Tiller Tillers and Stumps

[webbmeister]

Well, I spent the day yesterday with a stump grinder (those things are heavy!) and did close to 250 1-4 inch stumps. That's the good news. The bad news is that there're about 500 or more left to go!

Here's my question: Will a tiller make quick work of the smaller stumps, or will the smaller stumps make quick work of a tiller (3PH)? I'm wondering if I should concentrate on the larger stumps with the grinder - I want to be efficient with it, it costs $88 a day to rent it. It also wore me out.

Jim

 

[ddl]

using a tiller to remove stumps will shorten the life of your tiller real fast. it will not work. 88 dollars a dy is cheaper then 1800 for a tiller. you can rent the grinder for 20 days.

 

[theboman]

Ouch. A day with a dozer and stumps be gone.

 

[webbmeister]

I wish! A day with a dozer and grass be gone too!

Jim

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...will the smaller stumps make quick work of a tiller ...</font color=blue>

Yes...! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Ok... maybe the tiller will do 2 small stumps and then self-destruct... /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Jim... that brand new compact tractor you just bought will make lots of work easier... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

...just sometimes maybe not faster... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

(just remember when you start to get frustrated over the amount of time the current job is taken... take a moment and look at that "rusty shovel" leaning up against the building you used to use...) /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have used several methods for small stumps. You may be able to pull them out with a subsoiler or a box blade scarifier (basically hooking the stump out of the ground). Take it slow and easy. Sometimes I had to try it at different angles to get it to work. I mounted a field cultivator sweep on a middlebuster shank once and used that for digging out quite a few small stumps. If you have any of these implements it might be worth your time to try it.

When I had several hundred small stumps (2"-6") to remove I waited until I had other dozer work and had the operator push them all into a pile for me. Only cost $50 on top of the other work I had for him.

 

[Chuck52]

Jim,

Do you really have to get them out? Would cutting them off close to ground level so you could mow be good enough? I've got a very small area with similar conditions, but it's not near the "yard" part of my property, so I just used my chain saw to take all the stumps down to ground level and will mow it to discourage new growth from the stumps. I also learned how to sharpen my chain as an added benefit from this exercise!

Chuck

 

[nicklan]

I have a Sthil clearing saw, perfect for cutting trees, stumps etc. off flush with the ground. Then you could mow right over them.
Nick

 

[webbmeister]

Amen to the comment about the shovel!. Same for the wheelbarrow, the 22" mower. and any other instrument of torture I can manage to retire.

Thanks John!

Jim