Plowing Depth and Stump Clearance

Rumplestiltskin · Nov 12, 2010

I have about seven acres of autumn olives that I plan to clear. There are also three trees that have trunks eight to ten inches in diameter at ground level.

I need to know how far below ground level I'll need to burn, grind, chop, or whatever so my plow will clear these tree stumps/roots. I know plow depth is adjustable within certain limits. If I remember right (from about 40 years ago), my uncle's plow seemed to go down maybe eight inches or so.

So...If I go one foot below ground level with these stumps (and go over them slowly), should I be O.K.?

Thanks in advance.

Mark W. in MI

Janicholson · Nov 12, 2010

yes until the soil settles. I would go 14" and plow 8" deep. Why plow? is it small acres? Jim

RayP(MI) · Nov 12, 2010

Donno, depends on how deep you need to plow. Was visiting my sister-in-law this weekend. She was chisel plowing with a huge CAT tractor, she was running a good foot deep. If I plowed that deeo here, I'd be bringing up a lot of subsoil!

Anonymous-0 · Nov 12, 2010

Fence it out and put pigs in it. They would love to deroot those trees for you. Just a thought.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 12, 2010

Autumn olives are very shallow rooted. I pull them up with my asv rc30, and a 4 in one bucket. It only has a lift capacity of 700 lbs+/-, but it still pulls 'em out. Best implement to use would be a disc-plow, sometimes called a new land plow. If it can't cut a tree root, it will roll right over it, without any damage.

Fergienewbee · Nov 13, 2010

Autumn olive is one tough customer. Make sure you get all the roots or it will resprout. Michigan DNR recommended planting it for wildlife for years. I have some borders/travel ways. If I cut them in the fall, they will be six foot by summer. You can spray with 2-4-D or traet the stumps with Tordon.

Larry

Rumplestiltskin · Nov 13, 2010

Hi, Jim.

It's about seven acres. We want to start over and plant a grass/clover/alfalfa mix for hay. If I don't get every little stump (Murphy's Law), I'm afraid of breaking a sickle bar on one.

There are very few trees, so I can give them individual attention. But there are thousands of autumn olives with "trunks" ranging from 1" to 8" diameter. These plants aren't particularly tough, so I think a plow could handle them.

Thoughts?

Mark W. in MI

Rumplestiltskin · Nov 13, 2010

That's a great idea, Googs! My son wants to do hogs for 4-H anyway. I just may have to give it a shot.

Mark W. in MI

caterpillar guy · Nov 13, 2010

Well if you have some one to tramp the plow. When you get to the smaller trees like under 2 inches, you can literally plow them under without problem. I have done both the tramping and run the tractor. I rented a place one year that had been plowed and left. Dad and i traded off tramping plow all day to get that last 13 acres plowed. You will only go in low or second while the other person tramps the trash down to flow through the plow to make sure it covers.

Plowing Depth and Stump Clearance

Rumplestiltskin

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Janicholson

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RayP(MI)

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Fergienewbee

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Rumplestiltskin

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Rumplestiltskin

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caterpillar guy

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