Clear Underbrush
Underbrush consists of low growing shrubs, bushes, wild grass and weeds. Out of control underbrush may cause brush fires or weeds and unwanted shrubs taking the place of plants you'd like to grow. Using underbrush management techniques may decrease the risk of brush fire and increase the productivity of pasture, grass and your choice of flowers.
Contents
Steps
Determine Underbrush Management Methods
- Clear undergrowth yourself if you have a small area to clean. This may take some time and requires hard physical labor.
- Hire a contractor that specializes in underbrush management if you have a lot of undergrowth or land. This may be expensive, but after the contractor clears the bulk of the undergrowth, you can manage the upkeep yourself.
- Use goats to clean up underbrush. Goats eat brush, weeds, poison oak and other undergrowth. However, goats need to be fenced in and require maintenance.
Hire an Expert
- Look in your phone book under landscaping, gardening, or yard work to locate an underbrush management expert.
- Search for "underbrush control," or "clearing underbrush" online to find a contractor in your area.
- Obtain an estimate before the contractor begins your underbrush management project.
- Ask plenty of questions, such as how long will it take, what type of equipment will they will be using, and what you need to do for follow-up.
Clear Undergrowth Yourself
- Wear gloves, long sleeve shirt, long pants, solid shoes and safety goggles when you clear undergrowth. Clearing underbrush may expose you to poison oak, brambles, snakes or other natural hazards.
- Use hand tools, such as a garden clipper or pruner, to cut back underbrush. Cut the underbrush at the base of the trunk, and cut weeds down to the ground.
- Use electric, battery, or gas powered brush cutters with string or metal attachments.
- When clearing underbrush, you may use an electric weed whacker around the house, and a battery or gas cutter for areas where an electric cord won't reach.
- Some brush cutters have metal blade attachments. Use metal blades on thick-based shrubs that the string cutter won't slice through. When clearing underbrush, follow manufacturer's safety instructions.
- Run a heavy-duty lawnmower or pull a brush hog behind a tractor in open areas. Underbrush management includes lawns and pasture areas.
- A brush hog is a tractor appliance that is used for clearing underbrush in pastures.
- Lawnmowers and brush hogs may prevent unwanted weeds from flowering and spreading.
Dispose of Yard Waste
- Stack the cut brush in piles. When you clean up undergrowth, you will need to get rid of the discarded underbrush.
- Burn the cut undergrowth. If you decide to burn your underbrush, be sure to check with your local fire department or natural resources department to see if you require a burn permit. Always follow proper fire safety procedures.
- Bury yard waste after clearing underbrush. If you aren't able to burn yard waste, you can bury it, bring it to the dump, or start a mulch pile.
Clean Up Undergrowth with Goats
- Prepare fencing. Goats are a natural method of underbrush management, but they may wander for miles if they aren't fenced in.
- Install fence posts with a fence post slammer.
- Run a high-powered solar or electric mesh fence to contain goats. Goats can get underneath barbed wire, and electric mesh fencing will keep them where you want them.
- Use 3 to 5 goats per acre to clean up underbrush. Goats can eat vegetation between rocks and on steep cliffs and embankments that you can't access yourself, and will eat unwanted undergrowth consistently. Keep them in 1 area until it is cleared, and then move them to the next location.
- Provide goats with water and health care, such as wormer. When goats are clearing undergrowth, they will need fresh water and may acquire worms.
- Use a herd dog or llama to guard the goats and protect them from predators, such as coyotes. When cleaning undergrowth with goats, you don't want your goats being attacked by other animals.
Things You'll Need
- Phone book or Internet
- Gloves
- Long sleeve shirt
- Long pants
- Solid shoes
- Safety goggles
- Garden clipper or pruner
- Electric, battery, or gas powered brush cutter
- Lawn mower or brush hog
- Goats
- Fence posts
- Fence post slammer
- Wire mesh electric fencing
- Water
- Wormer
- Herd dog or llama
