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Colorado

anyone know how practical it is to cut down a big tree (50 feet tall) and if I would do so, is it practical to build a patch where the tree was? I guess I'm asking can you really get all the roots out to put some nice soil down and grow a WR?

6/22/2012 11:11:02 PM

43.841677 , -79.086692

If you have the bucks it is practical. There were multiple large trees where my patch is now including a couple 36" diameter maples. You need to remove the stump by grinding or have an excavator pull it out.
Here are some of the roots I pulled out of one 25x30' plot: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=176961
To be honest, that pile was about half of what I got out. There is still more. I brought in 15 yards of material and so far the plants look as good as any plant I have. As far as the WR portion of your question, Sure. Why not. As long as the other 50 stars align your good.

Its not a butternut or walnut tree I hope.

6/23/2012 12:22:19 AM

Connecticut

You have Pumpkin fever.

6/23/2012 9:18:44 AM

Connecticut

But the answer is yes :)

Just needs to have sun.

6/23/2012 9:19:54 AM

heres an idea


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=30743

6/23/2012 9:27:10 AM

Huntsville Texas

this is perhaps an odd suggestion, but I have done this with success; I cut down a large maple leaving the stump, and then dug a large pit next to the stump 6' across, 4' deep. then inoculated the stump with edible ligniferous fungi, which rapidly spread through the roots as well as the stump, breaking it down into compost, leaving root shaped trails filled with compost that pumpkin and tomato roots could spread through. The fungi is available as spawned dowel rod sections; you drill into the stump and hammer in the plugs. I think a decaying stump in the ground could be a great asset toward growing a giang pumpkin.
PickeringChris says he hoes its not a walnut or butternut; not only would it be a shame to lose those trees, but the roots put out chemicals that harm other plants, so in that case total root removal might be required, not sure how long composting/decaying walnut roots would still be detrimental to other plants.

6/23/2012 11:51:38 AM

Huntsville Texas

You could also use lengths of the main tree trunk, 8-10 feet apart, to form the walls of a large raised corridor garden to run the vine down the middle of, wood decays into wonderful fertilizer, microbial stimulator.
probably won't work wirh resinous evergreen, either, thinking it through; any hardwood should be fine

6/23/2012 11:57:44 AM

Colorado

I did at my old place.Had the stump ground out and used a long chisel to pry the roots out. A lot of work but a 50 ft tree means lots of square footage added.

6/23/2012 12:49:04 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Pete, it can be done but is a lot of work. We had an old Ash cut down at least 3 feet in diameter last year... it was huge. You'll be pulling up roots for a while and get a good axe. I'm still pulling stuff up 1.5 years later, but it's only getting better. Here's the before and after but at different angles. Other tree on left in before shot went down too.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=150753

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=167964

6/23/2012 2:16:46 PM

Rhode Island

pete
during the fall of 2005 ron and i along with joe jutras,steve sperry,jeff blais,and pete rodonis cut down several huge trees,shrubs,everything immaginable and made a patch there for the 2006 season.
after all the trees were cut we hired a bulldozer pull all the stumps plus level and grade the surface.( fortunately we ended up with quite a bit of good garden soil that just needed ammending in the spring)
as histroy proves ron and i went on to grow the numbers one and two pumpkin in the world that first season ( 2006 )in the new patch.
so yes, i would advise you to go for it.
pap

6/23/2012 4:53:30 PM

Rhode Island

opps make that pete rondeau ( a senior moment )lol
pap

6/23/2012 4:54:24 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

I cleared a patch where about ten old retired apple trees were. cut them down, pulled out stumps with back-hoe, stripped the top soil and seperated roots. than I dug out 2 feet of clay the size of the patch and replaced it with a few loads of decent dirt. I than put original top soil on top along with 100 bags of mulched leaves and composted cow manure. stirred this all up with back-hoe than planted the following spring. First year - not so great. After that - Great patch. It does help to have a brother with a back-hoe as this would been over a thousand dollers to hire out!!!!!

6/24/2012 7:28:03 AM

Ashby, MA

Last year I needed to make a new patch. With a tractor I pulled out 9 apple trees (stumps and all). Plowed the area and removed any roots remaining. Then tilled and made some amendments. Then went on to grow my personal best of 950.5 lbs. Go for it....

6/24/2012 9:25:55 AM

Colorado

thanks guys! Appreciate it.

6/25/2012 9:20:44 AM