Unlocking the value of an overgrown piece of property often involves investing in removing brush, old trees, and tall weeds. When planning a new purpose for the space, estimating land-clearing expenses can help you decide whether the project is financially viable. Trusted professionals should give you a cost estimate for the work that includes the price for clearing per acre.
Learn more about the cost of this work with the information in this land-clearing pricing guide.
The Cost of Vegetation Removal Depends on the Density of the Overgrowth
The average cost to clear land in Illinois when using professional land clearing services typically ranges from $1,200 to $6,000 per acre. If clearing less than an acre of land, you might pay $1,000 or less for the entire project.
The density of the vegetation and the grade of the land both play a role in determining the precise cost you’ll pay per acre. Land that has large trees and thick brush costs more to clean than properties with sparse brush and small trees.
Clearing Light Vegetation Is Inexpensive
If your Illinois parcel contains mostly thick grass, saplings, and weeds with the occasional bush or small tree, you’ll pay $1,200 to $2,500 per acre. Forestry mulching techniques usually work well for this type of vegetation.
Removing Small Trees and Brush Carries an Average Cost
A typical lot in Illinois will have weeds, small young trees, and overgrown brush. Such vegetation usually costs $2,500 to $4,000 per acre to remove. Forestry mulching is the most popular option for this type of job.
Cutting Heavy Brush and Trees Costs More Than Average
When a piece of property has thick underbrush and weeds along with a mixture of large and small trees, expect to pay $4,000 to $6,000 per acre. Professionals can use forestry mulching for most of the space. Still, they may need to deploy bulldozers or chainsaws for some areas, which increases the manpower required.
Eliminating a Forest With Large Trees Is the Priciest Job
Although it’s rare, some Illinois properties will consist primarily of dense trees in a forest-like setting. Removing the large trees is time consuming and requires using several different machines and tools. You could pay as much as $12,000 per acre when you hire experts to cut densely packed trees.
Extra Costs You Might Have When Clearing a Parcel
Beyond the price of land clearing per acre, you might have a few add-on costs for the work you want done. The professionals should spell out these charges in the written contract before starting the project. If you have any uncertainty about add-on charges, ask the company for clarification.
Surcharges for Mileage and Fuel
Some professionals will charge extra if your parcel is more than 50 miles from the company’s base of operations. Such surcharges may relate to the current price of fuel. Avoiding fuel surcharges is a good reason to hire a locally based land-clearing company instead of one from a large city dozens of miles away.
Permits From Local Authorities
Depending on the regulations related to your property’s location, you might have to obtain permits before you can clear land. The cost of a permit varies based on the work you want to do and the size of the lot. Many property-clearing professionals can guide you through the permitting steps.
Grading the Land To Prevent Erosion
If your property has a significant slope, removing trees and vegetation might cause new problems with erosion. The plants may have directed rainwater from a storm in a certain direction, but now that they’re gone, the water’s flow will change.
Experts offering land-clearing services can anticipate problems with changes in erosion on sloped ground. They can help by using equipment to grade the land and direct the rainwater in a desirable direction. However, you may have to pay extra for this service.
Handling the Debris Afterward
If you choose forestry mulching services, most of the debris becomes mulch that’s left on the ground. However, if your project requires leaving bare dirt on the property, you might pay extra for debris disposal. The professionals could burn the debris or haul it to a different location.
If you need large boulders removed, you’ll pay extra for this service. Some people save money by choosing to use the boulders in the landscaping at the new construction project on the site.
Ask J&J Forestry Mulching and Land Management for an Accurate Price Quote
Rather than guessing at the land-clearing cost per acre in Illinois, ask for an accurate estimate. At J&J Forestry Mulching and Land Management, our team offers a free price quote for all our services. We can explain the factors affecting land-clearing prices, helping you fit the work into your budget while meeting your goals for the parcel.
To learn more, contact us today at (309) 865-5535. We serve Mercer County, Illinois, and the surrounding area.
