Mini Skid Steer Uproots Invasive Tree Species With Ease

From increased property value to improved air quality, the benefits of trees are abundant. But finding a suitable tree for specific climates and locations can be a challenging process. Without a deep knowledge of trees and environments, people mistakenly plant the wrong tree in the wrong place. As many tree care professionals know, the wrong species can cause major issues to residential homeowners, municipalities and utility companies.

Rogue Tree Solutions in Orrville, Ohio aims to educate the public on trees and the importance of tree maintenance to prevent future issues. The company is very active in The International Society of Arboriculture. This organization sets the precedence of professionalism and proper techniques that all reach for in the arboriculture industry.

“With our proficient knowledge of arboriculture, we’re driven to educate the public and our customers to make the right decisions when it comes to trees,” said Corey Parsons, co-owner of Rogue Tree Solutions. “But, we also know that sometimes trees fail and need to be removed. In those situations, we can apply our knowledge and skills to correctly and safely cut them down.”

As certified arborists, the team at Rogue Tree Solutions tackles some of the most challenging tree removal and pruning jobs in commercial, residential and municipal settings. The company emphasizes safety and professionalism while following the standards set by the International Society of Arboriculture to effectively conquer each job.

Maneuvering a Tough Jobsite

In March of 2017, the village of Fredericksburg was faced with a series of hurdles. The town’s sewer plant was becoming a target of falling Ash trees that were affected from the Emerald Ash Borer. The trees had slowly succumbed over the past decade from the EAB and had been failing more frequently.

Numerous trees had fallen over the years and crushed the security fence surrounding the village facility. Often these trees had narrowly missed banks of electrical transformers, electrical lines and other infrastructures critical to the plants operation. The village decided to take a proactive approach and push back the tree edge from the plant and re-establish a right-of-way. The village council voted unanimously that the work had to be done, and chose Rogue Tree Solutions for the job.

Surrounding the jobsite was thick, foot-deep mud. Due to the ground conditions, the team recognized that the job required rugged, maneuverable equipment, but the conditions prevented the Rogue team from utilizing a full-sized skid steer typically suited for heavy tree-handling tasks.

Instead, the team turned to their construction-grade Ditch Witch® SK1050 mini skid steers and a chipper to effectively maneuver around the jobsite and remove the damaged trees. In fact, the team of 10 cleared 108 trees in an unprecedented three days – a job that typically requires much larger teams and larger equipment. Rogue Tree Solutions finished the challenging job by applying an herbicide treatment to prevent the tree stumps from sprouting back, and have since been invited back for other maintenance work at the water treatment facility.

Versatile, Rugged Equipment

The tree removal job wasn’t the only time the Ditch Witch SK1050 supported the Rogue Tree Solutions crew. When looking for a machine to match their versatile and rugged jobsite needs, Rogue Tree Solutions tested several mini skid steer models, yet nothing compared to the Ditch Witch SK1050. “The Ditch Witch machine blew us away. Compared to other mini skid steer units, the SK1050 really is a bulldog. It’s faster and it’s tougher,” said Parsons.

“The clean-up job at the water treatment facility was really challenging due to the sticky mud. We need machines in our fleet that can maneuver through sometimes challenging ground conditions,” said Toni Adamrovich, co-owner of Rogue Tree Solutions. “When comparing the Ditch Witch machine to others, it has two joysticks so I can control my tracks separately. When you get into jobsites with a lot of mud, sometimes you need move the tracks back and forth at variable speeds to get through. It’s tough to do that with a single joystick. The tracks on the SK1050 are also superior when comparing machines side-by-side. They are wide and more rigid, but still leave a small footprint for residential work.”

Additionally, the SK1050 mini skid steer allows Rogue Tree Solutions to conquer the most difficult stump removal jobs. Many tree care providers do not offer stump removal because it’s so labor intensive and typically must be done manually. But, Parsons says, the Ditch Witch machine helps ease the work. The team at Rogue uses various bucket attachments to scoop the grindings, load them into a dump trailer and fill the hole with soil. They also have a fork and grapple attachment which helps relieve employees of the straining job of moving materials.

For more information on the SK1050 mini skid steer, please visit SK1050 | Ditch Witch – Directional Drills, Trenchers, Vacs, & Skid Steers

HYDRAULIC BREAKER
Used for construction and demolition, our breakers can be used to break up asphalt, concrete or even clay. The hydraulic hammer is perfect for any small or medium job you might have. More up-time in the field is always the goal, and with only two moving parts and a few seals, there’s no reason for down-time.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

ROCK SAW

Best suited for irrigation and fiber installation, the Rock Saw attachment can effortlessly cut through rock, concrete, and other tough materials with unmatched precision. 

Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BACKHOE
Easily move materials for rebuilds, new construction, footings, utility repairs and more with this compact and versatile attachment.
Compatible Models

SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

STUMP GRINDERS
Featuring a heavy-duty boom design, powerful stump grinding attachments quickly shred stumps down to nothing. Easy maneuvering from stump to stump and increased visibility turns more ground stumps into more profit.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

MULTITASK TOOL
Your multipurpose tool for the ultimate multi-tasker is here. Engineered to grab tight to heavy materials and move them with ease and precision, the multi-task tool is your go-to for heavy applications. Easy to operate with convenient, functional levers.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

CORE DRILL
With the MC-450 coring attachment, utility maintenance is simple and less disruptive. Featuring intuitive controls and an integrated water tank, the MC-450 is the perfect choice for quick cuts and a more productive coring process. A fully adjustable 0 to 280 rpm speed allows for enhanced control and greater productivity.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

SOIL CULTIVATOR
Prepare food plots, gardens, and landscaping projects with a soil cultivator. It gets land ready by stirring organic material back in the soil for a healthier, more stable lawn. Buries the biggest of rocks for a looser topsoil.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BLADES
Whether you’re looking to increase dump height or digging depth, attaching a backfill blade is an easy way to save manpower on your jobsite while working with precision and timeliness. Available in various widths.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

AUGER DRIVER
Ideal for landscaping and tree care, an auger attachment will expedite hole creation and allow operators to quickly plant trees or install fence posts than if they were hand-digging or relying on a hand-held auger. Available in 6" to 30" diameters.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

TILLER
Tough and effective tillers prepare your garden by breaking up tough soil and removing unwanted weeds. Available in 4' width.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

GRAPPLES
Tree grapples come with 48" or 57" openings to efficiently remove logs and debris from the jobsite. It has an excavator style boom design with a powder coat finish and a cylinder lock for increased safety. Brush grapples available with a gap opening of 29" and widths of 42" or 54".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

CARRY ALL LEVELER
One of our most simple yet versatile attachments, the Carry-All Leveler is perfect for carrying bulky material, leveling soil and adding a flat, smooth finish to your project. Available in 49" width.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BUCKETS
Turn one machine into a multi-functional workhorse with versatile Ditch Witch® SK attachments. From landscaping and hardscapes to tree care and construction-grade tasks, your stand-on skid steer can take on more than you think. We've got you covered with a variety buckets from 4-in-1 to heavy and light material buckets. Widths range from 34" to 66".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

PALLET FORKS
Take on your heaviest loads with precision and dependability with Ditch Witch pallet forks. They easily attach to any of our skid steers and can easily accessorize with hay spikes, brick guards, and much more to add even more ROI. Available in widths ranging from 36-48.75" and lengths from 36-48".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

MICROTRENCHER
Fiber installation and other street-located work is rapidly growing. A microtrenching attachment is key for operators looking to get into fiber installation at the street level. They cut both concrete and asphalt in controlled increments so contractors don't need to stop traffic. Maximum width options are 0.5-1.5” or 2” with maximum depths of 12” or 16”.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

ROTO WITCH®
The Ditch Witch Roto Witch® attachment is used for short bores underneath sidewalks, driveways and other obstacles. It offers great digging performance while minimizing jobsite restoration. Compatible with numerous Ditch Witch stand-on skid steers, the Roto Witch attachment can bore and backream up to 12" (300 mm) in diameter.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

PLOW
Install fiber and other utilities quickly with a vibratory plow attachment for your skid steer. It creates less ground disruption and cleanup than traditional trenching to get the job done faster. Available in maximum depths of 14" and 24".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

POWER RAKE
Clean, level and prep jobsites or smooth and loosen soil for sodding with a rake attachment. Most rake attachments require 10 to 14 gpm, but the higher horsepower creates even more drum torque to tear through the most demanding soil types. Width measures 4'.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

MICROTRENCHERS
Fiber installation and other street-located work is rapidly growing. A microtrenching attachment is key for operators looking to get into fiber installation at the street level. They cut both concrete and asphalt in controlled increments so contractors don't need to stop traffic. Maximum width options are 0.5-1.5” or 2” with maximum depths of 12” or 16”.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

ROTO WITCH®
The Ditch Witch Roto Witch® attachment is used for short bores underneath sidewalks, driveways and other obstacles. It offers great digging performance while minimizing jobsite restoration. Compatible with numerous Ditch Witch stand-on skid steers, the Roto Witch attachment can bore and backream up to 12" (300 mm) in diameter.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

PLOWS
Install fiber and other utilities quickly with a vibratory plow attachment for your skid steer. It creates less ground disruption and cleanup than traditional trenching to get the job done faster. Available in maximum depths of 14" and 24".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

TRENCHER

Stay efficient on large jobsites with a trencher attachment for your skid steer. It’s a smart alternative to large, specialized equipment for utility installation and landscaping jobs. Available in standard 6”, 8” and 12” maximum widths with maximum depths of 36", 38", 48” and 55.5”.

Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000