Forestry Mulching & Land
Clearing Cost Guide
Transparent, fixed per-acre pricing — no hourly rates, no surprises. Every project quoted upfront based on your land, not our clock.
Get Your Instant Estimate ↗Seven Services. One Standard.
Every clearing job uses purpose-built forestry equipment where most contractors use a skid steer with a brush cutter. That's why our results are permanent, not temporary.
Forestry Mulching
Best for: Overgrown lots, fence lines, and property boundaries with brush, saplings, and small trees up to 8 inches.
- Full-width mulching with Cat HM418
- Selective tree preservation
- On-site mulch layer (no hauling needed)
- Single-pass clearing
Hillside Mulching
Best for: Steep terrain, creek banks, retention ponds, and slopes that conventional equipment can't safely reach.
- Remote-controlled operation (up to 55° slopes)
- Minimal ground disturbance
- Erosion-preventing mulch layer
Trail Cutting
Best for: Walking trails, ATV paths, access roads, and property line corridors through wooded areas.
- Precise 10-foot width clearing
- Smooth mulched surface
- Root removal along trail bed
Brush Hogging
Best for: Fields, meadows, pastures, and flat areas with grass, weeds, and light brush under 3 inches.
- Tractor-mounted rotary cutter
- Full-width mowing
- Flat, clean result
Power Raking
Best for: Seedbed preparation after mulching, pasture renovation, and food plot creation.
- Power rake attachment
- Soil scarification
- Ready-to-seed surface
Root Grapple
Best for: Debris cleanup, log stacking, rock removal, and site organization after clearing.
- Debris pile consolidation
- Log stacking and organization
- Rock and stump removal
Fence Line Clearing
Best for: Overgrown fence rows, property boundaries, survey line access, and neighbor boundary maintenance.
- Precise clearing along existing fences
- Selective tree removal
- Boundary visibility restoration
Brush Density × Terrain
Pricing Matrix
Your per-acre rate depends on two factors: how thick the brush is and how steep the ground is. Here are the actual numbers.
| Service & Terrain | Light Brush | Medium Brush | Dense Brush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry Mulching (flat) | $2,300 | $2,645 | $2,990 |
| Forestry Mulching (moderate +10%) | $2,530 | $2,910 | $3,289 |
| Forestry Mulching (steep +25%) | $2,875 | $3,306 | $3,738 |
| Trail Cutting (flat) | $2,000 | $2,300 | $2,600 |
| Trail Cutting (moderate +10%) | $2,200 | $2,530 | $2,860 |
| Trail Cutting (steep +25%) | $2,500 | $2,875 | $3,250 |
Hillside Mulching uses the FAE RCU 55 remote-controlled mulcher and is quoted separately based on slope severity and access.
More Acres. Lower Rate.
Larger projects mean fewer mobilizations per acre and more efficient machine time. We pass that savings directly to you.
What Affects Your Land
Clearing Cost
Acreage
More acres means a lower per-acre rate. Volume discounts start at 2.25 acres and scale up to 20% off for 10+ acre projects.
Brush Density
Light brush with saplings under 3 inches costs less than dense hardwood stands with 6-8 inch trees requiring full forestry mulching passes.
Terrain & Slope
Flat ground is straightforward. Moderate slopes add 10% and steep terrain requiring the FAE RCU 55 remote-controlled mulcher carries a 25% premium.
Equipment Access
Open field access is ideal. Narrow gates, bridge weight limits, or long travel distances to the work area can affect mobilization cost.
Debris Type
Light saplings and brush mulch faster than dense hardwood. Trees over 8 inches may require cut-and-stack before mulching.
Structures to Protect
Wells, septic systems, buried utilities, and buildings near the clearing zone require careful setback work and slower selective mulching.
Property Boundaries
Clearing up to a fence line or property boundary requires precision. Poorly marked boundaries need a survey before work begins.
Hiring Three Contractors
vs One BrushBoss Visit
Most landowners hire a tree crew, then a brush hogger, then a cleanup crew. Three schedules, three invoices, three headaches. BrushBoss forestry mulching does it all in a single pass.
Pricing FAQ
Is there a minimum charge?
Yes. Forestry mulching starts at $1,600 for projects under half an acre. This covers equipment mobilization, transport of the Cat 275 XE and mulcher head, and ensures every job gets the full forestry-grade treatment.
Do you charge by the hour?
No. Every BrushBoss project is quoted at a fixed per-acre price before work begins. Your price is based on acreage, brush density, and terrain — never on how long it takes. No clock-watching, no surprises.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and ACH bank transfers. A deposit is collected when you approve your proposal, with the balance due upon completion. Credit card payments include a 3% processing surcharge.
Can I get a quote without a site visit?
Yes. We use satellite imagery and property records to generate accurate per-acre estimates for about 90% of projects. A 15-minute phone call with a few photos is usually all we need for a fixed-price proposal.
Know Your Price
Before We Show Up.
Get a satellite-based per-acre estimate in about 15 minutes. No site visit required for most projects.