Brush Clearing in Huntsville, AL

Brush clearing is for the ground that is not quite woods and not quite yard: fence lines, ditch banks, back acreage and the edges of lots where privet, briars and vines have taken over.

Brush versus lot clearing

Brush work removes small trees, shrubs and vines, usually without moving much soil. That is why it often avoids the grading questions that come with a building site (see lot clearing for those). Whether a particular job needs a permit still depends on the parcel, so ask the pro who is quoting it.

Chinese privet: why it comes back

Alabama Extension calls Chinese privet the most common nuisance shrub around homes and forests. The key facts for anyone paying to have it cleared come from the Extension article on fall brush control:

Privet resprouts from stumps and lateral roots, so cutting or digging it can make the stand worse.
It holds its leaves year-round, which is why late fall and winter treatment works when native hardwoods are dormant. Extension suggests foliar sprays once daytime temperatures reach the 50s and cold snaps are not persisting.
Plants head-high or shorter can usually be sprayed on the leaves. For taller plants, or where drift or runoff is a worry, Extension recommends cutting close to the ground and treating the stump immediately.
On large areas a skid-steer mulcher clears privet quickly, but the mulched stems resprout in spring, so a herbicide follow-up is needed for long-term control.

The practical takeaway: a good brush quote has two lines in it, the cutting and the follow-up. If the second line is missing, expect the thicket back within a season or two.

Kudzu

Kudzu has a large root system packed with stored energy, and Extension notes it resprouts vigorously after mowing or after treatment with over-the-counter lawn herbicides. Because it grows over and under desirable trees, thick mats make spray coverage hard. For a small patch, Extension describes an herbicide-free option: dig out the root crown, the ball of buds and sprouts where vines root, and cut it out. Not every root has to come with it. For larger infestations Extension points to professional herbicide programs and repeat visits. Ask any pro how many visits are in the price. More background is in the invasive plant gallery.

Herbicide cautions worth knowing

Extension warns that some over-the-counter brush killers contain imazapyr, a soil-active herbicide that can damage nearby trees, and describes homeowners whose oaks and other hardwoods died after they treated regrowth with such products. Some products also cannot be used in or near water, which matters along streams and lake shores. Read the label, and ask your pro what product they use and where. This is also why kudzu next to trees you want to keep needs a careful plan.

Poison ivy and other vines

If the fence line is full of poison ivy, Extension notes the sap contains urushiol in every part of the plant. Large vines climbing trees are cut and treated, and crews should avoid throwing stem dust or chips toward the body. If you are allergic, tell the pro before they start.

Timing your job

Fall is not just a convenient time to book. Extension says plants are moving energy into their roots then, which makes them more vulnerable to herbicide, and that cooler, drier weather is easier on the people doing the work. Winter, for privet, is still workable.

Disposal of brush piles

Burning is the old answer and the hardest one to use legally here; our FAQ sets out the city and state rules. The City of Huntsville also does not pick up limbs that result from land clearing (city rules). Plan on chipping, mulching in place with forestry mulching, or hauling.

Before the crew arrives

Walk the property lines, flag septic fields and wells, and note any fence you want to keep. If any digging or stump work is part of the job, request an 811 locate first.

Who to call, and when

These are the public offices behind the rules on this page. Reach them after you have requested your quote, or whenever you want an official answer for your own parcel.

Alabama 811 (before any digging): 811 or 800-292-8525
Alabama Forestry Commission burn permits and wildfire reporting: 800-392-5679
Huntsville Fire and Rescue, Bureau of Fire Prevention (city burn rules): 256-427-5150