This is the process of clearing the land of obstacles like bushes, uneven dirt, trees, rocks, and other debris. This can be accomplished by using various equipment such as chainsaws, backhoes, big bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy machinery. In some land clearing jobs the homeowner can do themselves if it is a small job and does not require move large trees and big rocks. If homeowners cannot do the job themselves, they will hire a professional land clearing company to do the job. What actually will be removed will depend on the type of clearing selected. If you want it cleared to make it possible to walk around the property, fire safety, or to restore overgrown views a person would have selective land clearing. This would remove all of the debris and underbrush but would leave any desirable and established trees alone. Everything will be removed if the land clearing is for farmland or pasture. If it is for residential or commercial building everything would be removed and just leave he hind leaving an area of dirt.
Cost of land clearing
What the actual cost for this job would depend on the company you hire and what you needed to clear out. It also depends on whether the land is grassy, sloped, brushy, flat, heavily or lightly wooded or a combination of any of these. The company will also figure in how accessible the land is and local regulations. They may even charge an hourly rate.
• Few trees and light vegetation–$20 to $200 per acre
• Sloped land with few trees and overgrown brush–$500 to $2,000 per acre
• Forested or heavily wooded–$3,000 to $6,00 or more per acre
In most states you will have to have a permit to do land clearing unless it is included as part of an approved building permit. A separate permit could cost $50 to $200 or more.
Types of land clearing
• Controlled burn-this is one of the most dangerous methods and involves starting and maintaining a controlled fire. This will need to be done until all the brush and trees are burned down. Once the fire is extinguished then the land clearing can be done using construction equipment like a bulldozer
• Pushover-this involves using construction equipment to push the trees over. They will haul off with the roots intact. All of the trees will be moved to a location to be processed for mulching material or sale.
• Cut and grind-the trees on the land are cut down and moved to a processing location. The stumps are left behind in the ground where they can later be pulled out of the ground or grounded into mulching material.