Thinning area of pine and sweetgum sapplings

[outdoorman]

I have several small pine and sweetgum trees that have grown over the past 4 years to clear off an previously clear area on my property. I plan to rent a compact jd tractor that comes with a 5 ft bush hog to clear out some overgrown brush and tall grasses anyway so wonder if the bush hog can tackle several piles of limbs and branches that I trim from the trees. most branches are less than an 1 1/2 in thick.
the trunk of the trees are generally no thicker than 6 in diameter and my plan is to cut them into manageable lenths, load them on my utility trailer and dump them into a wooded section of the property.
Can a 40hp JD tractor with bush hog handle shredding up branch piles?
If not my other thought is to pile along them on other side of my fence to make a habitat for cottontail rabbits (for hunting next year).
Being new small land owner, I'm here for comments/suggestions.

 

[sghoghunter]

Yes sir it’s very capable of making small brush disappear aslong as you take your time and don’t do it in one pass.

 

[NCHillbilly]

Yes sir it’s very capable of making small brush disappear aslong as you take your time and don’t do it in one pass.

Not the 6" stuff, but the 1 1/2" stuff, absolutely.

 

[Milkman]

Based on your description I think you may want to consider renting a skid steer/bobcat with brush cutting attachment.

 

[Boondocks]

Tractors are made for cuting grass not trees.You will tear something up if you do.

 

[sghoghunter]

Tractors are made for cuting grass not trees.You will tear something up if you do.

So your saying a tractor can’t tote a brush cutter that’s rated to cut trees and brush up to 2 inches?

 

[NCHillbilly]

Tractors are made for cuting grass not trees.You will tear something up if you do.

Tractor bushhogs are made to cut brush and other coarse vegetation, not grass. Hence the "bush" hog name. I do just fine with tractor bushogs on stuff up to a couple inches diameter.

 

[NCHillbilly]

Based on your description I think you may want to consider renting a skid steer/bobcat with brush cutting attachment.

Those work well, if it's a big one with tracks instead of wheels. I rent one at work every early spring for a week. You can do an amazing amount of work with one.

 

[Milkman]

I have several small pine and sweetgum trees that have grown over the past 4 years to clear off an previously clear area on my property. I plan to rent a compact jd tractor that comes with a 5 ft bush hog to clear out some overgrown brush and tall grasses anyway so wonder if the bush hog can tackle several piles of limbs and branches that I trim from the trees. most branches are less than an 1 1/2 in thick.
the trunk of the trees are generally no thicker than 6 in diameter and my plan is to cut them into manageable lenths, load them on my utility trailer and dump them into a wooded section of the property.
Can a 40hp JD tractor with bush hog handle shredding up branch piles?
If not my other thought is to pile along them on other side of my fence to make a habitat for cottontail rabbits (for hunting next year).
Being new small land owner, I'm here for comments/suggestions.

When using a farm tractor one thing to consider is when large saplings are alive they will flex over for the mower as will the short cutoff stumps.
However, a few months later if you mow over this area again some of the stumps from the earlier mowing may not give and could puncture a tire. Its best to try and not leave any stumps if possible.

 

[Jim Boyd]

I routinely mow with a 7’ mower and 60 hp Deere.

A 2” tree is a lot bigger and a lot stronger than you think.

I also have a 5’ mower and 32 hp Kubota. About 1” is the max for that rig.

I would do it right - get a mulcher and have some fun in the process. If there are no rocks, you can back drag and leave a pretty surface.


My buddy does that work and is based near Augusta if you want to talk to him.

 

[antharper]

I’d make rabbit habitat or just pile and burn

 

[Cmcharles]

Pile and burn. Rabbit habitat is also good places for predator dens. Don’t give a coyote, bobcat or fox a free apartment.

 

[Boondocks]

A compact JD and a 5 ft. mower. Go ahead get you moneys worth brother.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Man i aint tryin to stir anything up but here is my two cents. Sweet gum and Pine are both really soft woods. I have spent countless hours using a small Yanmar and a 4ft bush hog to mow brush piles down. I would cut the saplings or bush with a chainsaw, make a small pile, then back up to the pile and sloooooowly run the bush hog over it. Keep it high and lower it on very slowly. It takes time to learn this. Keep the brush or trees small diameter. 6" is too much. You can however lay that tree flat and mow the limbs. This works and ive done it. Just go slow and its fine.

 

[deers2ward]

I have a Woods BB72.50, which is rated for up to 3 inch cutting diameter, and I have definitely run over some lone chinaberry or sweetgums that were 3"+. But Im very careful about it, go slow, and start high as livinoutdoors outlined. Personally I would not make a pile of 1.5" limbs, with the intent of lowering the mower down onto them, but everybody gets to choose what they do with the equipment they paid for

 

[Jim Boyd]

I broke the internal shaft inside a Massey tractor once so I am a little more cautious than some, perhaps.

 

[sghoghunter]

Man i aint tryin to stir anything up but here is my two cents. Sweet gum and Pine are both really soft woods. I have spent countless hours using a small Yanmar and a 4ft bush hog to mow brush piles down. I would cut the saplings or bush with a chainsaw, make a small pile, then back up to the pile and sloooooowly run the bush hog over it. Keep it high and lower it on very slowly. It takes time to learn this. Keep the brush or trees small diameter. 6" is too much. You can however lay that tree flat and mow the limbs. This works and ive done it. Just go slow and its fine.

I also have a small Japanese tractor with a 4 ft bush hog that has done things that many people wouldn’t even dream about. As long as you take your time you can mulch up more than you think. I’ll go ahead and give ya one heads up,live oak is very hard wood and it won’t mulch up