Land Clearing 101 [Most Popular Techniques You Should Know]

Land clearing is an essential process that you need to go through before building a new property or using the area for other needs. When you clear land, you remove trees, stumps, and other vegetation present in wooded areas. With that, the main goal is to get needed land-use improvements and adjustments, keeping in mind the interest of natural resource conservation. 

However, land clearing isn’t as straightforward as it seems. There are many considerations and techniques you need to bear in mind to execute this process with zero-to-no issues. Having said that, you need to know how much land you need to use, the feasibility of the project in the area, and what type of property you’re building. 

Besides that, you also need to get down into the specifics for land clearings, such as the soil composition, the amount of vegetation in the area, the presence of rocks, and more.

Seeing that there are many things to consider, it’s best to work with reputable land clearing companies to ensure that the proper methods are practiced, and natural resource conservation is considered. 

The Different Land Clearing Techniques

Knowing the different land clearing techniques can help you and your team prepare the area for your upcoming project. Besides that, you can choose the right method that seems fitting for your property plan. Speaking to a reliable land clearing company will help you understand the different techniques, empowering you to choose the right method to help clear your land.

1. Cut and Grind

If you have a property with a small number of trees, the cut and grind technique is most suitable for your project. With this technique, land clearing specialists will eliminate brush and weeds. After that, specialists will use large machinery to take down trees and set them aside, allowing them to easily transport them. 

Some heavy equipment may be involved for stumps and larger trees, such as backhoes, bulldozers, and trucks. Additionally, the contractors can also mulch the stumps and spread them in the area to improve your land’s soil composition.

2. Pushover or Bulldozing

When you use the pushover technique, you commence land clearing by pushing over large growth with massive machinery, leaving roots intact. If you have small and intermediate-sized areas, bulldozers can do the trick. 

When large bushes and trees have been pushed, the holes that remain will be fixed using a bulldozer or backhoe. However, even with its efficiency, the major drawback is that it can destroy your topsoil. 

3. Pulling

On the other hand, pulling involves large tractors and anchor chains attached, pulling trees and large stumps from the soil. However, with this method, you need to consider that you don’t simply attach any chains to any tractor; there are specific machinery and equipment involved that can do that task, making this a limiting option. 

4. Pile and Burn

A simple, cheap, and timeless method is the pile and burn technique. This technique clears your land with a tractor, skid steer, and other equipment that could help you move everything into piles and burned. Although this is a traditional land clearing method, there are a few limits and catches with this technique.

For example, if you’re dealing with a huge amount of material, your fire can grow big, posing a threat to surrounding areas and the environment. Second, burning can be difficult if you’re dealing with large tree roots since the soil is most likely clinging to the plant. 

Finally, some plants may be toxic and could emit hazardous elements when burned.

The Bottom Line: Work with a Credible Land Clearing Company 

Clearing out your land isn’t as straightforward as it seems. There are many things you need to consider, and on top of that, various techniques are required for different land types. 

With that being said, make your decision-making process easier by working with a reputable land clearing company. This way, you can ensure that the proper procedure and land clearing techniques are carried out in your project.

How Can We Help You?

Future Forest Inc is a land clearing company in western NY. We provide consulting and quality forest management across the western New York region.

Our services include timber sales, excavation, land clearing, low-impact logging, and more. If you’re looking for a land clearing company, contact us today!

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