to try to push some of them but they wouldn't budge. I need to try to use the teeth to dig a little more and see if that works. I had no idea that I could potentially be able to push over the trees. Most of these small ones are gum ball trees, not sure what the proper name is.
MMM
Platinum Member
Best never to cut a sweet gum. They're really tough to kill if you don't get roots out. Small ones uproot easily if you leave top for leverage.