Tackling an overgrown yard or getting a new piece of property ready for a project takes real work. If you are looking at a patch of stubborn sagebrush and Russian thistle out here in the Mid-Columbia, native growth and weeds can take over a property very quickly. Here is what you need to know before you pick up a tool, how to handle the heavy lifting, and when it makes sense to bring in a crew like Richland Tree Service.
Before You Clear: Planning and Prep
Property owners in Richland cannot just walk onto a piece of land and start swinging an axe or firing up a skid-steer. Skipping the prep work is a fast way to land yourself in trouble with local utilities or city codes.
First, call 811 to get your underground utilities marked. That step is non-negotiable, especially if you are planning on pulling roots or digging. Next, take a hard look at what is actually growing on your lot. Out in neighborhoods near the Horn Rapids area or up on the bluffs, you will find sandy soil and native plants that help control erosion against our heavy desert winds. Clear everything indiscriminately, and you might find your topsoil blowing away on the next windy afternoon.
Decide what you actually want to keep. Mature shade trees add massive value to a property, and once they are gone, you cannot get them back in a weekend. Mark the keepers clearly with bright tape so nobody accidentally takes out a healthy tree you wanted to preserve.
During the Project: DIY vs. Heavy Machinery
Once the prep is done, the sweat equity starts. Realistically, what can you do on your own? You can easily handle clearing lightweight brush, pulling small weeds, and raking up surface debris. If it is something you can cut with hand loppers or pull out by hand after a good watering, save your cash and do it yourself.
Everything else is usually past the point of a weekend DIY project. Large Russian olive trees, thick stands of mature brush, and deep-rooted stumps will wear you out and break standard rental equipment. When you are dealing with trunks over a few inches in diameter or rocky Tri-Cities soil that grips roots like a vice, it is time to let pros handle it. Richland Tree Service brings in commercial chippers, heavy machinery, and years of experience to clear the ground safely without chewing up your entire parcel.
After the Clearing: Clean Up and Recovery
Once the land is cleared, you are left with a blank slate, but you are not entirely finished yet. Piles of brush need to go somewhere. You can haul loads to the local landfill, but renting a trailer and spending your Saturday waiting in line gets old fast. Many homeowners prefer having a contractor chip the material onsite so they can use the mulch for dust and weed control later.
Keep an eye on the newly exposed soil. Without native growth holding the earth down, the local winds can create miniature dust storms right in your yard. Getting a temporary cover down or planning your landscaping layout quickly will save you a massive headache down the road.