Need some one to pound holes in lava

[hpp4me]

Larry, what kind of equipment does Chip use?

Perhaps you can tell him we're talking about him so he can come here and explain his business to us.

It seems to me that the "Chip Strategy" is not only an alternative to bulldozing, but may be cheaper than bulldozing, too. It sounds like the bill comes out to perhaps $20 a hole. What planting medium will you put into the hole when planting?

Also, I still wonder about a plant's ability to put roots through the margin of the hole into the lava.





Edited by - hpp4me on 09/21/2007 07:18:06

[Larry T]

Call Chip at 987-5800 Again thanks to Daniel Diamond. After pounding I checked the holes by trying to fill them with water, they did not fill. I will use differ soils for plants. I love plumeria so they will be very high cinder. I think the pounding break the lava and has cracks in the lava not broken where roots can go. I am at 15-1026 E rd drop by and see what he did.

[morganlady]

Plant roots have broken up rocks for many millenia. They use hydraulic pressure (turgor) when they find a crack, and soon can increase that initial surface area by sending those tiny feeler roots out to absorb theminerals/nutrients that they need, which gives them more energy to push further into the lava/hardpack.

[hpp4me]

Thanks Morganlady! Do you need to give the new plants a hand by cracking the interior of the hole?

This thread has been great! We never liked the idea of bulldozing but want an orchard in the back of our lot. This approach saves money and seems a bit more "green."

[Daniel]

Busting a hole in the ground and planting a tree in it is the traditional way of planting in puna. Some large field owners simply hire a dozer to rip lines in the field instead on digging individual holes. And there are plus sides to having a D9 come. You will have better drainage, places to plant trees, and all invasive plants are destoyed and then can be replaced with natives. Not to mention flat, usable land. There is nothing wrong with dozing an albizia lot, usually the native trees (ohi'a) are already dead. There are some lots like mine that have large and rare native trees that should not be bulldozed. I intend to make the lot as usable as posible while preseving the maximum amount of large trees. Every lot is unique.

Daniel R Diamond

[hpp4me]

If we were to bulldoze, we would need someone who can work around a grove of ohia trees. The rest of the lot seems to be just junk plants.

I know they charge by the hour, but what would you expect to pay for the careful bulldozing of 1 acre?

[Daniel]

I'm not sure how much it would cost. I suspect it would be less than you would think. The reason I mentioned bull dozing is that some people are completely against it without considering the benefits. Some dozer opperators are very skilled and should have no problem avoiding the trees you wish to save. Usually only a house pad and road are bulldozed. Thats what my father did, and then later decided he needed more room so he had more work done. As for planting unless you plant in a ripped area, you will still need to bust some holes. Chip does great digging tree holes, trenches, and post holes. He has a dumptruck too, so he can bring whatever kind of fill you want. If you decide not to rip your house pad, and to back fill instead, don't use cinders under your house. Your idea about planting trees and filling around with cinder sounds like a good idea too.

Daniel R Diamond

[Larry T]

I had my land cleared by hand 1/2 acre cost was $800 plus $200 to get rid of the brush. Then $350 to pound holes, and I still have more to pound and clean maybe a $400 more. I have cinders, cinders & soil, and humus so the bills can add up. Plus soil in the bag at 5.60. But I was told bull dozing cost could be $3000, $3-5K plus more for cinders. I would still have the other bills.

[hpp4me]

If you bulldoze,do you have to clean the lot first? Or can they just bulldoze all of the plants under and then bring in cinder?