Buy a wooded parcel in Southeastern Michigan and odds are it is covered in mature hardwoods, brush and old fence line growth. Clearing it is straightforward work, but the scope varies enormously, and so does the price.
How much has to go
Clearing a building envelope plus a driveway is a very different job from clearing an entire parcel. Most people over clear. Mature trees left in the right places are worth money on a finished property, and once they are down they are down. Walk the lot and mark what stays before anyone starts.
What kind of trees
Fifty small poplars come out faster than a dozen big oaks. Big hardwoods mean big stumps, heavy material to move and more time per tree. Dead ash, which much of this area still has standing, is quick to fell but brittle and unpredictable, so it is handled differently.
Stumps
This is where scopes drift apart. Options run from leaving stumps, to grinding them, to excavating them out entirely. If a foundation, driveway or septic field is going over that ground, they have to come out properly. If it is becoming lawn or pasture, grinding is usually enough.
Brush and undergrowth
Brush takes longer than people expect. Forestry mulching equipment handles overgrown understory and fence lines efficiently and leaves chips behind as ground cover. See brush hogging for that side of the work.
Soil and season
Heavy equipment and wet clay do not get along. Much of Macomb and St. Clair County has ground that stays soft well into spring. Clearing in a dry spell, or in frozen conditions, means less rutting and less repair afterward.
What happens to the material
Wood and brush have to go somewhere: chipped and hauled, chipped and left on site, logs stacked for firewood, or burned where local rules allow it. Burning permits and rules vary by township and by season, so check with your local fire department or township office before planning on it.
Permits and setbacks
Requirements differ between townships, villages and cities, and some parcels have wetland or drain considerations. Check with your township before clearing starts. Your builder usually knows the local process, but the responsibility sits with the property owner.
Common Questions
Do I need a permit to clear my lot?
It depends on your township, village or city, and on whether there are wetlands or drains involved. Check locally before work starts. Your builder usually knows the process.
Can I keep some of the trees?
Yes, and it is usually worth it. Mark what stays before anyone starts. Bear in mind trees left standing alone after clearing are more exposed to wind than they were in the woods.
What happens to the wood?
It can be chipped and hauled, chipped and left as ground cover, or cut to firewood length and stacked. Burning depends on local rules and the season.
Get a Free Estimate
Tell us what you are building and how finished you need the ground, and we will scope it out. Tip Top Timber Co. is based in Armada and works throughout Macomb County, St. Clair County and the surrounding area. Call (586) 651-5488 or send us a message for a free estimate. If a tree is already down, our 24 hour line is (586) 651-4552.
