Reclaim overgrown land, clear trails, and improve access to your property
​​Our powerful high-flow land clearing equipment bridges the gap between traditional brush hogging and forestry mulching—tackling dense brush, saplings and small trees while grinding up vegetation right on site.
We offer an efficient, cost-effective solution for reclaiming overgrown properties, opening trails, clearing field edges and thinning lightly wooded areas where a brush hog isn’t enough, but a dedicated forestry mulcher isn’t necessary.
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With no need to haul away truckloads of brush or create large burn piles, our services are a practical solution for Maine residential properties, camps, wooded land, trails, and fields.
We clear land for:
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Small lots for campsites & cabins
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Widening your yard
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Garage & shed sites
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Hunting land
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Walking & hiking paths
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ATV, snowmobile, mountain biking, & XC trail access
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Property boundary access & fence line clearing
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Reclaiming an overgrown lot
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Field & pasture reclaimation
What we can clear
While we don't do logging or mature tree removal -- Gilman Driveway & Land Services is ideally suited to clear heavy-duty brush & small trees with our compact tracked skid steer & specialized attachments.
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We can tackle:
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Dense brush & overgrown thickets
Briars and invasive woody growth
Hardwood & softwood saplings
Young pine growth
Small trees — typically up to 6–8" diameter*
Fallen limbs and woody debris
Overgrown trails and woods roads
Field edges, fence lines & property boundaries
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*Tree size capability depends on species, density, terrain, surrounding obstacles, and site conditions. For properties with a high concentration of larger mature trees we recommend traditional tree removal or dedicated forestry mulching services.
Pricing
Pricing will depend on factors including the size of the area to be cleared, the terrain & conditions, and the number of (and size of) trees to be removed.
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For small areas, we can offer our half-day rate.
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Get in touch with some information about your property and we're happy to share pricing info.
Land Clearing FAQ
Q: What size trees can you clear?
Our land clearing equipment is manufacturer-rated to cut trees up to 6–8" diameter. Saplings and 4-5" trees will be eliminated easily, while trees in the 6-8" range will take longer to process. Our sweet spot will be areas with less than 20-30% of 6-8" trees; we won't be the most efficient option for a large area with majority 6-8" trees.
Occasional 10" trees are also possible depending on species and site conditions, but properties dominated by larger mature trees are generally better suited to traditional tree removal or dedicated forestry equipment.
Q: What's left behind? What will the finished appearance be?
The vegetation processed by the mulcher remains on-site as a natural mulch layer. The amount of mulch left behind depends on the density of the vegetation. ​The mulch helps protect the soil and gradually breaks down over time to return nutrients to the earth.
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You can expect the finished result to be open and accessible, with vegetation chopped and shredded across the site. Some coarser woody material and low cut stems may remain where larger trees were removed.
Q: Will there be re-growth after mulching?
Some regrowth is possible, especially from fast-growing hardwood species such as maple, alder, poplar, willow, and other native shrubs.
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How much regrowth occurs depends on:
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The type of vegetation present
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The age and density of the growth
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Site conditions
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Whether the area is maintained afterward
Many customers find that even with some regrowth, the property remains dramatically more open and accessible compared to its original condition.
Q: How much can you clear in a day?
Each property is different; the rate of clearing will depend on factors like:
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Tree & brush density
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Type of trees (hardwoods vs softwoods)
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Sizes of trees
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The terrain and slope
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Rocks & other hidden obstacles
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The desired area or width of trails to be cleared
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A lightly wooded area with mostly young pines and some understory brush will be cleared much faster than a densely wooded area with a higher percentage of maples & oaks.
Q: Is this 'forestry mulching'?
Not exactly, although there is considerable overlap in what the two services can accomplish.
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Our high-flow heavy-duty commercial land clearing equipment cuts and processes dense brush, saplings, and small trees directly on site.
​For many residential properties, trails, overgrown lots, and small-acreage clearing projects, the end goal is the same: reclaiming unusable land without creating large brush piles or hauling all of the vegetation away.
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One key difference is that a dedicated forestry mulcher can grind woody material more finely and is better suited to heavily wooded sites, larger volumes of substantial trees, and extensive stump grinding.
Q: Can you grind stumps?
We can cut tree stumps down close to grade, and our equipment has carbide teeth to aid in grinding up smaller stumps, but we don't market this as 'stump grinding' as we cannot grind up large or hardwood stumps. However we can easily reduce old rotted stumps leftover from past logging.
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If your goal is to create a lawn, building site, or fully cleared area -- excavation and stump removal may be a better approach.
Q: Can you create trails?
Yes, our mulching service is a great option to create or re-open recreation trails. We can create trails for ATVs/UTVs, walking paths, hunting access trails, etc.
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We can also widen existing trails, and clear overgrowth as a maintenence service.
Q: Can you clear an area that I can then build a garage on, or extend my yard into?
Yes and no. Forestry mulching can be a good start to clearing an area for a future project. However although vegetation gets eliminated at ground level, some trees and plants have hardy root systems and may still be able to re-grow over time.
For permanent vegetation removal we may recommend excavating out the area to remove roots and stump remnants before installing loam or gravel for your finished surface.
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​Because we also provide excavation, grading, gravel installation, and site preparation services, we can help determine what additional work is needed for the finished use.
Q: How does your service compare to bush hogging?
Bush hogging is typically done with a tractor-mounted rotary mower and is best suited for fields, tall grass, weeds, and relatively light brush. It’s a great option for routine mowing and maintaining areas that are already fairly open, but most bush hogs aren’t designed for dense woody growth or larger saplings and trees.
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Our equipment is designed for much heavier vegetation, including dense brush, overgrown thickets, woody growth, saplings, young pines, and small trees typically up to 6–8" in diameter.
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However because our equipment can handle both heavy woody growth and open field vegetation, it can be a great option for properties that have progressed beyond what conventional bush hogging can reasonably handle — such as an old field that has become filled with saplings, an overgrown field edge, or land that hasn't been maintained in years.
