Tree removal.. help?

[Ken73]

I've got an ash tree about 2'-3' in diameter at the base; it's rotten and needs to go. I've taken my little Kubota BX25 and yanked smaller trees out, but nothing this big. I bought a ripper tooth from Bro-Tek which is on the backhoe now, and it seems to work well. However, this is a pretty big tree - and I'd like to remove the stump and as much of the roots as possible (at least the big parts.) Where it is now, I'd like to level out with sand and put an above-ground pool so I can teach my boy how to swim.

Has anyone used explosives - not to blow up the stump or cut down the tree - but to fracture and loosen the soil surrounding the roots? The soil here is mostly sandy but very well compacted. About 3'-4' down it changes to clay. If I can get just the top 18"-24" or so of the stump and roots out, I'd be happy.

I'm thinking use my post hole auger to drill down close to the roots, pack in explosives then cover up and ignite. The idea being that the surrounding dirt would loosen significantly enough to remove the stump and the larger roots easier. Similar to how they fracture rock with explosives.

If not, are there other suggestions (aside from spending 20+ hours on the backhoe tearing at roots and trying to manually pull it out?)

 

[tjcarguy]

Why not Soviets used nukes for irrigation projects . Hi NSA ---Trevor

 

[LD1]

Not sure what you are using for explosives or where you are getting them, but it dont sound cheap.

I think you will be money ahead to cut the tree down and rent a stump grinder. Or larger machine to dig out the stump.

 

[Baby Grand]

I would not want to sink a 3pt auger anywhere near big tree roots - that would just be asking for an unpleasant experience.
If you're close to a fawcet, how about using a pressure washer & a trash pump?
I think you could rent either for a reasonable rate if you don't have them, already.
Hydraulic mining - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You never know, if you run the sand slurry through a sluice you may just turn a profit!
Once you get the roots near the trunk excavated & cleaned off, you can cut them with a saber saw or chain saw with minimal tooth dulling.

 

[Ken73]

Baby Grand - that's what I'm talking about - better ideas than mine! LOL I have a semi-trash pump and a pressure washer but not sure I want to soak my back yard. LOL

Stump grinding isn't an option, there's going to be a pool right smack over where this is going and I want soft ground, not a hard stump in the middle.

If I were to obtain explosives I'd go about it the legal way; I'm friends with local law enforcement and would seek their advice.

 

[Coyote machine]

A stump grinder would take the stump down as far as you pay for. There would be no hard stump left if done right, just dirt and chips.

 

[Beavz]

Why not use the backhoe to dig down on the "felling side," them move to the opposite side... dig some, then push it over?

I've done a few this way... pops most of the roots out when the weight of the tree falls.

Just be careful, and pay attention to what your doing.

 

[LD1]

Why not use the backhoe to dig down on the "felling side," them move to the opposite side... dig some, then push it over?

I've done a few this way... pops most of the roots out when the weight of the tree falls.

Just be careful, and pay attention to what your doing.

That is how I have removed alot of trees too. However when we are talking about a 3' diameter tree, and only a BX for a backhoe, I dont think that is the best plan of action

 

[turnkey4099]

A stump grinder would take the stump down as far as you pay for. There would be no hard stump left if done right, just dirt and chips.

Yep. They took a spruce stump (24") down at least 2 ft and I hadn't even asked them to take down that far. Chips? bunches, gobs and lots

Harry K

 

[/pine]

I'm not too familiar with ash root systems but I have dug a lot of different types of stumps...many by hand alone...!

In a worst case...
...It is laborsome but sometimes it takes less time than using a backhoe and digging a huge crater...
The key is a couple of different tools...
1.) a 4" wide heavy duty shovel...often called irrigation or cable ditch shovels etc...

2.) a very short bodied/bar chainsaw...8" or 12" bar max....(more common in electric models which work good)

The narrow shovel lets you dig between and expose roots in order to cut them from the trunk and below an acceptable grade level...the small saw will get down in confined spaces...and once all the main and secondary roots are out of the way the tap root (if there is one) can be got to...