Brush and land clearing in Chemung County covers a wide range. Big Flats and parts of Horseheads are seeing open fields and hedgerows turned into house lots and driveways. Farther east, Van Etten, Chemung and Catlin have rural parcels where pasture is growing back into brush and young trees. Each needs a different touch.
Jason Tubbs brings 20+ years of experience in forestry and in construction and property management, which helps when a clearing job has to match a building plan. At the $50 consultation he walks the land with you, marks what stays and what goes, and offers a few levels of clearing so you can match the work to your goals.
Clearing for New Builds in Big Flats and Horseheads
A building lot needs room for the house, the driveway, utilities and the equipment that builds them. Clearing too much leaves a bare, windy site. Clearing too little crowds the foundation and leaves roots in the way. Jason can work from your site plan or builder’s layout so the opening fits the project.
Rural Parcels in Van Etten, Chemung and Catlin
Old fields and fence lines in the eastern and southern towns fill with brush, saplings and invasive shrubs. Reclaiming a view, a trail or a pasture edge is often a matter of selective work rather than flattening everything. Catlin State Forest, 613 acres of hills, forest, grassland and wetland, gives a sense of the mix of ground found on many private parcels nearby.
Keeping the Trees Worth Keeping
- Healthy oaks, maples and conifers can be flagged and protected during clearing.
- Norway maple and black locust are on the DEC regulated invasive list, so they are often good candidates to remove.
- Dead or dying ash near a future house site is usually better taken out now than later.
- Brush piles and some standing snags can be left for wildlife if you want them.
Wet Ground, Slopes and Wildlife Timing
Wet areas and steep pasture need equipment choices that do not tear up the soil. If part of your land may be wetland, check with your town office before planning work there. Bats and nesting birds use trees and brush, so timing and a quick wildlife check matter. Cleared material can go to local use as mulch or firewood, and New York limits moving untreated firewood more than 50 miles from its source.
Brush & Land Clearing Questions From Chemung County
Can you clear my Big Flats lot for a house but leave the big oaks?
Yes, that is a common request. Jason walks the lot with you and marks the trees to protect, then plans equipment routes and clearing limits around them. Keeping a few mature trees can give a new home shade and character from day one, as long as they are healthy and far enough from the foundation.
Should I get rid of the black locust and Norway maple on my land in Van Etten?
Both are on the New York DEC regulated invasive species list, and they can crowd out native trees on old fields and edges. Removing them is often a good part of a clearing plan. Jason can point them out on your property and suggest which ones to take first based on size and spread.
Part of my property near Catlin is wet. Can you still clear brush there?
Often yes, but the approach changes. Lighter methods and the right season help avoid ruts and soil damage. If you think an area may be a regulated wetland, check with your town office before scheduling. Jason will note wet ground during the consultation and plan the work around it.
Want the full picture? Read our brush & land clearing guide, or see everything we do in Chemung County.