Tree "remains" question

CountryWannabe · #1 02/19/09, 03:33 PM

DH and I are looking at an acreage (10 ac) that has several nice mature trees, and some pasture - perfect for the sheep, goats and couple of Dexter cows we have.

However - there used to be a lot of small saplings there, which have been ??brush hogged?? down. They are only about an inch or so in diameter, and around 6-8" high. My question is - as the goats will undoubtedly munch on any new growth that arises from these saplings, will they eventually die back and compost down, leaving a nice smooth terrain - and if so, how long is this likely to take - or will we have to engage some heavy machinery to get these out of the way? I realise that we will have to get the drive and house pad levelled, just wondered about the rest?

TIA
Mary

Common Tator · #2 02/19/09, 03:46 PM

If you are going to get equipment in there to level the pad, you may want to have the tree stumps removed at the same time. I hate the thought of little trip and fall hazards all over the place!

Otherwise I would be out there with a shovel or loppers or whatever it takes to remove them.

Cotton Picker · #3 02/19/09, 04:01 PM

Hi CountryWannabe,

The goats et. al should help to keep most of the sprouts from coming back. As for how long it will take for the stobbs to break down is open to debate. They are pesky, in that they are toe catchers and will puncture tires as well.

I wouldn't recommend disturbing the soil with a dozer to remove them. Your soil is probably thin enough without mixing it with the subsoil. You could hire someone to come in and cut them shorter with a bush hog, however, like I said, flat tires. You might have a bit of trouble getting someone to do it for that reason.

If you can't live with them until nature takes it's course, you could invest in a gas operated brush-cutter and do it by hand. Labor intensive?....Yes.

woodsy · #4 02/19/09, 04:18 PM

The stubbles from brush hogged saplings will eventually go away but no time soon.(4-5 years, maybe more?)
I've been trying to get rid of stubbles across a 3 acre pasture with brush hog (no goats here)for many years and finally resorted to a riding mower a few times a year to get them down close to the ground and died off. If you want them gone fast, a piece of equipment
like a dozer will have to be used.

beaglebiz · #5 02/19/09, 05:21 PM

wouldnt pigs root them up for you???
just thinking out loud

Rocky Fields · #6 02/19/09, 06:51 PM

Hey.

They could be bushhogged a bit shorter, maybe 3 inches or so...I know I can adjust mine that low. The 1" diameter stubs will rot naturally in about 4 years if they're dead. I second the comment above about puncturing tires. A bushhog with solid tires has no problem, but old tractor tires can be punctured right thru the tire and inner tube.

RF

big rockpile · #7 02/19/09, 07:01 PM

I had Goats heavy on mine went to grass and most the stobs broke off in 3 years.This was mostly Oak.

big rockpile

fixer1958 · #8 02/19/09, 07:04 PM

How about alot of patience and time with a weedwacker and a blade attachment.
Thick soled boots for the ones you missed.

Forty Acres · #9 02/19/09, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fixer1958

How about alot of patience and time with a weedwacker and a blade attachment.
Thick soled boots for the ones you missed.

Yep...........this is the best idea. And this is the best brush blade to use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2pk-CARBIDE-brush-cutter-Trimmer-Brushcutter-BLADES-9_W0QQitemZ140299606490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item140299606490&_trksid=p3286.c0. m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240% 3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

I've cut trees down that are three inches in diameter with this. You will need a fairly decent weedeater.

MELOC · #10 02/19/09, 08:48 PM

if you can't get/afford someone to brushhog it low, i would work at it little by little with pruners and a lawn mower. cut it off as close to the ground as possible and then the lawnmower will be able to handle it.

DaleK · #11 02/19/09, 09:04 PM

If they're only an inch thick, they shouldn't bother tractor tires unless the tires are worn out anyway. You can brush hog it down more, but a good heavy disk will do a better job if there aren't too many rocks or bigger stumps around. We've disked acres of 10' willow trees with a good offset disk and worked them right down but for something that small a regular disk should do fine.

EDDIE BUCK · #12 02/19/09, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forty Acres

Yep...........this is the best idea. And this is the best brush blade to use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2pk-CARBIDE-brush-cutter-Trimmer-Brushcutter-BLADES-9_W0QQitemZ140299606490QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item140299606490&_trksid=p3286.c0. m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240% 3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

I've cut trees down that are three inches in diameter with this. You will need a fairly decent weedeater.

Yep,you can cut them off right even with the soil and anything pops up after that the goats will nip off.

Micheal · #13 02/20/09, 07:32 AM

Since you say you are going to have heavy equipment there anyway the thought of having a bulldozer backblade most the area comes to mind as a possible solution. The weight of the bulldozer's blade should be enough to either break the stubble or at least bend it over where it won't be a hazzard. Also that way you won't really disturb any grass, etc. with digging it up.

fantasymaker · #14 02/20/09, 12:31 PM

Im with Dale just run a disc over them a few times.

CountryWannabe · #15 02/20/09, 07:14 PM

I really appreciate all your information. We went to look over the place again today, and I am really liking it...

Mary

CountryWannabe · #16 02/20/09, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forty Acres

And this is the best brush blade to use.

I've cut trees down that are three inches in diameter with this. You will need a fairly decent weedeater.

What kind of weedeater would allow this attachment? I would appreciate you being pretty specific. I only have the small electric type with a nylon line - something tells me that is not going to work with that blade

Mary

texican · #17 02/20/09, 09:58 PM

All depends. My father and grandpa hand cleared 300 acres back in the early 40s. Axes only. The nice and level ground was later disc'd up and stumps pulled. The non 'stumped' areas are still sprouting, each year, 70 years later.

If they're little trees, they'll die back, with goats and tilling. Maybe. If you're lucky.

houndlover · #18 02/20/09, 10:49 PM

Maybe my goats are picky, but they'll skip over a lot of species of tree. However, small stuff that has been brushed out, they'll go to town taking the bark off. Generally we just push what's left of it into piles with a front end loader and then burn it. That's the fastest way to clear it out completely.

Forty Acres · #19 02/21/09, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryWannabe

What kind of weedeater would allow this attachment? I would appreciate you being pretty specific. I only have the small electric type with a nylon line - something tells me that is not going to work with that blade

Mary

No, an electric weedeater isn't going to work. I have a Stihl FS 81. Which is an older gas powered weedeater. It isn't a big machine, probably a low end commercial model or a high end homeowner model, not sure. 22.5cm or 1.37 cubic inch displacement.

I've been cleaning out an old growed up fence row full of trees, brush, vines and barbed-wire. I'm slowly making headway with my weedeater with the carbide brush blade, and a chainsaw. Sure wish that I had a dozer. Just got another 1/4 mile to go.