Forestry Mulching

[baymule]

There is still some fine tuning to be done. There are several standing dead trees to cut down. I've joked with my husband that now that he can actually see our big beautiful trees and walk up to them, he will be trimming the dead lower branches off. We will be out there working this fall and winter. The briars and vines are still hanging in the trees, we'll pull them out and take to the burn pile. We will selectively cut a few more trees.

Our total cost was $1800, each neighbor got their places cleaned up for $300 each. What a bargain! We are wildly happy with it.

Notice that there are big chunks in the mulch. The operator offered to go back over it and mulch it up real fine. We were more like, just get it DOWN, we'll worry about the chunks later. LOL

I'll be posting more pictures!

 

[Britesea]

What a fantastic difference! And at such a good price! You are a good neighbor, to think of including your neighbors in that, and the guy doing the mulching made a bit more money because you did... an all-around win-win.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Fantastic. Amazing what the right power equipment can do!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Really an awesome difference!

 

[baymule]

Oops, forgot the picture!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Looks like it might be there for awhile, lol. You done good!

 

[Britesea]

Really great idea, and eventually the "bags" will become indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape

 

[Marianne]

Having made a series of water gaps in my life, tagging along behind my grandpa as a kid and seeing failures in all of them, I needed something that would keep the dogs and sheep IN. So the concrete bags worked very well and are still working. They also work well stacked up around culverts to prevent them washing out.

PERFECT!! I snagged a photo and sent it to my daughter. They have an area that's washing out in the lane to their house. This would be a perfect solution for them.
Thanks for all the images. I love looking at them! And I wish I had half of those trees. It's pretty bare out here.

 

[baymule]

While we hated to clear the trees, we left the nice shade trees. The area was really grown up in saplings, brush and vibes-unusable. I need grass for the horses and sheep. Forestry mulching is but one avenue for clearing. Everyone understands bull dozers, chainsaws and such, but forestry mulchers are quick, get the stumps and there are no burn piles.

The concrete bags are fast, easy, affordable and they work. To leave gaps between layers, place 4x4 spacers between the bags. After the bags set up, you can take a piece of pipe and pound the spacers out so water can flow through. Likewise, if the holes become stopped up (mine haven't) take a pipe or strong stick and clean them out.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I know my DH would be pounding iron rods through the bags after stacking, just to make sure they wouldn't move... He does believe in belts and suspenders.

You cracked me up. It's a guy thing. If something can be built with 2 x 2's, my hubby will insist on using 2 x 4's or even 2 x 6's!!!