Shredding bush and tree roots

[EggsOverGreasy]

I get how to chip or shred wood, brush, bushes, yard debris, etc. But what about reducing/processing bush roots or tree roots? They often contact some dirt.

Seems a certain type of shredder would do the job, like this Universal Shredder VZ 750... Universal Shredder VZ 750 D - Logs

But those machines are huge. What about small-scale processing? Mobile processing?

 

[CattleDog]

Great question! I have a lot of vines (seriously) and many roots. Would love to hear people's ideas as well.

 

[jeff9366]

PTO powered tractor chippers rely on extremely sharp blades to chip material. If you attempt to chip verdure including dirt chipper blades will dull in a few seconds. Sharpening knives requires opening the chipper, lifting out a heavy rotor, removing the knives (one in a cheap chipper, four in a high-end Wallenstein), sharpening the knives, then reversing the process. Most residential users do not have equipment to flat sharpen extremely hard chipper knives. "Setting" the knives to correct cutting depth when replacing is dodgy.

A Three Point Hitch mounted Field Cultivator will pull out vines, roots and corms from woodland soil. Field Cultivator will transport vines, roots and corms to a burn pile for incineration. Field Cultivator is the way to go.

LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

 

[Michael Aos]

My local landscaping supply won't accept wood with any dirt on it.

They mentioned dirt will mess-up their machine (looks like it could eat a school bus) which has 250 teeth at $25/each.

 

[CalG]

fire is the only solution for roots and dug up stumps.

Let them sit out to dry for a few years after you tried your first burn ;-)

Yup! I've got a pile out back. They just won't go away..... ;-)

 

[EggsOverGreasy]

Maybe just throw the dried roots into an outdoor wood burner. Good point about drying them.

Will continue looking for a universal shredder type machine for this.

This type of shredder could also be useful for reducing rotten log parts, speeding up decomposition.

 

[oosik]

For sure, as Jeff indicated, no dirty anything into a chipper with sharp knives. I've removed roots with a single tooth sub soiler. As long as you are talking reasonable sized roots. Otherwise, just let them rot away.

 

[jeff9366]

I maintain a burn pit for yard debris from 60 homes, plus a large common area with woodland trails. A lot of yard debris goes into the pit. Green debris rarely drys more than three days after it goes in the pit, before I ignite it. I try to keep individual ignitions relatively small, perhaps 10 to 15 pickup truck loads per ignition.

I use a propane torch attached to a twenty pound propane tank to fire up the debris really hot, hot, hot from cold. I use tractor FEL to push unignited debris into the hottest part of the burning pile, at one to two hour intervals.

A propane flame thrower is the right tool. Twenty pounds of propane costs $14 and lasts six months, even with frequent use. (Twenty pounds of propane used to cost $28)

 

[CalG]

Maybe just throw the dried roots into an outdoor wood burner. Good point about drying them.

Will continue looking for a universal shredder type machine for this.

This type of shredder could also be useful for reducing rotten log parts, speeding up decomposition.

The problem is ROCKS don't decompose no matter how many shredder hammers they have been struck by.
And if you can get the rocks out of root balls, the world is going to beat a path to your door step!
(Of course some soils are different. Here in Vermont, a pint sized hole yields a bushel of stones.

 

[EggsOverGreasy]

I mean roots like bush honeysuckle so they need to come entirely out and individually pulled. These are mostly along hedgerows or dirt roadsides. So, I looked at the cultivator mentioned here and I question if this type of dragging action would pull these out as they are quite strongly rooted. (The question isn't about extraction but reduction.)

Open burning seems wasteful. Reduction allows for various possible uses... soil making or furnace burning.

Update... Checking to see if universal shredders can deal with small rocks.

From Jericho, VT here...

 

[EggsOverGreasy]

This basic shredder does rocks,

HAMMEL / Rock Crusher - YouTube

 

[CalG]

This basic shredder does rocks,

HAMMEL / Rock Crusher - YouTube

If you can run one of those, why are you posting on a hobby forum.

 

[EggsOverGreasy]

If you can run one of those, why are you posting on a hobby forum.

It didn't fully register to me that this was a site for hobbyists. Thanks for the heads up.

My friend builds tools for his use so maybe making a small shredder like this isn't a big deal.

I'm interested in biomass reduction so I've not found a way to deal with roots and half-rotten logs.

This type of machine could deal with both of these...

And yes, I'm a total amateur. I'm looking to work on the family 17-acre forest... experimental silviculture projects.

 

[TomSeller]

Here in Vermont, a pint sized hole yields a bushel of stones.

Are you saying Vermont is a "Rock Infested Den"?

 

[roadhunter]

I've run some dirt and occasional rocks through my pto powered hammermill, aka bearcat chipper/shredder. As mentioned the dirt and rocks are hard on chipper blades and although not good for hammers it's not the end of the world (unless you are getting lots of large rocks). As long as the rocks are smaller than the screen they will pass quickly. That will handle material up to about 2 inches as long as its not real long. Those shredders work great if you have a lot of small branches, mine will rip them right out of your hand.

For pure reduction using a leaf blower will make a burn pile go quick, much like an air curtain burner used in large scale biomass reduction.

If you are into utilizing waste this might be an option worth considering.
Backyard_Biochar

 

[TomSeller]

I'd burn them due to rocks and dirt mentioned.