In this article we are going to go over using a tractor for clearing land. No matter the scope or duration of a land clearance project, many tools on the market can get the job done and each offer unique benefits and drawbacks. Whether you’re looking to uproot trees, remove rocks, or level the ground, you can use grinders, bulldozers, excavators, and a host of other tools.
Tractors have also become fairly common in helping people prepare the land for construction, farming, and many other operations. Of course, there are still many people who don’t exactly know how you can use a tractor for clearing land, how to find the right size, and what possible attachments you need to boost productivity and precision even further.
We’ve covered all of these questions in this article. Keep reading to get your answers.
How Does it Work?
When using a tractor for clearing land, you can divide the process into four basic steps.
#1 Land Surveillance
You need to start by making a plan. First, choose a location on your land that is appropriate for the purpose. After you’ve decided on a location, there are numerous factors to consider when it comes to using a tractor for clearing land. This is also the moment to decide whether you need the help of a professional service provider. If the area is not easy to clear, you need land-clearing experts on the ground.
#2. Tree Clearance
Now it’s time to focus on clearing small trees. Using a tractor, you begin by taking out smaller objects such as pebbles, fallen tree branches, and brush. When clearing the ground with a front-end loader, make sure you label all trees and plants that you want to preserve. Remove any unnecessary branches with a chainsaw and transport them away with your truck. When removing trees, remember that safety comes first. So, it’s paramount to have an expert team by your side during this step.
#3. Leveling & Grading
The final stage of using a tractor for clearing land is leveling. Dig to the bases of all tree trunks with the shovel. Take out the trunk with a heavy-duty chain and your mower. Fill in any gaps left by removing rocks and plants.
#4 Cleaning Up
Finally, make a final run with your rotary blade tool to chop up any leftover debris and prepare the area for the next construction phase.
Finding the Ideal Size of a Tractor
You need to consider the amount of work when choosing a tractor for clearing land. A 25-35 horsepower tractor is appropriate for small jobs like cutting down small trees and pulling weeds.
But, you might need to recruit experts for bigger operations involving medium- to large-diameter trees. You can use a backhoe with its front-mounted bucket, which can be used to dig and level objects.
In most medium-sized projects, it’s much better to use a tractor with a large fuel tank that is both compact and easy to maneuver for all drivers. Such tractors are usually great for residential and commercial purposes.
Usually, a 20 – 33 hp tractor with hydrostatic transmission can give you enough force to clear all trees and shrubs, level the ground, and prepare for the next stage of your farming or construction. If you take the horsepower up to 50, you can remove bigger trees and forest grass with no problem.
For smaller spaces like gardens, you can use hydrostatic gearbox tractors to remove weeds and smaller branches since they are easier to handle on narrow tracks.
There are several situations and challenges to consider when selecting the best tractor for clearing land on a small farm. Compact tractors are also suitable for other jobs like excavating ditches.
If a small tractor is used, bunches must be properly sized so you can easily drag them down a path. They must be orientated to make it easier to reach the trail. Of course, if you’re handling a short-term project, it’s not wise to buy or rent tractors. It’s much better to hire a team of land clearing experts because you only have to pay for their services and not worry about maintenance.
Top 4 Tractor Attachments
Like any other device, you can add some attachments to a tractor to boost its precision and productivity even further. Of course, there are many options available on the market, but we’ve narrowed them down to these four to be concise.
Loader
One of the most versatile attachments is a loader because it can nearly double your tractor’s productivity. It’s especially useful for daily projects. The ability to remove the bucket and swap it out for different tools is another advantage of loaders, which further improves their usefulness and value.
Grapple
The 4-in-1 is an emerging attachment that’ll become more popular as front-end loaders become more common. This tool, which doubles as a grapple, is excellent for grading or leveling with more accuracy.
Stone Crushers
Stone crushers are one of the most popular rock milling attachments for tractors that use ultra-fast hammers and breaker plates to break down rocks and pass them through a screen. While they come in many types such as jaw, cone, and gyratory crushers, They fall within two major categories: Compressive crushers and impact crushers.
Both types are great and work better at different sites and operations. Based on your needs and operational conditions, you can choose one to remove the stones and clear the land. Here at Ranch Land, we use stone crushers for our rock milling services in the Texas Hill Country.
Rear Blade
An alternative manual blade that may be tilted and twisted to handle a variety of land cleaning activities. When compared to a snow blower, the back blade is more cost-effective and ideal for moving snow, mud, or heavier material.
It gives up the precision of attachments specialized for certain jobs but makes up for it with the wide range of land clearing tasks you may do.
Rotary Cutter
With this attachment, small-land owners that want additional scope in their cleaning operations will benefit greatly from quick, dependable mowing and trimming as well as affordable pricing. The robust features let you cut through tough grass, and dense weeds, and brush with confidence that your tool will always deliver exceptional performance and endurance. You should use a blade to level up the land you have cleared after using the grapple attachment to remove the majority of the trees, vines, and plants.
Bottom Line
We tried to cover the main questions that come to mind when using a tractor for clearing land. Of course, like any other piece of machinery, using a tractor has unique benefits and drawbacks, which may not make it perfect for every single scenario.
In most cases, it’s difficult for people to see which machine can be the perfect choice for their specific land lot and their unique project. That’s why most people hire a team of experts who can evaluate the area, plan the project, and implement the land clearing process with the right tools.
So, it’s a game of experience more than anything and we have such experience at Ranch Land Rock Milling & Mulching. We have an experienced team of experts well-equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and tools for land clearing. We are one call away. Contact us today!
Related: What Is Land Clearing: A Comprehensive Guide for 2023
