I need suggestions on how to clear a field(s) of saplings. The previous owner didn't mow the field for 6 years. The lower field which gets the most water, and subsequently higher tax rate, is covered with 1/4' to 2" dia softwood saplings. The saplings bend over for the brush cutter; and trimming them off by hand is insane.

I found some tractor 3pt tree cutters. But I am guessing the small saplings would bind up or not cut on the carbide tips.
Suggestions appreciated.

Spray them to kill them and then wait and they won’t be so flexible and can be mowed with a shredder.

How large of a field? What type of equipment do you have?

We just mowed those over with a brush hog.

Small fields; both 4 acres. I can rent equipment for a one time clear out. But big equipment won't work so well in these small areas.
I tried that. The saplings bent over with just one side stripped of bark. Nimble trees.

You could rent a skid steer forestry mulcher. Might be overkill but would do the job. But if you don't mow consistency after that they'll just come back. I'd probably start with Sewer Rats suggestion.

Skid steer with one of the Danuser intimidator tree pullers, or if your tractor has a skid steer quick attach one will go on it. Pulls roots and all out. I’ve used them from saplings to big boisdarc trees they are awesome tools.

Hit it with a chisel plow followed by a big, heavy offset.

This would be my suggestion as well.

Then you need to lower the cutting height on your shredder.

This! Remove and burn.

Call Ol Thumper he's got the equipment for this.

Rent you one of these with a skidsteer. . MightyAxe Tree Shear. They'll cut up to 12" easy and down to nothing. This is my rigging i used and it was a killer. If you are gonna run cattle,,Bulldoze um as the stumps will come up a little unless you spray um after cutting with shear. Bought Komatsu Dozer to clear my place , That little Dozer was a good one.used it 7 years and sold it for what I gave for it. If you have a lot to do , beats renting.

What’s are your intentions with it when it’s cut?

The easiest/best method would be to run a mulcher over the saplings on a seek and destroy mission leaving the overgrown grasses for the shredder to handle after the saplings are taken down to ground level and shredded not leaving stobs sticking up every where. If you want to rent equipment and you can find a rental store that offers a skid steer with an open front brush cutter you can plow through all of it but you’ll have somewhat of a mess until you shred it a few times with your bush hog and you’ll still have a good many stobs sticking up for a while. You’ll still need to spray it next spring when it all starts growing again but that’s an easy fix.

The previous owner needs his gonads kicked for not maintaining it but that’s a routine fix, shoot me a pm if you have any questions. We’ve literally done thousands of acres just like yours and much worse coming out if CRP.

This looks like a winner. I've got some wooded areas which could use some thinning of underbrush and small trees also.
thank

I cleaned up 40 acres of saplings with tractor and shredder. If they are thick, don't take a full shredder width. Take it slow and easy. Larger saplings (3") I cut low with chainsaw.
My tractor is 70HP and the shredder was 5'.

DR Tree Chopper. Used one once. Works well on 2-3 inch trees like you said you have. Well enough that you'll soon be trying to chop bigger ones. Anything 4" and above will have you checking your fillings.

CVR Manufacturing, Inc. is now building the Tree Chopper (formerly made by DR and ATV-X).

It is an ATV (4 wheeler) mounted tree saw that allows you to drive up and over a tree up to 4 inches in diameter cutting it off flush with the ground. 60 day warranty.

A video is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF9uxexunYo
and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_VljUmmCvE

Made of durable, professional-grade steel, the device mounts securely to the front of most ATVs and cuts trees up to 4" thick in seconds. Unlike skid-steer mounted tree shears, the TreeChopper requires no external power source or stopping and waiting for hydraulic jaws to open and close around the tree. The TreeChopper can cut hundreds of trees per hour.
How the TreeChopper works:
Forward fixed blades on each side of the device score the trunk and help guide the tree toward circular rotating blades in the center.
Just like a pipe cutter slices through metal, circular blades rotate as the ATV accelerates through the trunk, cutting cleanly from each side.
The device's trailing blade shears off the stump smoothly from the back.
The blades cut flush to the ground, leaving a stump no more than a 1/4" high, so the tree won't re-grow.
Key features of the new Tree Chopper include T-100 tempered steel blades and a durable, corrosion resistant powder coat finish. Field testing with the unit proves the durable blades will cut over 300,000 trees before they need to be replaced.

CVR Manufacturing, Inc.

Galesburg Kansas

620-763-2500

Additional Description
CVR Tree chopper

Sounds like you’re talking about some type of pine tree sapling, which I have no experience clearing personally. In my area we deal with what we call cedar, but are actually Ashe juniper. If I’m clearing an area of small cedars where density is sparse enough to deal with each plant individually, I’m using a larger tracked skid steer with an danuser intimidator and plucking each plant. Gather and pile them with a grapple rake if desired.

If they are so thick dealing with individual plants is impossible or will take forever, then a mulcher or brush cutter on a tracked skid steer is the way to go.

Then you can maintain with a tractor and shredder

More surprises. The previous owner(s) lacked common sense. I've whacked into too many stumps and rocks and abandonded fencing parts with no warning. I have to cut high when moving into areas I haven't personally cleared.