Skidding trees

Douglas Miner · Mar 20, 2013

I'm cleaning up some downed pine trees around my ponds. I have about six of them 14-18 inch in diameter in the pond. On 3 of them the whole root ball is tore out of the ground and the base of the tree is about 1 foot under water. Guess I will find out how my chainsaw likes water unless someone has any other ideas. I have to cut the trees off to skid them out of the water.

Bret4207 · Mar 20, 2013

If you can get up the trunk a ways you'll get more leverage to swing the tree around and get most of it out of the water, assuming you have room to do that. Your saw won't like sawing in the water much, been there, done that, got the tee shirt. OTOH, one you get the trunk cut away from the root mass the log may float, making things easier. Dragging anything out of the mud is always a harder job than it would first appear.

Douglas Miner · Mar 20, 2013

I have never tried cutting anything under the water. I saw it done one time but the man had a 48" paddle on his saw and he still got wet. My pond has a skim of ice on it today. I may try getting in a boat and cutting the tops off first maybe it would let the log float up some. Definitely don't want to end up swimming though the pond is 6-8 feet deep.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 20, 2013

Is it possible to put a chain around the root ball and pull it up on dry ground with a big tractor?

The past 3 summers have been dry, wait for summer and see what happens to the water level.

Douglas Miner · Mar 20, 2013

3 trees were close together and the root ball is about 15-20' feet long. All total I had about 18 trees come down. My 2 ponds about 3 acres total are stream fed and and only vary a few inches in height.

Donnie Baker · Mar 20, 2013

Gotta be careful skidding trees or you may wind up with skid marks in your shorts.

mkirsch · Mar 20, 2013

Just keep the engine above the water. Other than you getting wet it will work just fine.

Zachary Hoyt · Mar 20, 2013

I am having trouble seeing the situation in my mind. Are the root balls still attached to the ground on one side or have they come completely loose? I would think that your best bet would be to try to winch the trees out of the water somehow and then cut them up.
Zach

Douglas Miner · Mar 20, 2013

Just keep the engine out of the water. I had to
cut one tree in half a couple years ago in my
pond. Walked out on the tree cut most of the way
through and proceeded to get my saw pinched in the
cut. I shut the saw off pulled on the tree with my
tractor and watched my saw sink to the bottom.
Surprisingly after I shook the water out of the
saw it started up.

Douglas Miner · Mar 20, 2013

Trees on the edge of pond 1' from water when they tipped over the root ball slipped into the water enough so the stump is submerged.

Bill in IL · Mar 20, 2013

If I had to skid a tree like you describe I would be sure to cut the stump off at an angle to the direction I am pulling or cut a chunk out of the trunk. Have had it happen more than once to cut the tree and it won't budge cause its pinched between the stump as I pull.

Takes a lot of traction to pull trees out hope you have a large tractor. Takes a lot more to pull them uphill.

john in la · Mar 20, 2013

How big of a pond are we talking about.
Could it be pumped down with a rented pump??

ss55 · Mar 20, 2013

If the whole base (trunk?) of the tree is a foot under water, then a 24 inch chain saw wouldn't reach far enough to cut through the tree. In mud and near freezing water that sounds like a better job for an excavator or maybe a backhoe to drag the trees out of the water before trying to skid the trees further.

Please be careful.

Zachary Hoyt · Mar 20, 2013

I would try to winch or pull them out whole if you can, if you have skidding tongs you may be able to hook them without getting too wet.
Zach

JimB2 · Mar 20, 2013

Be VERY CAREFUL when you cut through the stump by the root ball. The root ball can either flip up into to its original position or tip forward jamming your chain saw blade.
JimB

Bill in Colo · Mar 20, 2013

I've cut a lot ice on stockponds to water cattle beats a axe.

smallercrawler · Mar 20, 2013

JimB; Excellent advice. Neighborhood guy had a stump standup on him-busted up his legs and back as he got partially pinned in hole, fortunately he threw the saw clear.

Russ from MN · Mar 20, 2013

The water won't hurt the chain, I have cut lots of ice with no problem. I would cut some dry wood after to make sure there is no water in the chain or sprocket nose bearing. When I am doing something like that I like to have my spare saw available so if I get the first one stuck I can cut it loose! I make cuts from both sides to relieve tension and see which way the tension is, then you can avoid pinching the saw.

David G · Mar 20, 2013

I think the idea of an excavator to pick them out sounds very good and safe. You would not want something to shift and pin you under water.

JayinNY · Mar 20, 2013

Shelby on ax men cuts logs in water all the time, he even does it barefoot! Nothing I'd ever do. Lol

Skidding trees

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