Contrary to common belief, clearing your land requires a lot more than the labor of cutting down trees and brush and hauling the mess away. The job demands careful consideration, and the expertise of a professional, especially when clearing your land for a house site.

Location.

Location is critical in determining exactly what needs to be cleared away for a new house site. Not only do you need to take into account where the house, driveway, and septic will be placed, but also how close your trees are to roadsides, power lines, and other infrastructure. Because you can't undo the work of a chainsaw, it is crucial to establish what is permissible ahead of time. Furthermore, just because it's your land doesn't mean you have the legal right to chop it as you may. "More often than not," says Robert Oakes of Oakes Tree Services in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, "if your house site is part of a bigger development, you'll need permission to remove any single tree -- and you'll pretty much always need permission before clearing sites along 'scenic roads.'"

Dave Neal of Neal Tree Service, Inc. of Woodstock, Vermont, brings another all-too-common issue to light. "In the past, we have actually taken trees down that are not on the owner's property even though they were absolutely convinced it was their property," he says. To avoid any legal disputes with your neighbors, it is very important to mark out your property line before clearing your land.

Saving Valuable Trees.

Along with their aesthetic rewards, trees offer protection from the wind and sun. it is not unusual to find mature trees appraised by insurance companies at more than $20,000 apiece. Too frequently homeowners clear their site only to decide later that their house is too open and exposed. Making a concerted effort to preserve trees throughout the construction process can save you big money and aggravation.

"The trees we usually look to save are quality hardwoods around the house or foundations -- maples, oak, birch, and similar species," says Jason Eaton of Chippers in Woodstock, Vermont, and Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Once you have decided which trees to save, it is important to take down the trees around them to lessen competition. you should also remove any diseased trees from the property. Another important factor in deciding which trees to remove is the local wildlife. you may want to leave some trees to preserve a natural habitat for them but you must take into account that deer and bear can wreak havoc with certain species. Deer, for instance, love cedar. "If they are hungry enough," notes Doug ricketts of Ricketts and Sons in Warren, Vermont, "they'll devour every spruce tree on your property."

Whatever trees you deem worth saving must be protected during the construction process. "You should have a temporary but sturdy fence put up around them (preferably at the drip line) so workers don't park on the root system or stockpile materials on it during construction," says Eaton. "Compacted roots are probably the number one killer of trees on a new house site."

Clearing for a view.

One of the key factors in determining which trees to cut and which to save is the view. "I think the most common reason people have for clearing, whether it's for a new house or an old one, is the view," says Ricketts.

"the most common reason people have for clearing is the view." -doug ricketts

  Occasionally, clearing for a view can be as simple as taking away all the trees that obstruct your vision. Yet, creating a view is about more than what you take away. Sometimes you may want to leave a prominent tree in place to serve as a focal point when looking out the window. A large maple, for example, may have ornamental value in the autumn. In deciding where to clear, it is wise to survey your land from key vantage points in your house; and you should ask yourself: Where will the windows be? Where are you most likely to sit and want a view of the outdoors?

Disposal of trees.

Once you have cleared your land, you need to dispose of the debris. Many companies will chip the top of branches back into the site to use as mulch for residual trees. Some trees removed from your land still have value, and many companies will truck them to a mill and credit your account for the difference after trucking. The lumber market strictly determines the value of the trees. Some species such as maple and cherry may be valuable for saw logs. other species such as pine and spruce tend to have a lower value.

Small trees can be replanted.

"I dig out all the small trees I can with my excavator and save them for the homeowner to plant later," says Ricketts. "If you put these two- or three-foot trees in the right environment and trim them properly, you'll have a great nursery tree that you don't have to buy."

No matter the reason for wanting to clear your land, there's a lot of thought and planning that should be done before you fire up the chainsaws, and it would be wise to consult with a professional arborist.

The end result can richly enhance your enjoyment of your land, and might even add value in the process.

Turning Forested Land into Pasture.

Even when clearing for a pasture you may not want to remove all the trees. Although you want to create as much grazing area as possible, a large tree in the middle of the field can offer cows or horses welcome shade on a sunny day. Your animals might also enjoy some fallen fruit if you have some old apple trees to leave standing along the perimeter.

Your main concern will be ensuring that all the stumps are removed to prevent injury to the animals. The biggest question, then, is how do you get rid of stumps? Jason Eaton of Chippers has the answer: "you can use a stump sheer to split the stumps into smaller pieces, knocking the dirt out so you can burn them, or you can hire someone with a tub grinder to grind them. you can also haul them away and pay by the ton, which is the more expensive option."

As with most clearing, the pasture will need to be maintained on an annual basis to keep brush from reappearing. Some farmers choose to let the animals do the maintenance. Goats and pigs, for example, do not mind grazing on brush and weeds.

Reclaiming an Old Orchard.

Reclaiming an old orchard also requires a survey of the land. "When pruning trees or reclaiming an orchard, you want to be really delicate on the land. I have seen people who have gone in and done a lot of damage pruning the fruit trees in the field and then taking out the other trees and leaving the apple trees stressed and opened up to the sun and environment," says Dave Neal. A survey by a qualified expert will help you in determining which trees to remove without harming the orchard and leaving it unprotected.

Neal recommends reclaiming orchards in the winter when felled trees are less likely to damage their neighbors.