Land clearing is exactly what the name implies. It is the process of removing trees, boulders, stumps, and other vegetation from wooded areas that are often privately owned by farmers or property sellers. This process gets quite a bad rap, but there are advantages and valid reasons to undergo such things that many may not know. Before passing judgment, here are a couple of things you need to know about land clearing.
Is Land Clearing Bad for the Environment?
Because it involves the removal of things that grow in nature, environmentalists may be quick to pass judgment on land clearing. But this service can be beneficial to environmental sustainability.
Lots that have been neglected can accumulate weeds, bushes, and other plants that make it hard for vegetation to flourish. Clearing out dead or overgrown vegetation can also give other plants a chance to thrive and receive direct sunlight.
A great deal of land clearing is necessary for farmers who want to start growing crops. Land clearing can help cultivate healthy levels of nutrients in the soil for them to become fertile enough for planting. During the process, the topsoil will be covered with mulch to prevent weed growth and soil erosion.
Other Benefits of Land Clearing
Helps Control Pests
One of the primary benefits of land clearing is controlling the pest population. Areas with thick vegetation are often the favorite spot of pests, particularly during rainy seasons. Water allows mosquitoes and pests to grow, while trees and plants give them shelter. Performing land clearing helps get rid of these pests and prevents their population from growing.
Dead trees can also attract squirrels, termites, and birds. Disposing of these trees as soon as possible helps avoid future issues for animals nesting there. While pests are easily drawn to dense areas, other animals may find shelter in these spaces. For instance, you may have to deal with snakes, bears, and other wild animals if you don’t perform land clearing sooner than you should.
Ensures Health and Safety
Weedy areas make a great habitat for rodents, snakes, deers, and other bigger animals. They can be dangerous to drivers. Passersby may be victims of branches falling from dying trees. These trees may also bring diseases or airborne viruses to you, your family, or your pets. Land clearing will eliminate any unwanted trees surrounding your house or business. Areas that are filled with dead trees can become a fire hazard when the summer comes along. Rotting dead trees and overgrown weeds when exposed to sunlight can start forest fires, which can be quite alarming.
Controlling the number of trees can also help mitigate the amount of pollen in the air, thus reducing allergies. So, land clearing helps promote a healthier and safer environment.
Supports Growth of Trees
Performing land clearing helps support the growth of trees and plants. Lots or fields covered with vegetation can decrease the chances of trees to grow or survive. Meanwhile, if you clear the land, you are giving them more access to the elements that they need to grow. These include water, sunlight, and other nutrients.
Facilitates Environmental Stability
Another main benefit of land clearing is that it promotes stability for different species within the field. Abandoned lots will be covered with bushes, weeds, and other plants. As a result, they would compete for food, making it hard for them to have enough resources and chances for growth.
Meanwhile, if you get rid of dead trees and cut back on overgrown vegetation, there will be a more even distribution of nutrients, sunlight, water, and other needs for growth. Getting healthy nutrients from the soil is also made possible with land clearing. If the land is used for agricultural purposes, this step is essential. Mulch also helps enhance the fertility of the soil and prevent the growth of weeds.
Maintains Good Soil Condition
Land clearing also helps keep the soil in good condition. If there are too many trees and plants, it will just attract more weeds, leading to unwanted plant growth. This, in turn, contributes to soil erosion. With land clearing, the soil will be spread equally, thus keeping it healthier.
Mitigate Wildfire Risks
Getting rid of rotting or dying plants is beneficial during dry climates as it can help prevent the spread of wildfires. For gardens that are not properly maintained, dry leaves left after lawn mowing may also create the risk of fire. So, if you have a bigger landscape that is hard to sustain on your own, you can take advantage of a thorough land clearing service. Credible companies like Future Forest Inc. also offer mulching services, helping prevent soil erosion after taking out big trees or rocks.
Provides Great Aesthetics
Areas with several plants and trees may look beautiful. However, it’s a different story if you see trees and shrubs grow from different directions or become too close to each other. Land clearing allows you to take out dead plants, making the land more useful while maintaining its beauty. Once enough areas are cleared, property owners can start adding more amenities. For example, you can put up a pool or spa area. You can also set up your garden and still help the environment.
With vacant lots, growing shrubs, plants, and trees can be unsightly. If you own properties like this, you can benefit from a land clearing process as it will not only make the area more visible but also keep the property value higher.
Offers Easy Maintenance
If you have bushy areas and choose to leave them as they are, you still have to maintain them, especially if you’re part of a crowded community. You have to perform trimming, pruning, watering, and removal of plants and trees that are unhealthy, damaged, or rotten. Given that your city may have specific rules regarding tree maintenance, you might have to rent or purchase some equipment or get a landscaping service to make sure that they are well maintained.
Stops Spread of Diseases
Disease from specific trees can easily spread to other plants. As a result, more pests will be attracted to the area. Insects like termites will also stay in rotting wood. If you perform land clearing, you can stop the spread of such diseases and pests and promote a healthier environment instead.
Prevents More Aggressive Forms of Clearing
If you neglect overgrown vegetation for a long time, this means you will need a more comprehensive type of clearing when the situation calls for it. For instance, bigger trees have to be cut using a tractor or chain. Healthy plants may be compromised as well when trying to take out larger trees. Hiring experts that perform high-quality land clearing services will help you control such damage to soil and other plants and trees.
Pest Control
Pests that wreck vegetation can harm any agricultural business. The worst-case scenario is for farmers to take pest control into their own hands. Land clearing can cause these creatures to relocate.
Mosquitoes and gnats also thrive in unkempt land areas. Rainwater dips can create places where they can form colonies and create swarms that could be life-threatening to both creatures and humans alike. Termites survive on the bark of dead wood from trees that have been dead for a long time. That also makes it terrible for birds and squirrels that live on these trees.
Land clearing doesn’t allow pests to hide and repopulate. It also removes dead trees so that it doesn’t become a problem in the future.
Conclusion
Land clearing is a service that helps property owners from problems that may arise from leaving the land unkempt and unmanaged. As long as the responsibility falls on capable hands, it will not lead to complete environmental degradation.
Are you looking for land clearing services for a property you own? Get responsible professionals to do the job for you. Future Forest Inc. is a team of logging and forestry experts that provide quality forest management services across the Western NY region. We now offer mulching for land clearing projects. Get in touch with us today!