I need to start prepping my lot. I have around 100 trees or so that need to be removed. Mostly Cedars with trunk diameters under 5 inches (85%). A few with trunks over 10-12 inches.

What is the best way to completely remove the tree and roots without having to rent a Bobcat or similar machine? Time is not that big of a deal, however I have little desire to physically dig up these root systems.

If you don't want to rent a Bobcat, pay someone who owns one to do it. It's not worth anything you'd save to do it any other way regardless of how much time you have

I have done a lot of this, using a Cat D-3 dozer, backhoes, and Bobcat skid steers. There's no replacement for weight and horsepower. The more of each the better. Hydraulic power in proper moisture conditions do wonders with cedar. Not sure of any practical, efficient, and reasonably fast way to do what you're wanting without one of those pieces of equipment. It's most important to have plenty of ground moisture if you expect to remove the root system as well.

You can do what you've described in a day easy with a Bobcat. You'll hafta find something else for it to do for 1/2 a day.

What attachment are you using on the Bobcat?

If it's cedar you don't have to worry about roots. Just cut/mulch it all flush with the ground. Roots don't grow back like a mesquite.

Have you checked into what rules and regulations govern your actions? Can you burn them? If you want to do it yourself and have plenty of time, skills learned at Bonfire cut might be helpful.

Reel Aggies said:

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If it's cedar you don't have to worry about roots. Just cut/mulch it all flush with the ground. Roots don't grow back like a mesquite.

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True enough, but in my experience, it's very easy to uproot 5" cedars with a Bobcat bucket if there's sufficient ground moisture (like now). And I've burned a helluva lot of them in NW Bexar county and Kendall County. Best time to do it is when it's raining.

I recommend you go with Casa Ocho LLC. Kyle House started this business from his Ag Econ class and is doing great as 1 man show. Stand up, and very respectful guy who would love to have your business!

+ 1 on if you don't want to rent a bobcat, Pay someone to do it,

Helped a friend remove trees from property, it is no joke. This was 200 acres, so 1.5 would be a drop in the blocked. It's not that it's difficult to do, but it is time consuming.

Calculate what your time is worth using your salary converted to hourly rate. Check bobcat rental and hiring someone to your own hourly rate.

Not sure what the thrill is for bobcats. Rent a dozer or hire someone with a dozer. It will get the job done a lot faster and will not leave anything behind. Once it is cleared, you can use the rippers on the back to scarify up the ground. You might be able to burn the piles of cedars once you are done depending on the local regulations.

I have done this many times and a dozer is the only way to go.