Gnarly Skid Steer Mulcher Tackles Invasive Species in Kentucky

Covington’s Devou Park is a haven of 750 acres nestled atop a hillside overlooking the Cincinnati skyline. But while visitors enjoy the stunning vistas, urban forester Jason Roberts is constantly thinking of honeysuckle — or more appropriately, how to wrestle away “real estate” that is in the grip of this pesky invasive species. A skid-steer mounted mechanical mulcher is helping to eradicate this pervasive pest, so that visitors can continue to enjoy the view as well as the native grasses.

A fast growing, woody nuisance, honeysuckle thrives in this northern Kentucky locale. Honeysuckle can grow anywhere but it is most common near roadways and along wood lines, nestling up to the native ash, pin oak, red oak and white oak. Left unchecked it will quickly crowd out nearby vegetation, and hamper natural reforestation efforts. Starved of sunlight, indigenous plants and grasses die off. Additionally, this water suckling species also robs nearby native vegetation of needed moisture, further harming native species already stressed by drought conditions (which have been common over the past few summers). But thanks to a new invasive species management program instituted in early 2011, the City of Covington is well on the way to eradicating this prolific pest.

A skid steer loader fitted with a Fecon BH74Bullhog mulcher attachment shreds the honeysuckle, reducing it to a carpet of mulch. Roberts estimates that his crews can do more work in a day — typically a couple acres — with the BullHog, than hand crews could accomplish in two weeks. And since the single-operator for the mulcher works from within an enclosed cab, the work environment is much safer than having hand laborers wielding chainsaws, hand saws and weed eaters with metal blades attached. 

The BullHog, which draws its power from the skid steer’s hydraulic system, has a rotor which is fitted with fixed “hammers” which are actually cutting tools.  Using the ground as an anvil, these staggered “teeth” then chew though the woody debris. The BH74 is capable of mulching through standing trees to 8 or 10-in. in diameter, clearly ample power for the steady diet of honeysuckle that it sees.

The problem with how this shrubby material grows is not diameter of the trunk, but more the density of the fast growing material. Although difficult for hand crews to cut and chip, it is no match for the 74-hp BullHog. In fact, all that is left after a pass or two with this machine is a carpet of mulch, which is typically left on the ground to control erosion.  Another side benefit is that as it decomposes, this mulch returns nutrients and organic matter to the soil, further strengthening the reforestation process.

The highly maneuverable skid steer aids in “precision” mulching — as “keeper” trees can be saved, while all else is eradicated. Despite its low ground pressure, Roberts and his crews only work the mulcher when the ground is frozen or the terrain is dry. 

Although there are likely other projects that this mechanical workhorse will be called upon to do in the future, so far is has mainly served to control the invasive honeysuckle and “occasionally on the riverbank for floodwall maintenance.” 

Roberts dreams of someday looking out over the picturesque vistas of Devou Park and seeing verdant hills with lush indigenous greenery … without any honeysuckle. That someday is getting closer each time his crews fire up this mechanical mulcher.