Should I stump grind?

[BonnyDoonCA]

I'm about to be a new owner of a Kubota B3200 (PTO = 23 hp) and I have a lot of stumps on my property. I wonder if my tractor would be appropriate for a stump grinder and if I even want to get into that project. I have an area where stumps are about 1' dia, another area with Redwood stumps up to 3' and even 4' dia. It would be nice to have them gone but maybe I ought to just live with 'em.
-Mike

 

[Treemonkey1000]

They usually charge by diameter and depth. With that big of a stump it starts to add up. You could research the tractor stump grinders and see if your has the flow needed to spin the wheel. You could rent one and save yourself some money. But you would have to rent a big enough one so you aren't out there for a week. One of the guys we use his is remote controlled. He can grind a 28" diameter stump this is fir or cedar in about 20 minutes.

 

[foggy1111]

I've ground stumps on my property for a few years. Over 1600 pine stumps to 16" diameter......and counting. I would think redwood is pretty soft and easy to grind.

First I rented a grinder (both Vermeer and Rayco 25 hp self propelled) and ground quite a few with them. Maybe 200 per day. Cost me about $150 per day plus fuel. Then I got tired of dull teeth and bad belts.....and bought my own. Bought a Woods TSG50....which is a good size for your tractor. It's PTO driven and swing and elevation are hydraulic controlled (I use my loader joystick to operate the hydraulic cylinders). I take out 12" diameter pine stumps in just minutes.....with lots of variables based on location and size etc. Your redwoods should be a breeze (?).

I think for SOFT woods these small 3 Point grinders are a good deal. I belive mine cost about $3000....complete with all the extra hoses and such. I've writen extensively about my experience here on TBN. Search "stump grinder" or Woods TSG50.

 

[94BULLITT]

I would rent a stump grinder, a self propelled all hydraulic.

 

[CliffordK]

What are you doing with the field?

I would think a brush hog would tear up the 1" stumps quite effectively. Perhaps up to a few inches in diameter.
If you are just using this for pasture, you could cut off at ground level, although it may take a few years for redwood stumps to completely rot.

 

[creekbend]

What are you doing with the field?

I would think a brush hog would tear up the 1" stumps quite effectively. Perhaps up to a few inches in diameter.
If you are just using this for pasture, you could cut off at ground level, although it may take a few years for redwood stumps to completely rot.

The Op stated in his post that the stumps were 1 foot, 3 foot, and even 4 foot in diameter. Your probably read it wrong.. I make mistakes quite often.

 

[CliffordK]

Oops, sorry, I misread...

So, a 3' redwood stump could stay there for a while.

It would, of course, depend on what is being done with the land.

I always find it interesting to be walking through the woods and seeing stumps with springboard notches.

I have a 3' stump that I've whacked a few times with the brush hog. I think it is finally rotting to a point where the next time I hit it, it should tear it up quite a bit. There are bio/chemical ways to speed up the rotting process. In my case, I think that by hitting the stump with the brush hog,it might have helped facilitate the rotting by creating more entry points for rot.

 

[dfkrug]

So, a 3' redwood stump could stay there for a while.

It would, of course, depend on what is being done with the land.

I always find it interesting to be walking through the woods and seeing stumps with springboard
notches.

All my redwood stumps will be here long after I am taking a dirt nap.

Sempervirens tree stumps take hundreds of years to rot away. My biggest is about 18'
tall and 12' in diameter, cut about 100-150 y ago. Springboard notches, too. Some
redwoods stumps around here have formed "fairy circles" of 150' trees.

Everything has to do with how you are going to use the land, as you say. Tilled
field, front yard, or golf course, yes, grind 'em or dig them up. Otherwise, just cut them off
flush with the ground so you can drive or mow over them. My $.02.

I am close to Bonny Doon, so I know the OP has some "tree issues".

 

[foggy1111]

Realizing this is an old post....and the OP never again responded...... But, I never considered the havoc redwood stumps could deal to a piece of land. Huge sizes, last forever......seems a daunting task to dig or grind these behemoths out of the land.

Still.....redwood does not seem more dense than pine. Are the stumps more dense/hard material than the wood that I am accustomed to? How do other folks deal with this stump land?

 

[schmism]

Still.....redwood does not seem more dense than pine. Are the stumps more dense/hard material than the wood that I am accustomed to? How do other folks deal with this stump land?

the issue for redwood is its natural rot resistance (they stick around a LONG time). Old growth pine stumps are long gone, but any stump of 3-5' in diam is a HUGE chunck of dirt to deal with. many full size excavators will struggle to move a 4' stump base.