NFRC Forestry Mulching Service

We use skid steers outfitted with high-flow drum mulchers with sharp knives. What this means for the consumer is a fast-cutting, clean, small-debris finish for a final product. Some mulching teeth (like carbides) will last much longer, but not leave as fine a finish without 2-3 passes of the machine (another example of ending up paying way more than expected for an outcome you wanted!).

Two Types Of Mulching

Forestry Mulching:

Forestry Mulching is the grinding, chipping or simply "mowing" down small trees and underbrush.Think of this as bush hogging on steroids. Most of what we cut and clean up is more than a tractor and brush cutter can manage. It typically involves one or two passes over the area.

Finishing Mulching:

Finishing Mulching is very similar to Forestry Mulching but should include multiple passes, leaving a much finer, cleaner appearance. This type of mulching should leave the area easier to drive over, looking neat and clean. Typically, Finishing Mulching is best suited for thick underbrush and small timbers 6" or less

What type of finished product are you looking for?

To achieve the finished product that you’re looking for depends on both the machine and the operator.

Here are two types of finished products:

Forestry Mulching vs Finish Mulching

Forestry Mulching -

This type of mulching usually leaves larger chunks of wood and debris.

It is typically done with one pass. You may see this type of mulching along highways or land that has been harvested for the timber. It is done with a large, dedicated mulching machine. This typically runs about $3,500 day with an operator and they usually have minimum requirements. We can also do this type of mulching but most prefer the look and results of Finishing Mulching.

Finish Mulching -

Our Finishing Mulching uses a smaller, specific equipment and tooling to give the landowner a more consistent and finished product.

We typically take more time to do the mulching and are more concerned with the finished product. We do not rush through the mulching process. Hence the reason we typically do not charge by the hour.

Skid Steer Mulchers leave less damage to the land from tire ruts. Also, our machine runs at a higher horse power than most in its size. 120 hp vs 95hp.

Why does this matter?

The extra HP and hydraulic flow rate allows for faster and finer mulching results. We prefer the John Deere skid steer 120 hp for this reason.

In conjunction with this we run a Shearex mulching head and knives. Over the years (and trying different mulching heads) we have found that the Shearex outperforms other types. The type of knives doing the cutting makes a difference.

Carbide blades/teeth are like hitting a tree with a hammer. It takes a lot of force to break down the tree in that manner, which is why these are usually reserved for larger dedicated machines with 450+HP. Knives on the other hand, do as they suggest and simply cut the tree into smaller chips. The more passes you make over the mulched area, the finer mulch product you will have.

Well…I can find cheaper mulchers on Facebook!

Yes you can!

But go back to what you’ve just learned.

What kind of results do you want?

We do not rush through the mulching process.

Hence the reason we do not charge by the hour as mentioned previously. If you’re just wanting a quick mulch job (one pass) we can do that.

We just want to make sure you understand what type of finished product you will be left with.

How big of a tree can you mulch?

No tree is too large!

However, large trees may not be feasible or economical for finish mulching. Therefore we may suggest cutting and hauling off or burning.

This will be discussed with the customer prior to work as to what trees to save, what trees to cut, what stumps removed, etc. Some trees, say for instance that are tall (40’-50’) but have a smaller diameter (10” or less) are too dangerous to mulch without falling back onto the machine and operator. However, we can cut these trees and then mulch in place for clean up.

Quick Example:

A couple just purchased a 10 acres tract of land and are wanting to build a home within the next year or so. They like the “lay of the land” or the location, but it is vastly overgrown and has a lot of underbrush making it very difficult to navigate or do much layout/planning.

Forestry Mulching would quickly remove the underbrush and small trees allowing better access and visibility for the layout and planning of a new home.

After an initial mulching, we can then plan on what (if any) larger trees need to be removed in order to create a building site (1-2 acres cleared) and possible roadway or access to the interior of the property.

Learn More On Our Land Clearing 101 Page

How Much Does Mulching Cost?

Naturally, there can be a TON of variables that determine the final cost, but let’s break it down to help get a basic understanding.
First, let’s define “small”. We are frequently called out to clear a lot for a new homesite. These typically can range from 1/4 to 1 acre in size. An acre is a generic measurement for price comparison, so we’ll go with that as our project size.

Secondly, what type of terrain are we mulching? Small saplings and underbrush? Large timbers? Clean areas (i.e. not a lot of trash like metal, old building, debris, etc)? Our most common lot contains a few large trees with a lot of underbrush like Youpon, Cedars, vines, etc. So, here again, we’ll use this as our project detail.

A typical project like this would take the better part of 2 days and the cost would be $3,750.00. This is broken down to $ 2,500.00 per day.

For single day projects, our daily rate is $2,700.00 for mulching.

You may find that companies oﬀer “mulching” at lower rates. Be sure to specify the level of final finish you want and what is included in their services.

We hope this information has been helpful. We also hope that you will give us a call to discuss your specific details and allow us to provide a quote for the project.

Thanks

Brad & Terry

John Deer 335P With a Shearex Mulch Head attachment

Our Equipment

We utilize a 120hp skid steer with a ShearEx ROA mulching head. This choice of machinery will mulch up to 12"-14" diameter trees with ease. Larger trees will obviously take more time, but are doable. Generally, forestry mulching is utilized for removal of small underbrush and growth (4" diameter and smaller). We choose to use a skid steer w/mulching head vs dedicated (think skidder or bulldozer type with mulching head) because they will do less damage to existing trees and terrain. Skid steers can also get into tighter spots if needed. They are less powerful than dedicated mulchers and therefore will take a little longer to achieve a finished product, but they also leave a finer chip which breaks down into the soil quicker and leaves a cleaner look. This is important to the overall appearance of the finished job