Residential lot clearing
Bought a lot to build on? Inherited a parcel that's grown wild? Need to clear behind the house so you can finally use the space? Residential land clearing is most of what we do.
Every lot is different. Some need everything down to dirt for a new build. Some need selective clearing — taking out underbrush and small stuff while leaving the big oaks. We'll walk it with you and figure out what makes sense for what you're trying to do.
Common residential clearing jobs
- Lot prep for new construction
- Clearing for a barn, shop, or detached garage
- Pool and patio site prep
- Pasture or paddock clearing
- Clearing for septic, well, or drainage installation
- Selective clearing — keeping mature trees, removing scrub
Selective clearing — keeping the trees worth keeping
One of the most common conversations on a clearing job: "I want it cleared, but not cleared cleared." A mature live oak adds shade, value, and character to a property. The scrub and underbrush around it doesn't. Selective clearing is the difference.
We walk the property with you, mark the trees worth keeping, and clear around them carefully. Hard work, but the right approach for properties where the goal is "usable" not "bare."
Forestry mulching
Forestry mulching is land clearing without the haul-off. Instead of cutting, hauling, and burning, a mulcher attachment chews trees and brush into wood chips that stay on site as ground cover. The result is faster, cleaner, less invasive, and often cheaper than traditional clear-and-haul work.
Mulching works especially well for:
- Lots where access for trucks is limited
- Acreage where you want the ground cover to suppress regrowth
- Right-of-way clearing
- Trail cutting through wooded property
- Underbrush removal under existing trees
Commercial & acreage clearing
For commercial pad prep, subdivision lots, or multi-acre parcels, we have the equipment to move at the pace the project needs. We coordinate with general contractors, surveyors, and site engineers to make sure clearing matches the site plan.
For larger projects, we work in phases — clear, haul, then return for grading once permits and engineering are in place.
What's included in a clearing job
- Walk-through and quote. We come out, look at the property, talk about what you want done, and provide a written estimate.
- Site protection. We mark trees to keep, protect drainage, install silt fence where required, and avoid damaging septic, wells, or neighboring properties.
- Clearing work. Mechanical clearing or forestry mulching with our own equipment.
- Debris handling. Burned (where allowed), hauled off, or mulched on site — your choice based on the job.
- Final cleanup. We don't leave piles behind unless that's what you want.
What to know before clearing land in Northeast Florida
A few things worth thinking about before you start:
- Permits. Some clearing requires a permit, especially near wetlands or protected areas. St. Johns and Duval counties have different rules. We can point you in the right direction.
- Wetlands and buffers. A lot of Northeast Florida has wetland setbacks. We don't clear what shouldn't be cleared.
- Burning rules. Florida has specific burn authorization rules through FDACS. We follow them.
- Trees worth keeping. A mature live oak adds more value than it costs to clear around. We'll point out trees worth protecting before we start.