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How to Remove a Tree Stump with a John Deere 35G

A John Deere 35G is one of the most durable, versatile mini excavators on the market, true to its history and the simple beginnings of its founder, John Deere. In 1835, Deere was a humble, yet accomplished blacksmith known for getting things done with the resources available. Most of his clients were farmers, and they had a problem. Their plows, made for the sandy earth in the Eastern United States, kept breaking in the hardscrabble prairie soil of the Midwest. Deere quickly re-purposed a broken saw blade into a steel mold and was then able to forge a new, more durable plow. The next year, he became a full-fledged manufacturer, and an American legend was born. Fast-forward more than 180 years, where the 35G excavator continues to live up to that rich heritage.

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Reasons Your Customer Wants that Tree Stump to Disappear

Whether you work for someone else or are an owner-operator catering to smaller clients, a John Deere 35G is the perfect machinery for getting work done efficiently and on-time. Compact but powerful, it was designed with input from owners and operators to excel in many environments and industries – from near-frozen construction sites in the big cities to blazing hot landscaping and everywhere in between.

If your tasks are residential tree removal, then you could not have picked a better product than this one. Today, you are onsite for a residential customer with a few tree stumps that need to be removed. As you talk your client through the job, he identifies just why those stumps must go – and you find yourself nodding in agreement:

  • Sometimes tree stumps are butt-ugly and just must go.
  • Lately, your customer has noticed the stumps have become the communal meeting spot for all sorts of critters: Squirrels, bees, birds and, worst of all, the neighborhood skunk.
  • Your customer has a houseful of kids who play in the backyard with friends, and the tree stumps are a potential hazard. Nothing says, “lawsuit” like kids not watching where they are running, with a tree stump in the middle of the yard.
  • Wow, look at that gnarly growth sprouting from the side of one of the stumps! It sure looks creepy, and did you forget your customer has kids?
  • Tree stumps get in the way of cutting the grass.
  • Your customer is planning for a built-in pool, so the stumps have to go.
  • Removing a tree stump is hard work, which is why your customer gave you a call.
  • The customer also pointed out roots on the run, interfering with his lawn and garden.
  • A realtor said they had to be removed before the house can be put up for sale.

How to Remove a Tree Stump with a John Deere 35G

  • First, get your John Deere 35G to the client location, ideally by transporting it on a flatbed trailer.
  • Make sure to park somewhere the trailer will not interfere with vehicles, pedestrians, or anything else in its path.
  • If you have not done so recently, reacquaint yourself with the operator’s manual.
  • Ideally, you have a co-worker who can guide you as you drive the excavator off the trailer. Use caution, and go slow.
  • Take a moment to assess the job site, noting the location of the customer’s residence, a flower bed, patio, and so forth.
  • To be safe, try digging out the ground around the stump first before trying to remove it.
  • If large, above-ground roots are near the stump, remove them first.
  • As you remove rocks, dirt, chunks of roots, or other debris, make sure to deposit it safely away from the work area – preferably in a dump truck.
  • As soon as you have removed all visible roots, it is time to go at it with the John Deere 35G bucket. And yes, you will need multiple attempts to completely remove it.
  • You can rock the stump back and forth using the bucket from different angles.
  • With the stump loosened, you can now angle the excavator bucket underneath it and lift slowly to lessen the risk of a tip-over.
  • Finally, you can safely remove the tree stump from the ground.

Follow These Safety Tips

Your John Deere 35G mini excavator makes tree stump removal a nearly-simple chore, but such tasks are can be dangerous if done haphazardly or without following safety procedures. The Government of Canada offers the following tips if you are using heavy machinery to remove a tree stump.

  • Determine the location of utility lines above grade or below ground and always work as if they were “live.”
  • Your local utility normally has a toll-free number you can call to have someone come out and place marker flags where power, water, and sewer lines are located before you start digging.
  • What is the minimum working distance between power lines and tree stumps? Your local municipality should be able to give that information.
  • The John Deere 35G is simple, designed to be operated by one person, but it is always a good idea to have a spotter nearby.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure the work area is free of pedestrians, animals, vehicles, or anything else that may pose a safety risk.
  • Watch the weather forecast and do not try to remove a tree stump during bad weather.
  • Only operate your John Deere 35G or other heavy machinery if you are trained to do so.
  • Use safety equipment as recommended, such as safety glasses, gloves, hard hats, and noise-canceling headphones.
  • Be wary of flying debris when removing tree stumps.

What Else Do You Need to Know?

Like any other job, removing tree trunks is the serious business that should not be taken lightly. Even if you are a “seasoned” stump removal expert, there is no such thing as an abundance of information. Here are other questions to think of before starting work, some of which may give you a sense of what your customer is thinking.

  • Do you know what species the stump was part of? Trees that grow tall and strong have tap roots to support heavy upper body weight are usually the hardest to dig out. Trees whose stumps are among the toughest to remove belong to the following species: hickories, white oaks, and walnuts.
  • Do you have to do any spot-digging to see how large the roots are?
  • Roots are notorious for branching in all directions, but where?
  • Proceed cautiously if it looks as if the roots snake under a structure or hard surface area.
  • Are you licensed and insured to perform the work for which you have been hired? Accident insurance is a must-have.
  • Is your work limited to a certain time of day?
  • Do you have access to a dump truck or other large vehicle to haul away the stumps or other debris?

Finally, do you need a license the do the stump removal?

Like This, Not That

Some tree stumps can be removed by hand, and can often be done with minimal effort in a few hours. If the stump is large and old, using a John Deere 35G is the way to go. But how? Every landscaping professional has a go-to method for this sort of work. Here are a few ideas to help along the way.

  • Give yourself work room by digging out around the stump first.
  • The work should only be done if the weather cooperates.
  • Stump removal should not present a hazard to structures or other parts of the property, like the owner’s residence, playscape, patio, and so forth.
  • Think about using a thumb attachment to make the bucket more efficient.
  • The ground beneath and around the stump can be used as leverage for the bucket.
  • The excavator blade is great for breaking the stump free of its roots.
  • A hydraulic hammer is useful for breaking the stump into smaller chunks once it’s free of the ground.
  • Pay attention to your surroundings, especially for people or animals in the area.

Choose the Best, Choose a Deere

There may be no other piece of heavy machinery as useful for removing tree stumps than a mini excavator.  The John Deere 35G excavator was built with the customer in mind, and only after receiving feedback from owners and operators who use it daily. The 35G is available with numerous standard and optional features, such as:

  • A high-efficiency diesel engine compliant with government emission standards.
  • Ergonomic seating in a cab with large windows for a clear view of the work area.
  • A canopy to make the excavator usable in multiple weather conditions.
  • Power ports, making it easy to charge cell phones and other devices.
  • Monitoring systems so you know how the machine is functioning.
  • Multiple work modes.
  • The option to make the 35G quieter and more fuel thrifty, thanks to an engine that runs at lower RPMs.

The John Deere 35G is uniquely capable for many tasks, large and small. If you are committed to getting the job done efficiently and on time, only choose Deere.

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Spreading Soil with a Skid Steer

In the late 1830s, John Deere was a highly regarded blacksmith in Grand Detour, Illinois. He knew his business, finished work on time, and charged fair prices. Deere also was incessantly observant. Once he figured out how to solve a pain point for local farmers – machine a plow that would last – his business took off. By 1842, he had built and sold hundreds of plows, and had begun customizing them for different customers as needed. That tradition continues today. Every John Deere Skid Steer loader or other pieces of heavy machinery can be custom-ordered with more than 100 optional accessories. These include attachments like snowplow attachments, different bucket sizes, angle brooms, utility grapples, rotary tillers, augers, pallet forks, rollers, and many more. Few pieces of heavy machinery can be as productive and versatile. Today, it is a go-to machine for many industries and jobs, from farming, agriculture, landscaping, and construction – and John Deere is the industry leader in all regards. (more…)

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John Deere Mini Excavator Safety Tips

According to government studies, hundreds of people die each year from accidents related to the performance of excavators – either operators or innocent bystanders. The greatest risk of harm is either being struck by the machine itself, or one of its components like the bucket or blade. Why do such accidents happen? The main cause of excavator-related injuries is lack of safety and operator training, failure to install or secure accessories properly, maintenance failures, shoddy work practices, and lack of property safety equipment and clothing. Operator and machinery-related issues can lead to injury, but manufacturers such as John Deere have addressed these with innovative and proven safety features: a large cab offering an unobstructed view of the work site; auto-idle option for the engine; pattern changer; foldable pedals; wear-compensating quick coupler; and steps and safety rails adjacent to the cab.

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John Deere 35G Controls and How to Use Them

Congratulations! You are now an owner or operator of one of the most versatile, capable, and cost-efficient excavators in the world – the John Deere 35G mini excavator. Designed and built with you in mind, the 35G can be used in many industries – construction, agriculture, lawn care – and excels in many tasks: digging, excavating, removing debris, and spreading soil, just to name a few. With more than 100 optional accessories, the John Deere 35G can get the job done, no matter what.

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If you are familiar with John Deere machinery, then you have a leg-up on the competition because you understand 35G controls and how to use them. If you have never operated a 35G or other John Deere products, the learning curve is not significant. It is your responsibility to understand the control systems from beginning to end, and you are strongly encouraged to read through all manufacturer-supplied operator and maintenance manuals. John Deere also offers a controls simulation program for further reference. As the industry leader in heavy machinery, John Deere has achieved its position through best-in-class products and services. In addition to the documentation provided, the company offers an extensive service and support program. For specific questions about your 35G excavator controls, you also may the John Deere Product Training website, where you can learn about learning opportunities through John Deere University (a web-based learning program available 24/7), Operator Training, and customized Instructor Led Training curriculum. (more…)
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How to Remove a Tree Stump with a John Deere 35G

A John Deere 35G is one of the most durable, versatile mini excavators on the market, true to its history and the simple beginnings of its founder, John Deere. In 1835, Deere was a humble, yet accomplished blacksmith known for getting things done with the resources available. Most of his clients were farmers, and they had a problem. Their plows, made for the sandy earth in the Eastern United States, kept breaking in the hardscrabble prairie soil of the Midwest. Deere quickly repurposed a broken saw blade into a steel mold and was then able to forge a new, more durable plow. The next year, he became a full-fledged manufacturer, and an American legend was born. Fast-forward more than 180 years, where the 35G excavator continues to live up to that rich heritage.

35g-kevcrop

(more…)
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How Wide is the 35 G & How to Fit it in Your Yard

Founded in Grand Detour, Illinois in 1837, John Deere is an American success story like few others. With its rich history of product development and innovation, the company has long been a valuable partner to those who cultivate, harvest, and build upon the land. Today, its machinery is a must-have across many industries: Lawn & garden, agriculture, construction, landscaping & grounds care, golf & sports turf, forestry, the military, and others. One of its most successful product lines are excavators, perhaps none more so than a model introduced in 2013 – the 35G compact excavator. Small, nimble, and easy to operate, it is invaluable for commercial and residential use.

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How to Use Video Content to Promote Your Construction Business

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z67mI1mKPU

For better or worse the moving image has emerged triumphant when it comes to storytelling, news and marketing. Give people a choice between reading the news and having it read by a talking head and they’ll take the talking head 9 times out of 10. Give them a choice between reading a book that might take them weeks or watching the 2 hour movie based on that book and they’re heading to the multiplex every time. By the same token if you have a construction company to promote you’re going to attract more attention with a promotional video than you will with a print ad. (more…)

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How to Hire the Best Operators and Where to Find Them

If you’re a construction contractor you’re faced with a slew of decisions on a daily basis, many of which will have a major impact on your company’s short and long term prospects. One of these is whether you’d be better off buying or renting your heavy equipment and another is who you’re going to get to operate that equipment regardless of where it comes from. While today’s heavy equipment is more technologically advanced and capable than ever before it’s also very much like a race car in that what you ultimately get out of it will depend on who you place in control of it. Trying to find highly-qualified, highly-motivated, talented, dependable operators can be like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. But find them you must. (more…)
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What is The Right Heavy Equipment For My Job?

Whether you’re a contractor or homeowner heavy equipment rentals can help you tackle big projects in a timely and cost-effective manner. A job that might have taken hundreds of man hours can often be performed in a single day using the right piece of heavy equipment. While not so long ago trying to find heavy duty rental equipment could be a tedious process today heavy equipment rental is one of the fastest growing sectors of the construction industry making heavy equipment rental as convenient as it is smart. Below we’re going to look at some of the factors you need to consider in order to make sure you wind up with the right heavy equipment rental at the right heavy equipment rental rates for the job at hand.

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How to Replace Your Lawn in One Weekend

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Let’s face it:

Your countless efforts to reseed, spread lime, aerate, and water your old ratty lawn just aren’t doing the trick. If you’ve exhausted these options and still don’t have a lawn that you’re proud of, it’s time to accept that your soil just isn’t workable. You want the kind of yard the turns heads when people drive by, but nothing about your patchy, weedy lawn is going to make that happen. Instead of sweating over your lawn for hours on end, waiting for a miracle to happen, just bite the bullet and replace it. The process really isn’t as big or expensive as you think. With the help of a mini excavator, your old lawn can be scraped and shipped away in a day’s work.

Are you tired of dreaming of the perfect lawn, and ready to do something about? If so, read this article so you know exactly what needs to be done. (more…)

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