Forestry Mulching is a land clearing method that uses a single machine to cut, grind, and clear vegetation. Forestry Mulching is fast, economical and eco friendly and is a good way to clear land of invasive trees and vegetation, to thin woods, to beautify, create trails. This makes property useful for horse riders, snowmobiling, ATV riding, shooting lanes and food plot areas for hunters. After mulching, the mulch will turn into a layer of topsoil. These are just a few practical applications. Farmers, contractors, real estate companies, and homeowners all can use forestry mulching.
Right-of-Way Clearing
Forestry mulching is used in the right-of-way clearing and maintenance for roads, highways, pipelines, and other utility lines. This process often requires complete removal of standing trees, stumps, and vegetation.
Land Clearing
Forestry mulchers can be used in commercial and residential land clearing projects such as site preparation and development, cutting and clearing brush, nature and recreational trail creation.
Wetlands and Riparian Habitat Conservation
Forestry mulching has become popular among non-profit riparian conservation organizations, government agencies, hunt clubs, and private land owners in attempts to maintain habitats for various animals such as, the Golden Winged Warbler and Bald Eagles. Other benefits include removing underbrush and invasive species to allow the rejuvenation of grasses and other food sources or to restore water source access that has been blocked due to tree and understory growth.
Invasive Species Control
Invasive plant species can invade a natural habitat soaking up a tremendous amount of ground water placing a strain on other desired vegetation. Often these species need to be removed to re-establish the native habitat or to preserve the water table. Proactive mulching reduces stress on trees caused by crowding, making them less susceptible to attack from invasive species. Mulching invasive species in place can control the spread of invasive plants, insects, and fungus. The mulching action discharges the material downward keeping it within a reasonably confined area, where as rotary cutters tend to laterally disperse pine beetles or other invasive species into neighboring healthy trees.
Processing trees and other vegetation where they stand with a mulching machine eliminate many of the steps involved in land clearing such as site prep, cutting/felling/hauling, and site clean-up. It also eliminates the need for multiple machines like a bulldozer accompanied by some combination of excavators, tree shears, wood chippers or grinders, and hauling equipment. On most jobs only one mulching machine is required, reducing fuel requirements and emissions. Mulching machines are capable of clearing land of unwanted trees and brush with limited disturbance to soils or desirable vegetation.
Traditional land clearing methods often present an increased risk of erosion by substantially disturbing soils. In contrast, mulching the vegetation leaves the soil structure intact. The mulched material can be left on the ground acting as an erosion barrier while returning nutrients back into the soil through decomposition. Over time, grass will naturally grow through the mulch and can be maintained with mowing.
