removing the stumps

[jml755]

Beaux,
I have a backhoe that I use to pull stumps and it works great. It will pull smaller ones in one "scoop", larger ones need to be dug around and worked a little. Of course it leaves a decent hole that has to be filled and leveled. (Since I'm clearing for building sites and driveways, I'm always moving earth, so regrading isn't a big deal.) If you don't want to have to regrade a good portion of the pasture, a stump grinder may be a better option, since it leaves the material pretty much in place. BUT... you'll probably need to remove some of the chips and top-dress with topsoil before you reseed. Or at least mix in topsoil. As for waiting for the stumps to rot, I've got some in my backyard that are rock solid after 5 years. There are forums with lots of suggestions on home-brews to speed up the process, but none of them work overnite.

With a backhoe, you also end up with a bunch of stumps with dirt and roots attached that need to be dealt with. You could end up with quite a pile of those. If you've got an area that you can bury them, you could use the dirt from the hole to fill in the area you pulled the stumps from. Depending on how many stumps you've got, using a backhoe could turn in a several day project.

A stump grinder would probably be the cleanest and fastest if you're renting the equipment. Then you can use your FEL to play with the chips and topsoil afterwards when the rental clock isn't ticking.

[Beaux]

Thanks for all the input, I think I may try rent a stump grinder or dozer/backhoe and see where that takes me. Thanks again.
Beaux

[egon]

Forget the stump grinder.

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[roujesky]

I was in a similar position clearing my field. The guy who owned the place before me must have gotten a chainsaw as a present. He cut down about 25 BIG trees and left them there! When I bought the place it was covered with dead and laid over green trees. I had to cut up the trees and piled them over the stump and burned them. Of course, the stump did not burn to the ground [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Lately, it has been dry. So, I bought a cheap back of charcoal briquettes and 5 gallons of diesel. I drenched the stump with diesel and put about 10-15 briquettes on top of the stump. I lit it and moved to the next. Went home. Actually, most of the stumps were completeley burned out.

Cheaper than renting equipment.... Might be worth a try.

[Pat]

There are stump treating chemicals for removing them not just preventing regrowth. You mix IAW the instructions and put the mixture in holes drilled in the stumps. After waiting the prescribed time, you burn the stump and it will mostly burn up.

If you aren't timid with respect to explosives and don't mind the hassle of getting a permit, you can sure remove a lot of stumps in a short period of time with little effort. Then pile them and burn them. This has become a bit more red tape entangled since 9-11 but it can be done safely and effectively with little effort. No dozer required, just a little tractor to aggregate the stumps for burning.

Pat