Some bigger bulldozers come with attachments known as “tree pushers” or “tree spears” which make toppling towering, deeply-rooted trees almost effortless. On most newer dozers, you’ll find the joystick that controls the height and angle of the blade on the console beside the operator’s seat. [2] X Research source
Small dozers may lack the horsepower needed to easily dislodge sizable stumps. If you have numerous stumps covering your work site, it’s a good idea to invest in a larger machine, if at all possible. [5] X Research source You stand to save both time and energy by “grubbing” stumps with a bulldozer in this way rather than breaking them up by hand or with smaller equipment.
Most clearing blasts are carried out using ANFO (short for “ammonium nitrate/fuel oil”), an inexpensive and commonly-used industrial explosive readily available to those with the proper permits. If your work site is overrun with the remains of giant trees (and if your local ordinances allow it), it may be cheaper and speedier to blow them to pieces than to dig them out one-by-one with a dozer that you’re paying for by the hour. Blasting may not be a very practical solution for all land owners, as it requires special training and legal documentation and cannot be performed in areas containing underground utility lines, wells, sunken foundations, or nearby structures.
If you’re operating a dozer that has a blade with an adjustable pitch, angling the blade forward can help put more of the cutting strip into contact with the earth. Ideally, you’ll want to scour the soil to a depth of 1–2 feet (0. 30–0. 61 m), unless you’ll be using your site for agricultural purposes, in which case you should aim for a maximum depth of 15 centimetres (5. 9 in). [8] X Research source A root rake can be a worthwhile investment if you find yourself up against old or extensive root systems that run deep. This attachment, which fits right over the dozer’s blade, features a row of long, curved teeth that will extend your reach and attack stubborn roots from multiple points at once. [9] X Research source
The number of waste piles you produce will depend partly on how much material you have to clear and partly on the size of your work site. For smaller plots of land, you might be able to get by with one or two piles, whereas you’ll likely need more if you’re covering a lot of ground. Take the time to sift through your respective piles and remove items that don’t belong—it can be hazardous to both your individual health and that of the environment to burn things like plastics or treated metals.
If possible, have one or more assistants on standby to get the fire started while you or your operator focus on maneuvering the bulldozer. Make sure each of your burn piles is surrounded by a gap of at least 15–20 feet (4. 6–6. 1 m) to keep the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading accidentally. [13] X Research source
The ripper is the spike-like piercing device situated on the back of some bulldozers. It’s function is to “rip” up hard surfaces prior to routine excavation. [15] X Research source Single-shank rippers are typically used for serious multi-directional surface destruction, while multi-shank rippers are better suited for raking and turning.
You’ll be able to move more soil at a time using a dozer with a curved universal or semi-universal blade, but a basic straight blade will also get the job done nicely. [18] X Research source You can also shift large quantities of earth around as needed to fill in ponds and wet lowland areas. Don’t forget to mix some gravel or another drainage-promoting substrate material into the soil by hand later on.
If your bulldozer came equipped with an advanced grade control system, take advantage of it. Otherwise, you may end up losing valuable time going back to correct your work. [20] X Research source Proper grading is a must if you intend to use your site to install structures or features that must sit perfectly level.
For example, you might start by running the dozer over your site from east to west, then reset and repeat the process going north to south.
