Why is Land Clearing Important?

What equipment is used for clearing land?

A contractor hired for land clearing will first assess the moisture, soil stability, species habitation, terrain, and vegetation density. They will address concerns about the environmental impact and any obstacles present. Once they make their assessment it will be easy for them to choose the right equipment and machinery to work around all of these elements. 

A variety of equipment and machinery is used for land clearing that the contractor will choose based on their assessment of the land. This includes excavator mulchers, tracked or wheeled mulching units, and skid steer tractors equipped with attachments that mulch. The average land clearing will require other tools as well that an experienced clearing company like Loftin Dirt Works LLC will have on hand. 

What is manual land clearing?

Manual land clearing involves pruning or removing dangerous or unwanted vegetation using hand tools such as chainsaws. Using these tools allows contractors to accurately and precisely remove vegetation and other obstacles. Manual clearing will use bucket trucks and spider lifts to remove what the contractor cuts down or Good Rigging Control System (GRCS) hand tools when those pieces of equipment cannot get to the cleared land. Material that’s cleared from the land is loaded into Grapple trucks or Roll-Offs and removed from the property. 

When do you need land clearing done?

There are any number of reasons you might need a land clearing service. While many buy land to build a home on, businesses will also need to have land cleared for their new sites. Both homeowners and businesses often choose to build on undeveloped property because it’s often cheaper in the long run to buy and build on that property than to purchase or rent and renovate an existing building.

Of course, homeowners and businesses are the only ones that will need land-clearing services. Agricultural concerns will need to have land cleared for a variety of purposes from installing stock tanks to clearing out space for grazing land or to building barns, silos or other types of agricultural buildings.

How long does it take to clear an acre of land?

While the time it takes to clear land will vary, on average one acre of land takes three to four hours to clear using the right equipment and manpower. Here are a few things that will affect the time it takes to clear the land and the cost of a land-clearing job: 

• Lot size
• Purpose of the preparation
• Density of vegetation
• ∙Amount and size of brush, rocks, stumps, trees
• Travel time and ease of access to the lot to be cleared

How does land clearing affect soil?

Land clearing on a small scale, backyards and gardening have less effect on the soil than agricultural or construction-related land clearing. If land clearing wasn’t allowed, of course, there would be no negative environmental impact. But, that isn’t possible or practical, so land clearing professionals are charged with clearing land in a way that reduces the environmental effects.  

One way contractors can reduce the environmental impact is to clear smaller tracts and replant them immediately to prevent soil erosion. Another option used by some contractors is to buy adjoining land and create a wetland to attract the habitats and native species to balance the gain and loss.

While it may seem a waste for land clearing to take place, there are positive things that can be done with the land once it has been cleared.  A few ideas to consider based on the location and size of the cleared land:

• Farming: Plants, produce to sell, and use as an educational farm for local schools. 
• Environmental farm: Work with local businesses, communities, or energy providers to offer solar and wind power options.
• Self-storage facility: Build storage units and rent them out. 
• Horses and livestock: Build stables to rent, offer riding lessons, or create a petting zoo.
• Raise alpaca, goats, and sheep: Raising alpaca and sheep for wool processing. Raise goats for renting out to landowners that need their lot “mowed”. 
• Sports fields: Design and build sports fields for baseball/softball, soccer, etc., and rent out to little leagues and adult leagues.
• Shooting range or paintball course: Design and build a shooting range where enthusiasts can take target practice. Design and create a paintball course and rent it to individuals and groups.
• Campground or glamping facility: Set up electrical/water for camping rentals or go above and beyond by adding elaborate amenities for glamping, a new trendy concept.
• Photography studio: Design and build different photo opportunities or build a portrait studio.
• Parking lot: Areas where parking is minimal to non-existent can benefit from a supervised parking lot, close to attractions and venues that draw large crowds.