Removing Hedge Roots

Lennys_Shinpad

I moved into a new house over the summer and am trying to get to grips with the garden, which was neglected by the previous owner. I need to pull a lot of hedge roots out (around 20 or so). I have tried with a pick-axe and bar but progress is incredibly slow. One of the neighbours recommended hiring a trifor winch for a weekend and doing them all in one go. However, I spotted this on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-TON-WINCH-STUMP-PULLER-TREE-REMOVER-TURFER-CARAVAN-/250845890625?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA&hash=item3a67948841

Any advice as to which I should go for (or any other suggestions)?

Plasterer

Not sure this helps but I did see a tree surgeon hook up to the back of his land rover and pull the roots out - seemed to work a trick.

Ebe_Scrooge

Plasterer wrote: »

Not sure this helps but I did see a tree surgeon hook up to the back of his land rover and pull the roots out - seemed to work a trick.

I tried a similar thing a long, long time ago to get rid of a tree stump.

Step 1 : Dig as much as possible around stump to loosen it
Step 2 : Attach a length of bloomin' thick rope to stump
Step 3 : Attach other end of rope to car tow-hitch
Step 4 : Start car and try to pull stump out
Step 5 : Notice that stump is still rock solid
Step 6 : Wonder what that horrible smell is
Step 7 : Shell out a fortune for a new clutch :(:(:(:(

To the OP, if it's going to £20 to hire one, you may as well buy that off ebay, you're likely to use it again at some point, or lend it to neighbours, or sell on to get some of your money back.

Or, as above, if you have any friends with a Land Rover ( or something similar that can take the strain !!! ), can you ask them ? Only problem is, if you end up bu**ering the clutch for them, they won't be too chuffed !

ormus

ive used the land rover trick for many years. the LR and a chain made short work of a whole row of hedges.
almost any heavy (preferably diesel) car should do it ok. a 4x4 is best.

Rotor

Well I've used a car and I've used a winch. If a car will pull it out that is the easiest option but clearly you wouldn't sit there slipping the clutch for ages ; it either pulls out straight away or more digging is required.
The winch was good BUT you have to have a stout anchor point to winch from and secondly (if you can ) use a chain not a rope because the winch will only have 4 or 5 feet of cable( i.e the distance between fully unwound and fully wound up) and if you use rope much of this will be taken up with stretch - (all of it if the anchor point is not close)

Lennys_Shinpad

Rotor wrote: »

Well I've used a car and I've used a winch. If a car will pull it out that is the easiest option but clearly you wouldn't sit there slipping the clutch for ages ; it either pulls out straight away or more digging is required.
The winch was good BUT you have to have a stout anchor point to winch from and secondly (if you can ) use a chain not a rope because the winch will only have 4 or 5 feet of cable( i.e the distance between fully unwound and fully wound up) and if you use rope much of this will be taken up with stretch - (all of it if the anchor point is not close)

Thanks for that. There is a massive oak tree near the hedge roots so I will be able to attach it to that. Will have to buy another cable though.

Plasterer

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

I tried a similar thing a long, long time ago to get rid of a tree stump.

Step 1 : Dig as much as possible around stump to loosen it
Step 2 : Attach a length of bloomin' thick rope to stump
Step 3 : Attach other end of rope to car tow-hitch
Step 4 : Start car and try to pull stump out
Step 5 : Notice that stump is still rock solid
Step 6 : Wonder what that horrible smell is
Step 7 : Shell out a fortune for a new clutch :(:(:(:(

To the OP, if it's going to £20 to hire one, you may as well buy that off ebay, you're likely to use it again at some point, or lend it to neighbours, or sell on to get some of your money back.

Or, as above, if you have any friends with a Land Rover ( or something similar that can take the strain !!! ), can you ask them ? Only problem is, if you end up bu**ering the clutch for them, they won't be too chuffed !

Yeah the clutches on them morris minors are no good for the job.

Ebe_Scrooge

Plasterer wrote: »

Yeah the clutches on them morris minors are no good for the job.

Actually, it was a Mini Metro - that shows you how long ago it was !! Probably not the best vehicle for the job, but it was all I had, and I was young and daft

Ectophile

When you are attaching the winch to a nearby sturdy tree, use a tree strop (a strap made of very heavy duty cloth), rather than just wrapping a wire rope around the tree. Otherwise you risk cutting into the bark and injuring the tree.

amcluesent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTNVLLBqZgA

karl-123

builders lime £3 a bag b&q