For a variety of reasons, many people are buying land and “moving to the country,” getting away from city living. This wonderful privilege that many Americans realize comes with responsibility. The desire to own land ought to be coupled with the desire to “do the right thing,” i.e. be good stewards of the land and the resources on it. While most people want to do the right thing, many do not know what options are available, nor do they realize the ramifications of certain decisions on their land.

There are several reasons why someone might want to clear woodland. Pasture for livestock, space for horseback riding, creating a vista, making space for a garden, increasing lawn size, or establishing a field for hay or other crops are but a few. Regardless of the reason, it is important to carefully evaluate all options and thoroughly understand the ramifications. Here are some of the questions to consider: Would it be better to harvest the timber first or bulldoze the woodlands all at once? How much pasture is needed, and how long will the process take? What are the economic, ecological, and social tradeoffs? Will clearing land have a negative effect on other personal objectives, such as privacy or wildlife? And what legal restrictions are associated with land clearing? It would be prudent if you answered these questions before making decisions about whether to clear your woodlands.

Perhaps the most common method of clearing land is to harvest the timber, bulldoze to “grub” or remove the stumps, and then establish the next cover (yard, pasture, house, driveway, etc.). Leftover trees and brush can be handled in a variety of ways. While this method may be the most economical and makes finding operators easy, it can also result in extensive damage to the soil. Additionally, unless the timber is very valuable, using a bulldozer may end up costing more than if the timber value was forfeited for easier stump removal.

Land can be cleared using several different methods. When a land owner decides to clear land, it is important to carefully decide which method to choose. Part of this decision will be based on what the land will be used for after it is cleared, and how much time and cost is involved in the clearing.

• Harvest any large trees that are on your land before you bring in a bulldozer. Nice size trees can be cut and sold for logs

• Use a bulldozer to completely clear an area of land after it is harvested. The bulldozer can then push away debris from the harvesting, and the bulldozer will push over stumps and fairly small trees and bushes.

• Seek out a mulch clearing company. This method is good if you have an area to clear with smaller trees, 8 inches (20 cm) or less, or an area that needs to be cleared around trees. Call Keystone Seeding and Landscapes at (717) 517-6691

When you need to clear out a large property that is overrun with taller plants & shrubs and perhaps has some small trees and tall grass as well, brush mowing may be the right solution. Mowing brush is one of the land clearing methods that is vital when you have a piece of land that has a large amount of unwanted plant growth that needs to be removed.

To learn how our brush mowing services can meet your needs, contact Keystone Seeding and Landscapes at (717) 517-6691