Primary Service · Cat 275 XE + HM418

Forestry Mulching — Trees to Mulch in One Pass

The Cat HM418 Mulcher’s 38 carbide teeth grind trees up to 8 inches into fine mulch that stays on-site. No burning, no hauling, no soil disturbance. One machine, one pass, one day.

Get Instant Estimate ↗Call or Text (440) 644-4004
Cat 275 XE with HM418 mulcher clearing honeysuckle
What It Is

One Machine That Replaces Five

Forestry mulching is land clearing without the mess. Traditional methods require a chainsaw crew to fell trees, a chipper to process them, a stump grinder for what is left, trucks to haul debris, and a dozer to grade the surface. That is five machines, multiple days, and a bill that keeps growing.

The Cat 275 XE Land Management CTL paired with the Cat HM418 Mulcher does all of it in a single pass. The HM418’s 38 fixed carbide teeth spin at over 2,100 RPM, grinding standing trees, stumps, and brush into fine mulch. The 275 XE delivers 40 GPM of hydraulic flow at 4,496 PSI — the highest in its class — so the mulcher never bogs down, even in dense hardwood.

The ground material stays on your land as a natural mulch layer. It suppresses weed regrowth, prevents erosion, retains moisture, and breaks down into soil nutrients over 6-12 months. Your land is cleared and improved in the same operation.

Best For

Forestry Mulching Is Ideal For

🌳
Overgrown Lots
Vacant lots, neglected properties, and land that has been growing unchecked for years. We grind everything from saplings to 8-inch trees into mulch and leave a clean surface.
🧱
Fence Lines & Boundaries
Trees and brush creeping into your fence rows. The HM418 adjustable push frame lets us clear right up to the fence without damage.
🏗️
Lot Clearing for Construction
Preparing land for building, driveways, or septic systems. Forestry mulching clears vegetation and leaves the soil intact for grading.
🌾
Pasture Reclamation
Farm fields overtaken by brush and young trees. We grind invasive growth back to ground level so you can seed, graze, or maintain the land again.
🌿
Invasive Species Removal
Autumn olive, multiflora rose, honeysuckle, and other invasive species ground into mulch. The mulch layer suppresses regrowth naturally.
🏠
Property Line Corridors
Opening sightlines along property boundaries for surveys, fencing, or simply knowing where your land ends and your neighbor's begins.
The Equipment

Cat-on-Cat Integrated System

Cat 275 XE + Cat HM418 Mulcher

This is not a generic skid steer with a bolt-on mulching head. The Cat 275 XE is purpose-built for land management, and the HM418 is designed, tested, and optimized specifically for Cat carriers. When the 275 XE recognizes the HM418 through Smart Attachment technology, it automatically configures hydraulic flow for optimal mulching performance.

The result: 120 net horsepower driving a 67.2-inch mulching drum through hardwood without hesitation. At just 4.5 PSI ground pressure, the 275 XE does less damage to your turf than a person walking. The Landscape Management package adds a roof-mounted auxiliary hydraulic cooler and debris guarding that keeps the machine running all day in the worst conditions.

Full Equipment Details ↗
Pricing

Fixed Per-Acre Pricing

Light Brush
$2,300
per acre
Medium Brush
$2,645
per acre
Dense Brush
$2,990
per acre

Minimum job: $1,600. Terrain multipliers apply for steep or difficult access. Brush density is assessed from satellite imagery before quoting. The price we quote is the price you pay.

What's Included

Every Forestry Mulching Job Includes

✓
Satellite Assessment
We measure your property from satellite imagery, assess brush density, identify access points, and provide a fixed quote before we arrive.
✓
Fixed Per-Acre Pricing
The price we quote is the price you pay. No hourly surprises. No scope creep. Brush density determines the rate, and we assess that before quoting.
✓
Full-Width Mulching
The Cat HM418 cuts a 67.2-inch swath on every pass. We cover your entire area, edge to edge, in systematic passes. No patches left behind.
✓
Selective Tree Preservation
Want to keep specific trees? We flag them before work begins and mulch around them. The Cat 275 XE is precise enough for surgical clearing.
✓
On-Site Mulch Layer
Ground material stays on your land as a 2-4 inch mulch layer. It suppresses weeds, retains moisture, prevents erosion, and breaks down into soil nutrients over 6-12 months.
✓
Single-Pass Clearing
One machine, one pass. The Cat HM418 grinds trees, brush, and stumps in the same operation. No burning, no hauling, no return trips.
After Mulching

What Happens After We Mulch

Week 1-2
Mulch settles and compacts. The ground looks clean and uniform. You can walk the cleared area immediately.
Week 4-8
If you seed the area, grass begins to establish through the mulch layer. The mulch acts as a natural seed bed.
Month 3-6
Full ground cover establishes. The mulch continues breaking down, feeding the soil. Invasive regrowth is suppressed by the mulch layer.
Pro tip: If you plan to seed after mulching, the best window is late spring or early fall. The mulch layer acts as a natural seed bed — broadcast seed directly onto the mulch and the existing moisture retention does the rest. Most residential properties see full grass coverage within one growing season.
Before and after residential backyard clearing in Ohio
Related Services

More Land Clearing Services

Hillside Mulching
Slopes up to 55 degrees with the FAE RCU 55 remote-controlled mulcher. Creek banks, retention ponds, steep terrain.
Trail Cutting
Walking trails, ATV paths, and access roads cut through any brush. Standard 10-foot width.
Brush Hogging
Heavy-duty field mowing for grass, weeds, and light brush. Annual maintenance for fields and lots.

Ready to Clear Your Land?

Get a satellite-based estimate in minutes. Most residential forestry mulching jobs are completed in a single day. Your land is walkable immediately after.

Get Instant Estimate ↗Call or Text (440) 644-4004