Will a tracked mulcher cause tree root damage and root compaction?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Trying to get a blank canvas on the ground in a young woodland, currently plastered in all the usual - ivy, bramble etc; ready to get the mulcher in but have now been warned that this could knacker the existing young to middle aged crop of ash / syc and cause root compaction etc? Help!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Your foot print will exert more ground pressure than the tracks, the tracks are only 4 psi or less ground pressure

[Justme]

At what psi is it considered a problem?

 

I use my digger in & around my trees a lot & have roughly worked out its about 7psi.

(will need to measure the tracks)

 

I guess the tractor will be more even though it weighs less.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I dont know to be honest but look at a tractor with turf tyre, hardly leave a mark on grass.

 

I "think" root compaction is more of a problem over time, ie lots of compacting over time ??

[Buzz]

Your being fed duff advice there mate. A well operated mulcher on the material you suggest will not damage the exsisting crop.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Yeah, a rather messianic horticulturalist told me this. Thanks, phew!

[Darren]

In my experience bramble isn't a problem more of a help to keep the deer out. The trees just push through and when tall enough the bramblle die out with the lack of light.

[Stephen Blair]

In my experience bramble isn't a problem more of a help to keep the deer out. The trees just push through and when tall enough the bramblle die out with the lack of light.

 

some of the nicest young trees behind my house are surrounded by bramble and there are loads of deer, i never thought of this before, nice one:thumbup1:as buzz says, a good operator and you will never know a big machine has been in, they are amazing in the right hands, i use a guy with a huge fendt and mulcher, it must be close to 20ton all in i reckon, others will know exactly, but this guy can leave a finish that could have turf laid down straight away, i have heard of job where he mulched felled trees on a tar mac rd, all they did was scrape with a jcb and give it a blow and you wouldnt know he had been. chatge on john:001_smile: