clearing land can be done with the right tools.A bulldozer can help make quick work of tasks such as downing small trees, pulling up stumps, combing for roots, and collecting brush and other debris.Hours and dollars are saved with fast, efficient clearing.
Step 1: Go head-on.
Push the bulldozer forward if the upper edge is positioned right around the tree.If you get resistance from the roots, back up and lower the blade.You should be able to push it the rest of the way.The tree pushers or tree spears on some bigger bulldozers make it easy to topple trees.The operator's seat on most newer dozers has a joystick that controls the height and angle of the blade on the console.
Step 2: The blade should be level with the ground.
The blade should be brought down until it is flush with the stump.The sharp cutting strip at the bottom of the main blade will sever the stump's connection with the earth while the curved blade itself "sucks" it up from underneath, tearing it free from the roots in the process.Small dozers don't have the power to easily remove large stumps.If you have a lot of stumps, it is a good idea to invest in a larger machine.You can save both time and energy bygrubbing the stumps with a bulldozer rather than breaking them up with smaller equipment.
Step 3: To reduce equipment costs, blast monstrous stumps with explosives.
If you dig a few holes in the soil, you can insert a pre-measured explosives charge on one side of the stump.Give yourself plenty of time to get away from the stump and take cover before setting it off.A carefully controlled blast will crack the stump without leaving a crater for you to fill in later.Most clearing blasts are carried out using anFO, an inexpensive and commonly-used industrial explosives that are readily available to those with the proper permits.If your work site is overrun with the remains of giant trees, it may be cheaper to blow them to pieces than to dig them out one-by-one with a dozer.Blasting can't be done in areas with underground utility lines, wells, sunken foundations, or nearby structures as it requires special training and legal documentation.
Step 4: To dig out shallow roots and debris, lower the blade below the surface level.
When dealing with below-ground obstructions, you need to get your blade as far down as you can.The cutting strip on the bottom of the blade will sink into the soil when you glide over it.It may be necessary to make several passes in order to clear out overgrown areas.If you operate a dozer that has a blade with an adjusted pitch, angling the blade forward can help put more of the cutting strip into contact with the earth.If you intend to use your site for agricultural purposes, you should aim for a maximum depth of 15 centimetres.If you find yourself up against old root systems that run deep, a root rake can be a worthwhile investment.This attachment, which fits right over the dozer's blade, features a row of long, curved teeth that will extend your reach and attack stubborn roots from multiple points at once.
Step 5: There are neat piles where you can dispose of brush and debris easily.
Push the pile of stuff you created to one edge or corner of your site to get it out of the way.You should separate your piles into natural and non-natural materials.You will know what you need to cart off right away.The size of your work site and how much material you have to clear will affect the number of waste piles you produce.If you are covering a lot of ground, you will probably need more than one or two piles.It can be hazardous to both your health and the environment to burn things that don't belong, so take the time to sift through your piles.
Step 6: You can burn brush piles to save time.
It is easier to destroy mounds of splintered stumps, loose branches, vines, and dead wood than it is to transport them somewhere else.It is a better use of your time to do it when you are done with your project.If you can, have one or more assistants on hand to start the fire while you or your operator focus on the bulldozer.To keep the fire under control and prevent it from spreading, make sure your burn piles are surrounded by a gap of at least 15 feet.
Step 7: The dozer's ripper can be used to bust up pavement.
As you drag the machine behind you, use the hand controls to plunge it below the ground.It will cut through solid materials and loosen dense patches of dirt that are difficult to get through with a blade.The ripper is located on the back of bulldozers.It is used to rip up hard surfaces prior to excavation.Multi-shank rippers are better suited for raking and turning and are more likely to be used for serious surface destruction.
Step 8: Excess soil can be moved to build ditches, gulches, and other low spots.
The cutting strip or row of bottom teeth should be placed at an angle with the ground.Push the soil from the surface of the work site to where you need it to go.This is a faster and less taxing way to move large amounts of soil than using tarps, wheelbarrows, trucks, trailers, or other small equipment.You will be able to move more soil at a time using a dozer with a curved universal or semi-universal blade, but a basic straight blade will also get the job done nicely.As needed, you can shift large quantities of earth around to fill ponds and lowland areas.Don't forget to mix some gravel or another drainage-promoting material into the soil by hand later on.
Step 9: You can level your cleared site by going over it in strips.
Cruise along slowly until the blade is even with the surface of the soil.If you want to get the best results, roll back and forth over the land in alternating directions.The approximate center of your work site is where you can work your way outward.If your bulldozer has an advanced grade control system, take advantage of it.If you go back to correct your work, you may lose valuable time.If you intend to use your site to install structures or features that must sit perfectly level, proper grading is a must.
Step 10: The land should be combed in at least two different directions.
A better job of digging up complex root systems, smoothing out terrain, and separating tightly-packed soil can be done by making multiple passes over your work site in different directions.You will cut down on your overall project time by not rolling aimlessly from place to place.You can start by running the dozer over your site from east to west, then reset and repeat the process going north to south.