The Best Way To Clear Brush

White house with red roof hidden by very high grass

Finding the best way to clear brush could seem like a challenging thing to do. Yet, if you have a chainsaw, time, and energy, you can easily clear any area.

Clearing brush with a chainsaw requires willpower though, especially if the aim is to clear a big piece of land. I am currently clearing 2.471 acres, and if I can do it, so can you!

This article will shed light on the best equipment to help you clear brush and small trees in any area. We’ll also go through the step-by-step process for you to clear your land most efficiently.

If you are unsure about how to get rid of the brush, or the equipment you need, continue reading and discover the best way to clear brush.

Brush Clearing Tools & Equipment

The following tools are the tools I use whenever I need to get rid of a brush. Not only are these tools affordable, but they also allow me to work efficiently.

Chainsaw

Orange chainsaw on a tree stump

Is the area you are about to clean filled with vines, brushes, and undergrowth? A chainsaw is your most reliable tool for clearing this land.

A chainsaw is an excellent piece of equipment you should familiarize yourself with if you are clearing land.

Having a chainsaw means you can move around faster because the chainsaw is portable and sometimes lightweight.

You’ll be able to clear the brush faster and safely because the chainsaw isn’t as big as the other tools on this list.

I recommend clearing the brushes with a chainsaw. It’s hassle-free, easy to use, and gets the job done fast! However, you still need to be careful when using this tool to avoid any injury (1).

Brush Mower

If your terrain is rough or the brushes you are trying to clear have overtaken the land, you should consider using a brush mower to clear these areas rapidly.

A brush mower is an excellent piece of equipment that will allow you to cut thicker branches and stems.

However, this tool may not work properly if the terrain is too sloped as it needs to be leveled most times.

Brush Grubber

A brush grubber is a great tool to have when trying to get rid of stumps. It’s a metal claw, and you simply attach one end of the grubber to the tree or plant you are trying to remove off the ground.

The other end, however, needs to be attached to a tractor, truck, or ATV. This way, you’ll be sure you have taken all the roots out of the ground; thus, there won’t be any regrowth of those plants.

String Trimmer

Adding a metal blade to your string trimmer could be a life-changing experience as it’ll allow you to get rid of brushes efficiently. And it’ll be an affordable experience too!

A string trimmer could help you clear all the undergrowth easily. You’ll need to be more careful with the type of brush you are trying to clear, though.

If the brush is too thick, you will need to find a more suitable tool; otherwise, your string trimmer’s motor could get damaged as it overheats.

Stump Grinder

A sump grinder may be a more potent tool than the rest of the tools on this list, but it’s a great power tool when dealing with larger stumps that need to be uprooted.

Those pesk stumps will disappear in seconds with a tree stump grinder that makes wood chips out of it. Interestingly, many stump grinders only require one person to operate them.

Axes & Hatchets

Having a good old axe nearby is a great opportunity to get a workout in when clearing the overgrown brushes on your land.

These tools are portable and easy to use; yet, because they are manual tools, you’ll need to consider the time it’ll take you to clear the brushes.

Brush Cleaning Preparation

Overgrown brush
  1. Do some research: Does your area require you to have a permit before clearing? Is it safe to do the clearing in that particular area? Contact your local authorities and see what they say.
  2. Make a plan: Ideally, you would go to the clearing site a couple of days before you begin getting rid of brushes. You could identify all the trees you would like to keep by placing a bright-colored ribbon around the trunk.

Assess your needs and understand why you need to do this clearing. Additionally, you must have a brush disposal area or composting site that will allow you to be more organized when clearing the brushes.

  1. Do a previous clean-up: Remove any obstacles, equipment, or trash that you could find in the area you are about to clear. You don’t want your tools to get tangled up with obstacles!
  2. Learn how to use your equipment safely: Read your tools’ instructions, and use protective eyewear, gloves, boots, and comfortable clothes.
  3. Start clearing: I usually start by clearing the biggest trees, branches, or brushes. I do this because these trees will usually take longer to clear and because I’m pouring all my energy during the first couple of hours on this project.
Man in work jacket removing a load of brush

Once I finish clearing the bigger brushes, I’ll move on to the smaller ones, and I mostly do all this work with my trusted chainsaw.

It’s only when I finish using the chainsaw that I’ll use an axe and string trimmer if necessary.

String trimmer being used to clear grass and weeds
  1. Cut down as much as possible: You can use the string trimmer to eliminate all the overgrown grass and weeds. Try to remove all the remaining vegetation that’s closer to the ground; this way, it’ll be easier to clear the rest of the land.
  2. Collection and disposal: Put all the trimmed brush, weeds, and the rest of the vegetation in your designated disposal area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does it Cost to Clear Brush?

It all depends on where you live and what work you have to do. However, you can estimate approximately $1,000 to $5,000 per acre if you hire a professional.

When Is the Best Time to Remove Brush?

The best time to clear your land from bushes, vines, large trees, and undergrowth is right after the last freeze in spring.

If you live in an area with dry summers, I’d also recommend cleaning during this time of the year. You could stack all the woody materials so they can decompose while adding more nitrogen and carbon to the soil.

How to Keep Brush From Growing Back?

You should uproot the brushes. This way, you’ll stop the brush from sprouting again.

Conclusion

You may have wondered how to clear brushes, but now you know this process is easy and can get done if you set your mind to it.

You need to be consistent, determined, and organized! It may be a lot of work, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be proud of everything you have accomplished.

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4706016/
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