jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 20:22:01 GMT -5
Have you ever listened to the modern hypochondriac ? Well, this will really give them something to cry about. This vine was cut 2 years ago. Regrowth is about 60 feet up the tree. Machete kills aerial growth, not root/trunk. There is enough poison on this vine to infect everyone in a rock concert. Even after vine rots and falls to ground the rotting branches will poison you. The poison is weatherproof and long lasting, in the form of an oil. Age and repeated posionings makes most people more susceptible. It is in optimum environment here. Gives me the gee bees just looking at it.   Dinosaur grass(bamboo). This is a small shade loving version to about 8 feet tall, 1/2 inch stalks. It is about all my 40 HP diesel tractor can mow. Basically it gets mowed to the ground every 4 years. Mowing mature stands kills all the young trees sprouting in it, then grows back quickly shading out the young trees before they grow back. Heavy organic mass producer, mowing makes great sheet compost. Fast soil builder, increases silica content. Bamboo full of silica. A totally low maintenance ground cover making pure stands. China and Indonesia. Tessellatus is an extremely hardy semi dwarf species that has the distinction of bearing the largest leaves of any bamboo in cultivation, up to 26 inches by 5 inches. Used extensively for erosion control. Scientific Name Indocalamus Tessellatus Light Conditions Light Sun to Shade Maximum Height 10 feet Maximum Diameter .5 inch Minimum Temperature −10 °F   Larger bamboos would require 200 HP mulching machines. It can be laid over with a chain saw and bush mower can be lowered down on it slowly to chop it up as done here. Heavy job for a 40 HP tractor. God awful noises. Rots slow. Bamboo removal would probably be a lucrative service in these parts. Maybe a Bobcat front mount mulcher would handle it with a narrower cutting pass. Would require custom made equipment. Serious guards to protect operator would be required.  |
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Post by Pat on Aug 25, 2017 20:44:29 GMT -5
I will never complain about our weeds here again!!
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Post by MrMike on Aug 25, 2017 20:52:42 GMT -5
Geez jamesp, that is the biggest poison ivy vine I've seen. I must not be sensitive to it cause it's never bothered me. Know what you mean about cutting down bamboo, wicked stuff. |
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 20:58:20 GMT -5
I will never complain about our weeds here again!! Me too! OMGosh! |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 21:01:09 GMT -5
Geez jamesp, that is the biggest poison ivy vine I've seen. I must not be sensitive to it cause it's never bothered me. Know what you mean about cutting down bamboo, wicked stuff. In 4 to 5 years the vine can get 6 inches in diameter Mike. Kills 36 inch trees. a real choker in the piedmont clay. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 21:13:41 GMT -5
I will never complain about our weeds here again!! This steep hill is covered with Sasa Palmata bamboo Pat. Too steep to mow with tractor. The 10 to 20 feet trees are the weeds. Alternative is to wiggle in and cut the trees with a chain saw. However that does not kill the vines. This patch of bamboo will never be pure, it will stay with vines even if trees are cut out. It could be cut with a long reach hydraulic arm mower which is expensive.  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 21:24:54 GMT -5
I will never complain about our weeds here again!! Me too! OMGosh! Even at 360 HP($450,000) I am doubting that it would handle 2-4 inch densely spaced bamboo unless approached at slowest speed. Note sound reduction, bulletproof windows. Would be a lot of fun to operate. Sadist approach to pesky underbrush. Many a bulldozer operator has had splinters of trees enter the cab from the undercarriage and been speared. Guessing they have the cab completely surrounded with protection from such. |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 25, 2017 21:29:01 GMT -5
Man, that poison ivy vine makes my skin crawl just looking at it. I am so allergic to that stuff it's ridiculous. I was digging poppy jasper and stupidly cut into poison oak roots and it looked like my arm had been blow torched where the juice contacted my skin. I hate that stuff.....Mel
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Post by Pat on Aug 25, 2017 21:30:40 GMT -5
jamesp that is amazing, and looks fun... and a little nerve wracking!
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 21:31:50 GMT -5
That 360 HP tractor is a real tree eater!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 21:56:29 GMT -5
That 360 HP tractor is a real tree eater! I like the numbed sound in the cab. Obviously sound proofed. answers the question about the cab being total wrap protected. The noise from a mulcher is unbearable. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 22:02:50 GMT -5
Man, that poison ivy vine makes my skin crawl just looking at it. I am so allergic to that stuff it's ridiculous. I was digging poppy jasper and stupidly cut into poison oak roots and it looked like my arm had been blow torched where the juice contacted my skin. I hate that stuff.....Mel When me and wife bought that place we were young urbanites. It was winter and we were tugging vines out of the trees, much of it dormant ivy with no leaves. Should have known. Down our necks, in our eyes, up sleeves. We were treated with some type of injections. Took a month to get over it. Getting in around eyes is the worst part. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 25, 2017 22:03:41 GMT -5
jamesp that is amazing, and looks fun... and a little nerve wracking! I can see Pat running that machine with a real big grin. |
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Post by Pat on Aug 25, 2017 22:08:11 GMT -5
Yes!!😄
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2017 23:37:23 GMT -5
Man, that poison ivy vine makes my skin crawl just looking at it. I am so allergic to that stuff it's ridiculous. I was digging poppy jasper and stupidly cut into poison oak roots and it looked like my arm had been blow torched where the juice contacted my skin. I hate that stuff.....Mel When me and wife bought that place we were young urbanites. It was winter and we were tugging vines out of the trees, much of it dormant ivy with no leaves. Should have known. Down our necks, in our eyes, up sleeves. We were treated with some type of injections. Took a month to get over it. Getting in around eyes is the worst part. We have poison oak. Not ivy. I was under the impression that poison oak wasn't shitty except during growing season. I suppose that is spring summer. Never tested it. Only had one bad taste. Hunting mountain kingsnakes in April the poison oak was everywhere. I was "careful" but failed. The blowtorch look is appreciated and I had my forearms wrapped and weeping for a month. Ughhh... Cannot imagine what it would be like all year round, on my own property... |
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Post by 1dave on Aug 26, 2017 2:12:14 GMT -5
I was stationed at Ft. Leonardwood for a while in the military.
The brass needed something to do to occupy our time.
They had us clear out a large wooded area and burn the weeds - turned out to be a lot of poison oak. Pretty much wiped out the platoon.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 26, 2017 5:47:05 GMT -5
Sumac is common around here, never seen poison oak. Sumac has no effect on me. Tree surgeons and timber men have to deal with handling trees covered in Ivy. They wear heavy clothing to help reduce exposure, winter work for sure. The Ivy is the one to avoid.   Sumac germinates in open fields, easily gets 20 feet tall. Beautiful fall colors lol. Pithy wood, mows down easily.  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 26, 2017 6:26:31 GMT -5
I was stationed at Ft. Leonardwood for a while in the military. The brass needed something to do to occupy our time. They had us clear out a large wooded area and burn the weeds - turned out to be a lot of poison oak. Pretty much wiped out the platoon. No way, you old school guys were oblivious to such minor irritations. |
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575 
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 26, 2017 7:05:02 GMT -5
Wow, glad all we have up here is stinging nettles which by comparison would be like getting tickled with a feather.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Aug 26, 2017 7:35:45 GMT -5
Funny thing is, the Fed Ex drivers were freaked out by the tunnels of bamboo along the driveway, the swaps and ponds close to the driveway, and my big dogs.
Fed Ex Ground is by far the cheapest shipping method to 150 pounds, so I need to be accommodating.
The drivers are young African American guys, and they are wide eyed and nervous coming back here.
I have had to introduce myself and gain their trust.
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