The reality of land clearing
Land clearing may have been done by the homeowner back in the day, but today there are experienced professionals to do the dirty work. Depending on the condition of the land and what needs to be done, large excavators may be needed to get the job done. At the very least, it is a time-consuming job for a property owner to do. At the very worst, it is a highly-dangerous job which truly should be left to the professionals who have the equipment and the skill to do the job safely and properly. Call J & A Excavation Company, who are experienced in excavation services.
Our suggestion: hire a professional
This writer has known property owners who attempted land clearing on their own. When all was said and done, they regretted the decision. Even if the very least that must be done is brush clearing, it requires a tractor or strong pickup truck, and an attachment known as a brush hog. It is an expensive, dirty, and aggravating job, on the best of days.
Thus, we strongly recommend hiring a professional land clearing company.
When shopping for a professional, make sure to:
- Get competitive bids from a number of contractors
- Ensure the one you choose is licensed, bonded and insured
- Check references from other customers who’ve gone with them
- Have the contractor out to the job site before giving you a solid bid
Types of land clearing methods
There are various ways to clear a lot, including:
- Grubbing and dozing
- Mulching
- Burning
- Hand-clearing
Let’s look briefly at each of these methods.
Grubbing and dozing
This is perhaps the quickest method of land clearing, involving the use of large machinery to scour the land of all obstructions. However, for those considering doing it themselves, it should be noted that this method also leaves behind large holes and large piles of debris. The holes will need to be filled in, and the debris will need to be hauled off or burned, so the time saved by grubbing and dozing is lost on the tail end of the method.
Mulching
With mulching, small trees and vegetation like berry bushes are chewed up by a large mulching machine, and the remaining “chips” are left to act as a layer, preventing, or slowing, the return growth of vegetation.
Burning
A controlled, professional burn is an efficient way of clearing land, but it comes with its own set of problems. In many communities these days, with the concern for global warming, controlled-burns are not allowed. There is also the danger of the controlled burn spreading to neighboring properties, and then there are arguments for, and against, because of the effects to the soil for years to come.
Hand-clearing
Welcome back to the pioneer days. All joking aside, this is the most selective method of land clearing, but it is also the most time-consuming and the most dangerous. If the land to be cleared is simply a small portion say, big enough for a house, while the rest of the property remains in a natural state, this might be the method which is most-efficient.