What are the advantages of forestry mulching?

Forestry mulching, an environment-friendly process of land clearing, has many advantages over traditional methods. Here are seven of the most significant benefits.

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Forestry mulching is quick and affordable.

Our one-step process eliminates the need for multiple machines involved in the different land clearing steps such as site prep, cutting, felling, hauling, and site cleanup. Because there are fewer machines and therefore less manual labor, forestry mulching prices are easier on the pocketbook.

The process of forestry mulching also eliminates the cost of hauling away debris.  All the vegetation leftover from clearing the land is converted into a nourishing layer of ground covering. There is no need for trees, branches, grass, and leaves to be hauled away from your property in trucks for disposal.

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Mulching can be performed on any terrain.

Forestry mulching is a straightforward process that can be done in many type of weather or soil conditions; hot or cold. Forestry mulching can be performed on even the most challenging terrains. Our skilled operators can perform mulching even on lots with steep slopes and tight areas, on poor soil conditions, and in wet or snowy weather.

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The process of forestry mulching produces zero waste and is eco-friendly.

Traditional land clearing methods pose significant risks of soil erosion to the land by pushing over trees, uprooting stumps and roots, and disturbing the soil. In contrast, mulching the vegetation through forestry mulching leaves the soil structure intact. The resulting mulched material acts as an erosion barrier. It also returns nutrients to the soil through the gradual decomposition of the components. Over time, new vegetation will naturally grow through the mulch.

By its nature, mulching is a method of putting to good use the debris that would otherwise end up in a landfill. With the assistance of an experienced forestry mulching team, you can have decaying logs and stumps, unwanted weeds, and other overgrowth converted into a restorative and nourishing layer over the topsoil. This mulch limits the regrowth of invasive species like kudzu, buckthorn, or poison ivy.

Additionally, forestry mulching requires the least number of machines to clear land compared to any other method. This makes it the most fuel-efficient process, limiting damaging emissions.

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Forestry mulching reduces the tick population.

Ticks are an unwelcome nuisance. They also tend to return home with you on your clothing or exposed skin. With the rising spread of tick-borne illnesses, this is an excellent time to consider mulching to clear your land. The absence of forestry overgrowth leads to a substantial reduction in the population of ticks residing in the area, limiting concerns about these potentially dangerous pests on your property.

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Forestry mulching hinders the growth of weeds.

Weeds are bad news for farms, gardens, or any type of forestry vegetation. They multiply quickly, and if not brought under control, they will compete for soil nutrients with your desirable plants or crops, preventing them from thriving. Through mulching, the top layer of the ground gets covered with shredded vegetation that blocks the sunlight from reaching any weeds left behind, causing them to die out. In addition, the heat generated by the decomposition of the shredded mulch helps to terminate any remaining weed seeds.

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Forestry mulching nourishes the soil.

Forestry mulching promotes healthy soil unlike traditional techniques of land clearing, mulching does not push over trees and cause disturbance to the soil structure, increasing soil erosion. Mulch covers the topsoil and protects it from the natural forces that cause soil erosion such as high winds or rainstorms. It also aids in water conservation by reducing the soil’s moisture loss. The mulch layer prevents the sun’s direct rays from hitting the topsoil, limiting evaporation.

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Because the mulch is organic material that decomposes over time, it improves soil fertility by delivering essential nutrients that will serve future vegetation. It also moderates the temperature of the soil, keeping it warmer in chilly seasons and cooler in the summer heat. This temperature control aids in healthy plant root development. As the shredded vegetation decomposes, it becomes home to important organisms like earthworms that further contributes to healthy soil.

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Who benefits from forestry mulching?

In addition to clearing out farmlands, backyards, gardens, and other private properties, there are other land development and environmental goals that benefit from forestry mulching. Here are some ways forestry mulching is beneficial for other projects.

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Commercial and public land clearing

Mulching is becoming quite popular in public, commercial and residential land clearing projects such as construction site preparation and development, creation of nature and recreational trails, and as an aid for seismic exploration. It is a common choice for right-of-way clearing as well as road and highway maintenance, pipelines, and utility lines that often require the complete removal of all standing

vegetation.

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Wetlands and riverbank ecology & habitat conservation

In their attempts to maintain habitats for pheasants, doves, elk, deer, and other wildlife, private landowners, nonprofit riparian conservation organizations, hunting clubs, and government agencies are adopting the process of forestry mulching because of its environmental friendliness.

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Animal Welfare

Mulching also helps control vegetation growth in forests in accordance with the needs of the animal species inhabiting the area. It provides for wildlife welfare in the following ways.

Food. Forestry mulching machines like mulchers and mowers remove underbrush and invasive species like buckthorn and multiflora rose. This allows grasses and other food sources for herbivores to grow and flourish.

Water. Sometimes animals cannot access their water sources when they get blocked due to excessive undergrowth of trees. Mulchers, along with tree shears, can be utilized to restore their access to water.

Shelter. Some animals depend on specific types of grasses for habitat, shelter, breeding, and protection from extreme temperatures. Mulching can remove invasive undergrowth, in turn allowing the growth of grasses the animals need.

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Invasive species control

Invasive plants and insects can create harsh conditions for the native ecosystem. Some invasive plant species can spread into an area and soak up a large amount of groundwater. Removing these plants helps preserve the water table. Some common invasive plant species are Tree of heaven (Sumac), tamarisk (salt cedar), Pinyon-juniper (PJ), Russian olive, Juniperus virginiana, buckthorn, and multiflora rose.

 

Invasive insects like pine beetles can devastate forests, leaving behind decaying trees with no timber value. These dying trees become falling hazards if they lose their ability to withstand the wind. Proactive mulching decreases the stress on trees from overcrowding, improving their natural defenses against attacks from these damaging species.

Mulching controls the spread of invasive plants, insects, and fungus. The discharged material left behind after mulching settles within a reasonably confined area. This is the opposite of what rotary cutters do, which laterally disperses the pine beetles or other invasive species into neighboring healthy trees.
 

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Wildfire prevention and management

Proactive mulching reduces the potential for wildfires. It eliminates small leafy plants, fallen or rotten trees, and other fuel sources that might act as tinder for wildfires. Also, reactive mulching, or fire breaks, which is the reactive cutting of lines on active fires, can be used for wildfire control.

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What are the services provided by Keystone Forestry Co.?

We provide numerous beneficial land clearing services. At the best cost per acre, we are your local source for quality service at a fair investment. Our services include:

• Pasture Reclamation

• Lot Clearing and Beautification

• Tree Thinning

• Clearing Overgrowth

• Underbrush Removal

• Right-of-Way Clearing

• Fence Line Clearing

• Home Site Clearing

• Hunting Access Lanes

• Ditch Clearing

• Tree Removal

• Trails and Road Clearing

• Brush Mowing

• Fire Breaks

• Utility Easements Clearing

• Real Estate Thinning

• Stump Removal

• Elimination of Invasive Plant Species