Clearing a piece of land can feel like a huge task. This simple step-by-step guide on how to clear land of small trees and brush will break it down into manageable parts. Whether you’re making room for a garden, a lawn, or a new project, the right approach saves you time and effort. Let’s get started with the basics you need to know.
First, safety is the absolute priority. You’ll be working with sharp tools, potentially heavy machinery, and unpredictable terrain. Always wear protective gear: sturdy boots, gloves, long pants, and safety glasses are a must. Hearing protection is crucial if you’re using loud equipment like chainsaws or brush cutters. Let someone know where you’ll be working, especially if it’s a remote area.
Before you swing a single tool, take time to assess your land. Walk the entire area carefully. Look for hidden obstacles like old fencing, rocks, or uneven ground that could trip you. Identify any utility lines, both overhead and underground—call 811 to have them marked for free. Take note of the types of plants you’re dealing with. Are they saplings, thick brush, or vines? This scouting will inform your tool choices and strategy.
How to Clear Land of Small Trees and Brush
The core process follows a logical order. You don’t start by cutting down the biggest thing you see. Instead, you work from the ground up and from the outside in. This method keeps the work area safe and organized, preventing you from having to reclimb over cleared debris.
Essential Tools for the Job
You don’t always need heavy machinery. For smaller plots, hand tools can be very effective. Choose based on the density and size of the growth.
For hand tools, you have several good options. A brush axe or clearing axe is perfect for cutting through thick, woody brush and small saplings. Loppers give you leverage to snip branches and stems up to about 2 inches thick. A pruning saw is excellent for small trees that are too big for loppers. For the really tough, persistent brush, a mattock or grub hoe is invaluable for digging out roots.
When the area is larger or the growth is very dense, power tools become necessary. A string trimmer with a brush blade attachment can clear thick undergrowth quickly. For small trees, a chainsaw is the standard tool—just ensure you know how to use it safely. For the largest areas, a walk-behind brush mower or even renting a small excavator might be worth considering. Always have tools for processing debris: a sturdy rake, a wheelbarrow, and a chipper if you plan to make mulch.
Step 1: Clear the Undergrowth First
Start by removing the smallest plants, grasses, and vines. This gives you clear footing and visibility to tackle the larger stuff. Use your string trimmer, a scythe, or even a sturdy lawn mower set to its highest setting for tall grass. Rake this material into piles as you go. For woody ground cover, your brush axe or mattock will be your best friend. The goal here is to create a clean workspace. You’ll be surprised how much more manageable the land looks after this first step.
Step 2: Tackle the Brush and Brambles
Brush is typically dense, woody shrubs and thickets. They can be a tangled mess. Wear thick clothing to protect from scratches. For isolated brush clumps, use your loppers to cut stems at the base. For larger patches, a brush mower or a trimmer with a brush blade can clear swaths efficiently. The key with brush is to get at the roots whenever possible. If you just cut it at the surface, many species will simply grow back. Use your mattock to pry and chop at the root crown until you can pull the whole plant out.
Step 3: Remove Small Trees and Saplings
For trees under about 3 inches in diameter, you can often use loppers or a pruning saw. Cut them as close to the ground as you can. For anything larger, a chainsaw is the right tool. Always plan your cut. Make sure the tree has a clear path to fall. Check for dead branches overhead that could fall. The basic felling cut involves a notch on the side you want the tree to fall, followed by a back cut. If you’re not confident, hire a professional for this part—it’s worth the cost for safety.
Once the tree is down, you need to deal with the stump. For very small saplings, you might be able to dig around the base and cut the main taproot with an axe. For others, you have options. You can grind the stump with a rental machine, which is fast but can be expensive. You can use a chemical stump remover, which accelerates rot but takes months. Or, you can simply cut it flush to the ground and let it decay naturally, though it may sprout.
Step 4: Dispose of the Debris Responsibly
You’ll now have huge piles of organic material. How you handle it depends on your goals. Burning is a traditional method, but always check local ordinances and burn bans. Never leave a fire unattended and have a water source ready. Creating brush piles in an out-of-the-way corner of your property provides excellent wildlife habitat for birds and small animals.
Chipping is a fantastic option if you want to use the material. Branches and small trees can be fed through a chipper to create valuable mulch for garden paths or around other trees. For non-woody plants, consider starting a compost pile. Layer green material (your brush) with brown material (dried leaves, cardboard) to create compost for future gardens. For large quantities, you may need to hire a service with a truck to haul it away to a green waste facility.
Manual Methods vs. Using Machinery
The best method depends on your land’s size and your budget. Manual clearing is quiet, low-cost, and gives you precise control. It’s also excellent exercise. However, it is physically demanding and time-consuming. It’s best for plots under a half-acre or for sensitive areas where you want to preserve specific plants.
Machinery, like brush mowers or mini-excavators, saves immense time and labor on larger plots. It can handle dense, tough growth that would exhaust you manually. The downsides are cost (purchase or rental), the learning curve for safe operation, and the potential for soil compaction or damage to the land if not used carefully. Often, a mixed approach works best: use machinery for the bulk clearing and hand tools for fine work and detail near desirable trees or structures.
Preventing Regrowth: The Key to Long-Term Success
Clearing the land is only half the battle. If you don’t prevent regrowth, you’ll be back at it in a year or two. The most effective permanent method is to remove the root systems entirely. This is why digging out stumps and crown roots is so important. For areas where you want to plant grass or a garden, thorough tilling can help break up and bring remaining roots to the surface for removal.
For areas where you just want to keep clear, like along a fence line, you have a couple options. Solarization involves covering the cleared soil with clear plastic for a full summer. The heat kills seeds and roots. Smothering is another non-chemical technique. Layer cardboard or heavy-duty landscape fabric over the area, then cover it with several inches of mulch. This blocks sunlight and kills existing plants. It’s a great way to prepare a future garden bed.
What to Do With Cleared Land
Now for the fun part—envisioning the new space. For a new lawn, you’ll need to grade the land, add topsoil if necessary, and seed or sod. For a vegetable garden, consider doing a soil test to see what amendments you might need. Raised beds are a great option if the underlying soil is poor. If you’re creating a wildflower meadow or a natural area, you might simply sow native seeds and let nature take a gentler course.
Planting desirable plants is actually one of the best ways to prevent unwanted brush from returning. Dense grass, ground covers, or strategic shrubs will compete with weed seeds for light, water, and nutrients. They fill the ecological niche so invasive plants can’t easily move back in.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with a guide, it’s easy to make a few errors. A big one is starting without a plan. Jumping in and cutting the largest trees first leaves you with no room to work and dangerous, tangled debris at your feet. Another mistake is ignoring the roots. If you leave stumps and root systems, many plants will vigorously resprout, wasting your initial effort.
Underestimating the time and physical demand is very common. Clear a small section completely before moving on, rather than trying to do a little bit everywhere. This gives you a sense of accomplishment and visible progress. Finally, neglecting tool maintenance will slow you down. Keep your blades sharp, your tools clean, and your equipment fueled. A sharp axe is safer and requires less effort than a dull one.
FAQs on Clearing Land
What is the cheapest way to clear overgrown land?
The cheapest way is manual labor with hand tools. It requires an investment of your time and sweat, but avoids rental or machine costs. Recruiting friends or family can make it go faster.
How do you clear land by hand effectively?
Work in sections. Clear all undergrowth first, then move to brush, then small trees. Use the right tool for each job: a mattock for roots, loppers for stems, a saw for trees. Take breaks and stay hydrated to maintain effectiveness.
What machine is best for clearing brush and small trees?
For mostly brush, a walk-behind brush mower is excellent. For a mix of brush and trees up to several inches thick, a skid-steer with a forestry mulching head is incredibly efficient but is a professional-level machine. For most homeowners, a chainsaw and a rented brush mower is the best combo.
How do you stop brush from growing back?
Remove the root systems whenever possible. After clearing, smother the area with cardboard and mulch, or plant a dense, desirable ground cover like grass or clover to compete with any new brush seedlings.
Can I clear land without a tractor?
Absolutely. For plots up to an acre, a combination of a chainsaw, a brush cutter (like a DR® Field Mower), and hand tools is sufficient. It will take longer, but it is very doable.
Clearing land is a rewarding project that opens up new possibilities for your property. By following a step-by-step plan, prioritizing safety, and choosing the right tools for the scale of your job, you can transform an overgrown plot into useful, beautiful space. Remember to deal with debris responsibly and take steps to manage regrowth, and you’ll enjoy the results of your hard work for years to come. Take it one section at a time, and you’ll see steady progress.