Tree Removal

[tonyoz]

I was chatting with my neighbour yesterday and he asked whether I would consider removing some trees from my field (with his help) to improve the view from his house. I'd be happy to do this, it's good for neighbourly relations, they make mowing awkward and the fire wood would be handy. I probably wont get round to it for a few months, but it has got me thinking about how I would go about it.

There are something like 10-20 conifers ranging from 15 to 30 ft high. I've got a chainsaw, so why not just get on with it? Well, two problems.....

1) Once the trees are gone, I'd like to return the land to grass, so how the **** do I deal with 20 tree stumps left in the ground. I've heard of stump grinders, but the prices in the UK are way above my budget.

2) The trees are on an uneven slope of about 17 degrees, so getting a stump grinder, or any other substantial equipment down there is a bit hairy. I can just about get my tractor down there but I have to be careful to keep it pointing straight up or down.

I'm hoping there is some miracle solution that will cause the stumps to rot away in twelve months!....

Try Kingwell Holdings, tell them what you want, don't let them talk you into using a mulcher to grind out stumps,it don't work. 17 degrees! that's almost flat.
Good luck

 

[jaotguy]

depending on the "tree" locations ...

one could use a rope tied towards the top of the offending tree, tie the other end to a winch / come along / etc ... then tie the winch to the base of a good tree nearby ...... winch the top down and rip the roots out of the ground ..... as the tree leans over , beat the root ball a bit to dislodge the soil , then cut the roots with a bow (swede) saw /or axe/ as they come up .... you should be able to pull most of them over and have 1 or 2 trees left standing ...

BTW , diesel poured into holes drilled into the cambium layer of a stump will kill it ....

 

[Looking4new]

That is good to know. And way cheaper and easier to get than saltpeter.

 

[Papasmirf]

You can take a cordless drill and say a 3/8" drill bit. Drill numerous holes preferably to ground level. Get some pure nitrogen and pour into the holes. It will burn the stump out fairly soon. Usually "Weed-N-Feed" products are pure nitrogen and no phosphorous and potash. I've use it on several dozen stumps.

 

[CobyRupert]

They're only 15-30 ft high. After a good wet spell put a chain or cable about 2/3 up them and pull them over, root ball and all.

 

[Bluest]

I think that last suggestion has promise. The promise of £250 from a home video show when I fall out of the tree trying to attach the cable, pull the tree down on top of me or catapult my little tractor into the next postcode!

 

[jmc]

Those stumps shouldn't be very big. Over here, the bigboxfarmstores sell a 3 point hitch implement (someone help me here with the name) for about $100 USD that's just a single, one tooth scarifier that penetrates about 1 to 1.5 feet below grade and can sever the roots on each side of a stump if you aren't too close to the stump where the roots are too thick. Those trees might blow over in the next windstorm afterward or you could help them along a bit, just for fun. Your neighbor could buy it for you and you could both use it for future projects. One good use for them, with a little modification, is burying cable or water lines.

Edit: SUBSOILER was the name I was trying to think of.

 

[bcp]

The easiest way is to tell the neighbor he has permission to remove your trees, stumps and all, leaving you a clear field.

Bruce

 

[RDrancher]

The easiest way is to tell the neighbor he has permission to remove your trees, stumps and all, leaving you a clear field.

Bruce

I agree. If the neighbor wants to improve his view, then he should pay to have it done. Nice, neat and tidy too.

 

[Timbersawz]

depending on the "tree" locations ...



BTW , diesel poured into holes drilled into the cambium layer of a stump will kill it ....

No, it wont. it will kill everything. Diesel isnt a poison, its a light oil. It basically smothers everything from micro organisms up and will create a dead zone, although it will do an excellent job at preserving the stump (that and waste oil are great at making wood last)

Diesel and waste oil preserves stumps!!!!!

Getting the ground around the stumps soaked with water will lessen there hold by about 30%. Cut em high (6 foot high trunks) and leave them for a year for the smaller roots to die and they will be much easier to uproot to.