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G.K. Bayne

G.K. Bayne is a freelance writer for various websites, specializing in back-to-basics instructional articles on computers and electrical equipment. Bayne began her writing career in 1975 and studied history at the University of Tennessee.

Make a plan for clearing land before the first inch of ground is touched. Use of the land after it is cleared is an important consideration in how it should be approached. Questions such as will the land be utilized for more productive timber growth? Will the land be used for animals or the growing of crops? The slope of the land must also be considered, as steep slopes with too much vegetation removed may result in the topsoil being stripped in a heavy rainstorm.

Land that is cleared for timber will have to be sectioned in such a way so runoff from water does not strip the land of needed topsoil. Typically a good land practice is to make brush piles from the remaining tree limbs and stumps that provide land dams. These land dams divert runoff and control erosion. The piles of decomposing wood material also provide cover for wildlife. Replant trees as soon as the older timber has been harvested. In some cases older trees are left scattered in a particular pattern so they can aid in retaining soil. The nuts or seeds from the older trees are left to replenish the area with new growth. Heavy equipment such as bulldozers are brought in to make the land dams and clear unwanted scrub growth. Large shredders are also used to grind up any errant tree limbs and the left over debris is left to compost on the ground.

Selective cutting for small acreage can be performed with a chainsaw. Choose trees that are of poor health or too closely spaced to other trees. Drop the individual trees to open up the canopy of the forest. This allows for greater airflow into the undergrowth of over grown forests. Harvest the logs for either processing on a sawmill or as firewood for heating a home. Pile the brush into large compost piles. The piles will provide cover for wildlife and will compost down over a period of three to five years depending on the species of wood. This type of land clearing works well for small livestock such as goats or a small herd of cattle. The animals will eat out any remaining undergrowth. The mature trees will thrive from the addition of the manure and the greater exposure to airflow and sunlight.

Clearing a large tract of land for row cropping or animals should be closely surveyed. Steep slopes should be avoided as scraping off too much topsoil can create severe erosion problems. The use of land dams may not be feasible as this type of land clearing can be quite expensive due to the use of the heavy equipment involved. Every square foot of land can be quite costly. Generally large earth moving equipment is used to remove tree and brush growth. At the same time the land may be contoured and leveled to accommodate tractors and other agricultural equipment. Build contour slopes into the land to control the flow of water for irrigation and run off. These artificial slopes can feed new water collection ponds.

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