Can I blow up large root balls for easier removal?

[donnacreation]

I lost many large pindo palms during record prolonged cold in Jan, 2017 here in central SC.  I've licked my wounds and now want to replace them with new pindo palms next April.  My problem is they're planted in areas that aren't heavy equipment accessible, and I don't know how to get a huge, extremely heavy rootball out the ground by myself.  I came across an old thread on a palm forum in which someone suggested blowing up a heavy rootball with dynamite.  I quickly learned I can't buy dynamite, but I can buy an explosive used in target shooting called Tennerite.  Has anyone ever heard of using explosives to shatter heavy rootballs?  All suggestions appreciated.

[RJ]

  On 6/26/2019 at 11:38 PM, donnacreation said:

I lost many large pindo palms during record prolonged cold in Jan, 2017 here in central SC.  I've licked my wounds and now want to replace them with new pindo palms next April.  My problem is they're planted in areas that aren't heavy equipment accessible, and I don't know how to get a huge, extremely heavy rootball out the ground by myself.  I came across an old thread on a palm forum in which someone suggested blowing up a heavy rootball with dynamite.  I quickly learned I can't buy dynamite, but I can buy an explosive used in target shooting called Tennerite.  Has anyone ever heard of using explosives to shatter heavy rootballs?  All suggestions appreciated.

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Sorry to hear of your losses. 

 

Dynamite became very hard to get after 9/11. We used to get it from farmers growing up who used it to blow up gopher holes. That being said, can you just cut the trees at ground level and plant next to them. The stumps  won't last long in our hot humid weather. 

 

 

[Rickybobby]

Tannerite you need a bigger bore rifle and fast projectile speed in order to set it off 

[GottmitAlex]

  On 6/27/2019 at 12:19 AM, Rickybobby said:

Tannerite you need a bigger bore rifle and fast projectile speed in order to set it off 

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Hear, hear. Speaking of 9/11. Tannerite.

Should be quick. Just as there is no logical explanation as to why two airplanes hit two towers and within hours, three buildings pancaked into nothing...

But I digress. 

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by GottmitAlex

[PalmatierMeg]

I agree with cutting trunks off and letting the roots rot away - that happens very quickly in the humid SE US. Likely you need permits to buy/use explosives. If you manage to do it without, you face having the ATF, FBI, military and local constabulary descend on your property like locusts. The Federal charges alone can give you heart failure.

[RyManUtah]

I mean, yes you can. You have to shoot tannerite to explode it, however.  You would need high a high velocity round and to check the legality though. Here we cannot fire in city limits unless it’s in defense of self or another person, or it’s a shotgun (which would be mostly ineffective). 

May be easier to rent a jackhammer or something 

alternatively, there’s things you can do to accelerate stump rot, which would probably be the safest option.. 

[Merlyn]

Over the past year I've dug out 4 huge oak stumps with just a shovel and a reciprocating saw.  If your soil isn't too hard you might be able to dig around the perimeter with a sharp shovel and then slice pieces off to get it out.  Or cut down vertical to look like a pie from above, and take chunks out at a time.  If you are in heavy clay the digging part might be the toughest bit.  Here in FL the sand is easy to dig around, so that'd be a 1 day job per stump for me.

[donnacreation]

Thanks for the responses.  Unfortunately I have to put 3 of them in the original spots.   I'm not doing anything until summer is over.  I have 2 strong resourceful adult nephews who can probably figure out a way to get them out of the ground w/o explosives. I'll definitely pass on all suggestions to them.  Maybe using a winch? I live in a rural area where anything goes as far as explosives and gunfire. Since I haven't dug them up yet, I'm not sure how much the rootball has deteriorated since they died. I was so bummed/shocked a couple years ago when they froze to death I swore I would never plant a palm again.  I changed my mind when I found large specimens with 3-4' trunk for $400 each at at a nearby nursery.  Per the SC state motto, While I breathe I hope.  

 

[GottmitAlex]

3-4 years ago I removed 4 filibustas from my garden sliver. They each had at least 5 ft of wood trunk.  The handyman dug as best as he could around each palm. Then I employed a thick chain wrapped around each of the trunks and latched to my 6 cyl Ford ranger's differential.  All of the filibustas came out slowly but surely.  Rootball and all.

The last and largest one I couldn't remove so I made it into a tiki and dragon fruit cacti have taken over it.

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by GottmitAlex

[donnacreation]

Cool tiki!  With a super long chain I think they could be pulled out.  I'll know more when I dig them up after summer heat is over. My soil is soft, so it shouldn't be hard to dig around and expose the rootball. Thanks!

[Ben in Norcal]

This is by FAR the best question I have ever seen on PalmTalk.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

  On 6/28/2019 at 1:50 AM, Ben in Norcal said:

This is by FAR the best question I have ever seen on PalmTalk.

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Explosives just arent brought up enough here haha Tannerite is definitely used for taking out dying oak trees out here, cant see why you couldnt have a go at it with a palm stump 

[Laaz]

[palmsOrl]

[donnacreation]

LOL!  In my defense it would never have occurred to me to use explosives had I not seen an old thread in which a self identified redneck said he used them.  The thread must have been pre 911. I also realized explosives might damage my fountain.  I'll remind my nephews they're in my will.  I'm sure they'll figure out a way to safely remove those dang rootballs.