Clearing 1/2 Acre...You Want How Much???

[oliver28472]

My BIL in GA had someone doing some land clearing for him for $500 per day. He had a mini excavator with thumb, 953 Cat loader, D4 dozer. I don't know how this guy stays in business but he would work 10 hours a day if he didn't have any breakdowns, no messing around. I was there part of the time and he would pile the brush and burn until the burning ban stopped it. He did a lot of work. One person working.

 

[brandoro]

I hired this guy to remove brush and small or standing dead trees. Left the bigger live trees and all pines. He cleared about 1/2 acre in a day plus opened up a few new trails for me. Probably not the best if you want to til the area but perfect for me. It just pulverised everything he put it to.
I'd have to find the bill but under $3000 CDN for ten hours in my yard including transport.

 

[Verticaltrx]

My BIL in GA had someone doing some land clearing for him for $500 per day. He had a mini excavator with thumb, 953 Cat loader, D4 dozer. I don't know how this guy stays in business but he would work 10 hours a day if he didn't have any breakdowns, no messing around. I was there part of the time and he would pile the brush and burn until the burning ban stopped it. He did a lot of work. One person working.

Bet he wont stay in business for long with those prices, unless he is just doing it for the fun of it. Also, that is an awful lot of equipment to be working on one job, run by one guy. With the 953 Cat the other equipment is kind of redundant.

 

[grsthegreat]

I hired this guy to remove brush and small or standing dead trees. Left the bigger live trees and all pines. He cleared about 1/2 acre in a day plus opened up a few new trails for me. Probably not the best if you want to til the area but perfect for me. It just pulverised everything he put it to.
I'd have to find the bill but under $3000 CDN for ten hours in my yard including transport.

thats a cool little machine..havnt seen anything like that before

 

[Carl_NH]

Thats a mulcher - not a "soil pulverizer" but does get the stumps 2-3" below grade.

Perfect for doing trails, areas with other trees you want to save and makes quick work of a large area.

 

[Pete Judd]

I cleared another 1/2 acre last winter, and the small trees, just hit it with the brush hog, and drug the tops to a burn pile. The larger trees, 12-24 inches at ground level cut flush with the ground, cut firewood, and drilled holes in the stumps with my cordless drill and a 1 1/2 inch butterfly bit, this will make them rot a lot faster. Also just got a middle buster, and am finding that it will cut through roots, to make stump removal better.

 

[Kyle241]

So I started the process myself yesterday. I cut for about 3 hours before it got too hot and brought down about 40-50 trees. Next weekend I'll rent a chipper that can handle 6" limbs and that will clean-up the majority while the rest goes for firewood. I am cutting the stumps as close to the ground as possible because right now the area is just to open it up and I'll use the bush hog on next year. After I'm through chipping, I may look at pulling out with my BH any of the small stumps as they usually come up quickly and I have to level the area somewhat. There are some large stones and little dips so that all needs to be sorted out prior to bush hogging. Hopefully today I'll get the remainder of the trees down and then I'll be ready for the chipper.

Thanks everyone for your ideas/input, it seems there are many different ways to go about this and I figure I'm taking the easiest and cheapest for now. Got to save my money for my new tractor that I believe I may be buying next week. Going from 20hp to 50hp, should make a difference!

 

[Bdavis]

So I started the process myself yesterday. I cut for about 3 hours before it got too hot and brought down about 40-50 trees. Next weekend I'll rent a chipper that can handle 6" limbs and that will clean-up the majority while the rest goes for firewood. I am cutting the stumps as close to the ground as possible because right now the area is just to open it up and I'll use the bush hog on next year. After I'm through chipping, I may look at pulling out with my BH any of the small stumps as they usually come up quickly and I have to level the area somewhat. There are some large stones and little dips so that all needs to be sorted out prior to bush hogging. Hopefully today I'll get the remainder of the trees down and then I'll be ready for the chipper.

Thanks everyone for your ideas/input, it seems there are many different ways to go about this and I figure I'm taking the easiest and cheapest for now. Got to save my money for my new tractor that I believe I may be buying next week. Going from 20hp to 50hp, should make a difference!

I got plenty of time (about 5 acres to clear) or I would use a Dozer. I started last fall. I found a great tool to use for cutting saplings off at the ground
(Also great with branches) Black & decker alligator lopper.
Contact me privately if you want more details are pictures
Thanks

 

[Johnnybee]

Hi there, Im a forestry mowing and clearing contractor in Virginia. I would recommend you finding a forestry mowing/ mulching company in your area.

I run a 100 HP rubber tracked mulcher that can handle trees up to 8". An experienced operator should be able to get what you described in less than a day. Another benefit of a mulcher is that it can grind into the ground if needed leaving a good ground layer to plant grass. My machine will leave stumps very low and even below grade. Unlike chipping the brush, you wont have many piles of chips that you will have to spread around too. Overall a mulcher I think would work best in your application.

Heres some pics of me working:

 

[MarkV]

Kyle I think you made the perfect decision. It is only a 1/2 acre, you are not on a time line, the timber you want rid of is not that big and you own a backhoe. What difference will it make if it takes a 2 or 3 weekends of work. That is why you have the tractor.

MarkV