Pine Tree Exterminator

[ga. prime]

I cut down a 40 acre field of pine trees with a weed eater. Dig it, baby!

[HerefordSire]

Neat gadget.

[Jogeephus]

I take it that loblolly on sugar sand wasn't your forte.

[1982vett]

That almost looks dangerous.

[Jogeephus]

That almost looks dangerous.

I don't think OSHA would be too happy with it. They do work good though.

[ga. prime]

I take it that loblolly on sugar sand wasn't your forte.

Very true. Those were worse than loblolly- they were sand or virginia pine. That field was leased for growing trees to Brunswick Pacific(subsequently bought out by Plum Creek)back in 1980 by my Dad and clear cut a couple of years ago when the lease ran out. My Dad always said they were sand pines but the Plum Creek guy said Virginia. I think my Dad was right . Either way, I don't want any more of em. The limbs grow down to the ground so mowing them doesn't work- you can't get the mower blades low enough to get all the limbs...not to mention the fit all those stumps would give the mower... Weed eater did the job on them- that's the third blade there at the end and I only broke one drive cable. Soon as those dry down a bit I'll fire up the place and go back in with longleaf.

That almost looks dangerous.

I suppose it was a bit dangerous- I started out with a sling on it but took it off after about 30 seconds- I figured out quick that you do not want to be tied to the weedeater if you trip and start to fall. Most exciting thing was when I cut down one tree and there was a 3 ft diamondback under it.

[TexasBred]

Ga....Virginia pines are what so many of these pick and cut christmas tree farms raise isn't it? I use to go by one of those places with many left over trees...needless to say it was a mess and the trees are absolutely worthless.

[ga. prime]

Ga....Virginia pines are what so many of these pick and cut christmas tree farms raise isn't it? I use to go by one of those places with many left over trees...needless to say it was a mess and the trees are absolutely worthless.

Yes, a lot of Chistmas tree farms in this area and others that can't grow fir trees grow Virginia pines. They're ok for Christmas trees but they grow up knotty and crooked and will never be good for anything other than pulpwood. Very light also. After they dry down they're almost like balsa wood. Burn like kindling though

[Farmer Z]

Nice job. Must have been a lot of work. I do hope you have a plan to hold on to your progress. As a southerner, you well know that it can get grown back up in no time. Around south Mississippi, we'd see a place like that completely overwhelmed with Privett hedge, Popcorn trees, etc., in no time.

[hillsdown]

That almost looks dangerous.

I was thinking the exact same thing ..

[ga. prime]

Nice job. Must have been a lot of work. I do hope you have a plan to hold on to your progress. As a southerner, you well know that it can get grown back up in no time. Around south Mississippi, we'd see a place like that completely overwhelmed with Privett hedge, Popcorn trees, etc., in no time.

I know what you mean Z. Thankfully I don't have popcorn trees but I have annihilated quite a bit of privet in areas other than in the field pictured- it's very susceptible to various herbicides. The field I have pictured is very droughty sand- sugar sand as Jo described it- and won't grow back up in unwanted vegetation nearly as quickly as other areas would. I used chopper(imazipyr) to kill the hardwoods, mostly laurel and turkey and post oaks and grass out there and it'll be years before they come back.

[alacattleman]

Ga....Virginia pines are what so many of these pick and cut christmas tree farms raise isn't it? I use to go by one of those places with many left over trees...needless to say it was a mess and the trees are absolutely worthless.

i thought they made mulch with em

[Fred]

Prime, have you ever used a hypo-hatchet to kill trees ? I've thought about getting one to kill a bunch of Chinese tallow and privet.

[tncattle467]

Looks promising. I assume you could come back once everything is clear with grass or clover or alfalfa or something right or is the ground to sandy?

[kenny thomas]

Does GA have cost share to replant the longleaf? A lot of money out there to help re-establish the longleaf in some areas. Sure makes good quail hunting also.