The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Ask The Forester => Topic started by: joer00 on April 17, 2018, 08:46:08 PM
Hi,
I had a company cut two huge trees but after I paid them 70 % they run away and left me with two big tree remains. Approx 10 feet high and with a diameter of approx 5 feet. I have a 23k pound wheel loader with a root rake, but the trees only laughed at me ! The loader broke and while fixing it I cut the roots around the tree with a stump grinder.
Besides the loader I have a 40 ton old crane on the lot. What is my best way to get those trees down ? See images below
(don't know why second one is turned, looks correct on my computer)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/47941/IMG_4068.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1524012142)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/47941/IMG_4067.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1524012142)
Welcome to the Forum,
Those are big for sure. Were they dead or otherwise compromised? If so that could complicate accurately felling what is left. Do you have access to an excavator? The roots could be quite deep and include a tap root so the stump grinder may have only gotten what you could see. Digging around them with an excavator will make for a big hole, but at least you can control which way it goes. I would not try to whump it over with anything for the reason you already learned. I also would not use the crane to try and pull or otherwise rip it out, else you could end up on youtube.
If you intend to pull the stumps, soak that trench with water and try again, pushing with the loader from up high. If it doesnt wanna go, use your root rake to disturb the ground, then a pressure washer or garden hose to keep washing the dirt away and use a sawzall with a nail blade to sever more roots. again push from up high, same side as where you cut. You just keep soaking, finding roots to cut and pushing until it gives. With a loader and crane youll eventually win.
without a decent excavator, that's going to suck. I'd get as high as I could and start taking it down in manageable chunks. Ultimately ending up cutting it as close to the ground as I could then finish up with the stump grinder. Wait 5 or 6 years and fill in the hole that show up.