LESSONS LEARNED DATABASE - or Humorous Anecdotes Learned the Hard Way

[Land_Owner]

Please post your LESSONS LEARNED with:

1.  EQUIPMENT

2.  IMPLEMENTS

3.  HERBICIDES

4.  OPERATIONS

5.  You name the topic...

Make sure the Title/Topic of your Post is very specific so the post may be categorized.  It is hoped to be able to come here often and scan through the listings to find what you are looking for.

Please offer SUGGESTIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS (another topic) for topics and ways to keep this information available.

There is nothing like finding the right information that describes a task or situation BEFORE you are faced with it.  It is hoped that we can keep one another safer, be more productive, and once in a while laugh at ourselves for those NEAR MISSES .

[gdolby]

If I understand this topic right this will fit if not delete it. Herbicide will transfer from 1 tree root to another when they come in contact. For example, you spray a chinese elm and it is 6 ft away from a mulberry tree. No overspray occurs but 2 days after the elm is whithering the mulberry starts. there goes $50 you paid for the mulberry. no wind during spraying and not enuff spray was used to soak into the ground. when the elm was pulled up its roots were tangled w/ the mulberry tree's roots

[Land_Owner]

No reason NOT to link to already excellent LESSONS LEARNED.

I recommend, the EXPERT articles, discussions, and databases of
http://www.ytmag.com/articles.htm

and in general
http://www.yesterdaystractor.com.

[Land_Owner]

I don't have eyes in the back of my head so watching the implement while driving forward on forested land I rimmed a tree between the front and rear tires. I broke the clutch pedal that way and was glad I didn't loose a foot.

[Land_Owner]

Again on forested land and watching the implement.

On occasion tree limbs are larger than they appear and can swat you off the seat or pin you to it.

Either way, the implement can KILL YOU by chopping you up or the seat by preventing inflation of your diaphragm (when your feet can no longer reach the pedals).

[Land_Owner]

A bush hog without a front debris plate will shower your backside and kidneys with arm- and leg-sized high velocity missile hazards. The bruise lasted for weeks.

[deerslayer79]

Dag Gum Landowner,you have had it rough working ground in the woods.My lesson learned is also in the equipment category,here it is,tractor with turf tires attached to a bushhog on a slight incline on the somewhat muddy pond bank=one helluva mess...

[Land_Owner]

Three times I have slid the tractor into the pond, never getting it fully submerged thankfully.  I don't ride the side bank of the pond anymore.

I am a City Boy with property attempting to sink some rural roots.  If I am "doing it all wrong" it is because I am learning by mistake.  There are no intrinsic waypoints inside me from observations I didn't have during my youth.  Everything is impossible...the first time.

[jls]

+1 on not riding the bank. my neighbor lost his 16yr old last year when he dropped one side of his tires over too far. tractor rolled pinning Chad upside down in 5ft of water. nothing anyone could do but retrieve the body.The kid had been operating equipment since he was 6 yrs old. just got careless. only takes one time and adios!

[Land_Owner]

You guys give up on this thread?  Let me know and I will cut it loose...otherwise, some feedback is anticipated.

[keith44]

nope haven't given up on it, just haven't had to learn anything the hard way recently.  I thought I might have something about felling damaged and diseased trees, but that went smoothly.

[cjclemens]

Some parts of my place, especially old pasture that's filling in with new trees, are getting overrun with honey locust and asian bush honeysuckle.  I thought I could take a less intensive management approach - like killing a few at a time...I was wrong.  They grow and spread so fast it seems like the only effective way to get rid of them is all or nothing.  I guess I'll have to roll up my sleeves and hit 'em hard this year.