If you have a plot of land, chances are you have big plans for it. This could mean building, farming, or simply placing the land up for sale. In most cases, before you can enact any of those plans, though, you’ll need to get the land ready. Sometimes, this might be a simple matter, but most of the time, you will need to find land clearing services in your area.

As with any contracted service, it’s best to familiarize yourself with what you can expect before you make any hiring decisions. You should have an idea of who will perform the service, what equipment they will use, and how long you can expect the job to take. Of course, you will also need to factor in the cost as well as the experience of those performing the task.

What Is Land Clearing?

Simply put, land clearing is the process of preparing an area of land for building, development, or other use. Doing so usually involves removing any obstructions in the area, such as brush, shrubs, rocks, trees, and debris. Sometimes, it also involves preparing the land for planting, farming, or other purposes. In some cases, landowners will also have a specific vision for the land, such as leaving certain trees in place while removing others. They may also have a purpose for the material that’s removed, such as selling the felled trees for wood or turning the brush and shrubbery into mulch.

How Do I Prepare to Have My Land Cleared?

Before making any decisions with regard to land clearing services on your property, you’ll need to have an idea of what you want done. For example, if you want to commission a building project, you may need to have your contractor survey the area in advance. By doing so, they will be able to make recommendations as to what needs to be removed from the area and what can be left.

You can also make specific preparations with regard to what to do with the material that is removed, as well as decide if you will have any new plant life brought in as you begin the development process.

What, Exactly, Will My Land Clearing Contractor Do?

The first step in land clearing is to remove any large obstructions on the land. This means boulders or other very large rocks as well as any unwanted trees, logs, or stumps. The roots of trees that have been felled will usually have to be removed as well, specifically because unseen underground roots can pose a hazard to other elements of a building or planting project.

After the larger obstructions have been removed, your contractor will move on to smaller obstructions. This might mean brush, foliage, or shrubs. It may also mean gravel or other smaller rocks. Once again, you may have decided to keep certain plant life on the property, and if you do, your land clearing services can usually work around it.

After they have removed everything from the land that you have asked them to, they can then begin to prepare the land for development. This might mean grading—or leveling—the land, providing erosion protection, and arranging for water drainage.

Your land clearing contractor will also arrange for the disposal of anything they have removed from the land. You’ll often have multiple options for how this is done. Sometimes, everything can just be thrown into a few large dumpsters, while in other cases, you may want vegetation that has been removed to be recycled and reused as mulch, helping new plants on the land to thrive.

What Equipment Is Used for the Job?

The equipment used in land clearing can vary depending upon the task that’s being performed. Heavy equipment, such as dozers, chippers, and mulchers, may be used to perform certain elements of the job. Others may be done by hand, depending upon their magnitude.

Trees are usually removed with chainsaws and ropes. Sometimes, contractors will have to climb into the trees themselves to cut off large limbs and branches. This can make the process of felling trees easier. Several methods of removing stumps exist. A large piece of equipment called a stump grinder is usually the fastest and easiest way to get the job done, although chemicals can also be used to accelerate stumps’ natural decomposition process.

Large boulders can pose a bit of a challenge to remove. Sometimes, the task is as simple as digging around the boulder and eventually lifting it into a large wheelbarrow. In other cases, the boulders will need to be split into smaller pieces before being carried off piece by piece. If this is the case, a type of wedge called a plug and feather tool is often used for the job.

Who Performs the Task of Land Clearing?

Land clearing services are usually performed by companies that specialize in industrial-sized tasks. It’s usually best to look for a company that specializes in the removal of trees, as this is a multi-faceted task that requires professional training. Some companies, such as Mr. Tree, will also assist with the disposal of material after the job has been completed.

Finding the Best Contractor for the Job

Searching for land clearing services in your area requires a certain amount of care. You should take the cost into account. You don’t want to be overcharged, but opting for the cheapest option usually isn’t best either. Expect to pay anywhere from $1,200 to $6,000, depending upon the logistics of the job itself.

Of course, cost isn’t the only factor in finding the best contractor for the task. You’ll also want to ensure they are highly qualified for the job. Make sure they have all of their paperwork in order, including insurance and written contracts of the particulars of the job. Try to find out how much experience they have as well, and don’t be afraid to interview previous customers and check references to make sure you have found the best people for the job.