The short version
- Light brush: about 2 acres a day.
- Medium brush: about 1 acre a day.
- Dense brush: about half an acre a day.
- Slope, wet ground, tight access and hidden debris slow it down.
- Most backyard jobs are done in a day.
Our numbers by brush density
| Brush | What it looks like | Our typical pace | 1 acre | 3 acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Easy to walk through, with few invasives and small saplings | About 2 acres a day | About half a day | About 1½ days |
| Medium | Still passable, but with noticeable invasives, regrowth and patches of dense saplings | About 1 acre a day | About 1 day | About 3 days |
| Dense | Nearly impassable walls of briars, woody invasives and thick saplings | About half an acre a day | About 2 days | About 6 days |
Most properties are a mix, so estimate each part on its own and add them up. Say you have half an acre of dense honeysuckle along the back and an acre of light brush in front. That's about a day for the back plus half a day for the front: a day and a half.
What slows a job down
- Slope. Steep banks run slower, and the steepest ones need our remote-controlled mulcher.
- Wet ground. We don't want to rut your property, so soft ground can push a day back.
- Tight access. Narrow gates, spots between houses and long trips from where we unload all eat time.
- Big trees. Mulchers handle trees up to about 8 inches across. Anything bigger is separate work.
- What's hiding. Old fence wire, rocks, trash and ditches slow the machine down.
- Working around keepers. Clearing carefully around trees, gardens and buildings takes longer than clearing everything.
- Things to point out first. Septic tanks and lines, wells and anything buried shallow need to be marked before the machine goes near them.
What speeds it up
- A clear plan. The boundary and the trees you're keeping flagged before we arrive.
- Open access. Gates open, vehicles and trailers moved.
- Firm ground. Dry or solidly frozen ground lets the machine move freely. It's one reason winter can be a good time to clear.
- One area instead of scattered patches. Less time moving the machine between spots.
You don't need to be home
As long as we can get in and the area is marked, we can work while you're at work.
When you can use the land
You can walk the cleared area right away; wear boots, since fresh stubs can be sharp. If you want grass, seed soon after we clear. Hold off on mowing until the regrowth reaches 5 to 6 inches. Our aftercare guide covers the first year.
Common questions
How long does it take to clear one acre of land?
With forestry mulching, about half a day for light brush, about a day for medium and about two days for dense brush.
How long does it take to clear 5 acres?
About 2½ days if it's all light brush, about 5 days if it's medium and about 10 days if it's dense. Most 5-acre properties are a mix, so the real number lands in between.
Do I need to be home?
No. As long as we can get to the area and it's marked, you don't need to be there.
What happens if it rains?
If the ground gets soft enough to rut, we may move the day so we don't tear up your property.
Does a longer job cost more?
Thicker brush takes longer and costs more per acre. Our cost guide explains what drives the price.
Find out how long your job will take
Send the address and a few photos. You'll get a fixed price and a timeline estimate before we start.
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