Tree Debris

phxraptor · Nov 27, 2005

I have alot of dead and down mesquite trees that I will push into piles to burn. Have piled up alot already. My question is what can be used to get all the pieces large and small that break off of the trees from pushing them into the piles? Would a landscpae rake work good or are there other implements you would suggest?

Youare · Nov 28, 2005

Depending on the size and amount of the pieces you are trying to coral a landscape rake will work to an extent. You will have to drive over the debrie before the rake will pick it up.

Some of the smaller pieces may get stuck in the tines from time to time which you will have to clear. The rake will also smooth the ground while you are gathering tree parts.

I can not think of a better device to use, if you have one give it a try. I have used mine for that purpose several times with good results.

Randy

skipmarcy · Nov 28, 2005

I have excellent results using my boxblade - if you get your angle right you won't push too much dirt etc. up with it. The upward float of a 3 pt. hitch allows the box to follow the ground reasonably well if the angle is right. Now that I have a hydraulic toplink, it's a breeze adjusting for different terrain. Since you are going to burn the debris, what dirt you push up can be spread back out with the boxblade after the fire. Good luck!!

tawilson · Nov 28, 2005

My stone forks work pretty good for that, too. Actually, with the York rake on back and the stone forks on front, I feel like a landscaping fool.

unreconstructed · Nov 28, 2005

Hmmmm. That's a good question. Those pesky mesquite thorns can give even a tractor tire a flat. Guess if they have been dead long enough it won't be a problem, but running over the critters would give me pause. Be interested to see what you figure out--I am taking out some mesquite myself but am mainly getting rid of prickley pear but try hard to stay off of it. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Highbeam · Nov 28, 2005

How about this... I use the boxblade with the rippers all the way down and the box rolled forward to act as a coarse rake. Round and round I go. When it fills up and the brush starts loading against the rear tires I make my way to the root pile. So now all the big and loose stuff is gone. What falls through is nearly impossible to pick up cleanly and efficiently so I grab the brush hog and set that puppy down low so that it almost is in the dirt. I pulverize the remaining loose stuff as well as any roots that stick up. Then back to the box blade set level and grade the humps and valleys out.

I have a big ol pile of roots and such from doing the raking last weekend. It was an acre area and the dirt was wet so the raked branches were quite muddy. I have about 15 yards of the stuff that I will have to clean up when summer comes. But the pile of muddy roots and branches is much better than having them spread all around.

kossetx · Nov 28, 2005

This won't help with how to pile brush up part. I have a little 25HP with turf tires. I pull a 5' cutter and 4' disc with it. I bought it with turf tires because my place was heavy with mesquites. The back tires never go flat and I stop for nothing. Sometimes I'll have half a dozen limbs floping around stuck in each tire. The fronts, which are thinner, are filled with goop and seldom give me problems either. Turf tires were the trick for me. I've about cleaned the mesquite and locust out now, but wish I had had a FEL to help with the piles back then.

wushaw · Nov 28, 2005

I have turf tires on a little 15 horse Mitisubishi tractor and all four tires are slimed due to Mesquite thorn flats.
You must have some good thick tires.

Tracks or foam filled tires are the only answer to Mesquite thorns and Honey Locus or maybe a few gallons of Slime.

unreconstructed · Nov 28, 2005

I am surprised the Slime worked--I haven't used the foam but I understand it will do the trick. If the trees have been dead quite a while, I can see where the thorns might not be a problem. Anyhow, whatever works! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif