We work across the county, with most of our work on farms, horse properties, estates and wooded acreage, including:

• Southern Clarke: White Post, Boyce and Millwood

• The county seat and nearby: Berryville and the farmland around it

• Along the Blue Ridge: Bluemont and Paris

We also work in the neighboring counties of Loudoun, Fauquier and Warren.

Don't see your town? We work all across Virginia, including the Eastern Shore. See all of our service areas or call 540-408-2114.

• Forestry mulching: one machine cuts and grinds brush and small trees in place and spreads it back over the ground as mulch.

• Invasive species removal: clearing autumn olive, tree of heaven, Bradford pear, multiflora rose, kudzu and other invasives from fields and woods.

• Land clearing: traditional clearing down to clean ground, with stumps and roots pulled, for a new home, barn, arena or driveway.

• Tree removal: large, dead and hazardous trees, trees near homes and storm cleanup, with our own tree crews and climbers.

• Excavating and erosion and sediment control: ponds, driveways, farm roads, culverts, drainage and grading, plus the silt fence and other controls your plan calls for.

Clarke County is home to Blandy Experimental Farm, the State Arboretum of Virginia. Blandy has been working to restore an area that was dominated by invasive trees such as buckthorn and autumn olive, according to Blandy Experimental Farm. Those same invasives, along with tree of heaven and multiflora rose, take over pastures, fence lines and the edges of woods across the county.

Forestry mulching clears them quickly and leaves a layer of mulch that protects the soil, so the land can be mowed, grazed or replanted.

The spotted lanternfly is here too. Clarke County is one of the counties where reporting is no longer required, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Tree of heaven is its favorite host, and Virginia lists it as a noxious weed, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. Our Spotted Lanternfly page shows how to spot and control it.

We clear almost all invasives without chemicals. Tree of heaven is the one exception, and our Invasive Species Removal page explains why and what to do about it.

• Where to apply: Clarke County's Building Department handles permits, including an "Agreement in Lieu of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan," according to Clarke County. The county says to allow 20 to 30 business days for review.

• Size that needs a permit: Virginia's statewide rule is that disturbing 10,000 square feet (about a quarter acre) or more is regulated, according to the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation. Confirm the exact rule for your parcel with the Building Department at (540) 955-5112.

Conservation easements: Almost a quarter of Clarke County is protected by conservation easements, according to Clarke County. The county's Conservation Easement Authority oversees its program, according to the county's conservation easements page. Many easements limit how much land can be cleared, so if your land is under one, check your deed and talk to the easement holder before work starts. We'll plan the job to fit it.

Streams, ponds and wetlands can also need state and federal permits. During the estimate, we'll let you know what the law says for your property. The property owner is responsible for getting any permit or plan that's needed, and we install the silt fence and other controls it calls for.

"Kevin did an amazing job mulching brush and woodlands. The property looks like a park and everyone that sees it comments on the remarkable transformation... He is an artist when it comes to forestry mulching" —A. Alvarez, Warrenton, VA

"Kevin with Virginia Forestry Mulching and Excavating exceeded my expectations with their forestry mulching and land clearing services... while preserving the natural environment." —L. Williamson, Fauquier, VA

You can read all 53 of our reviews on Google.

Can you work around horses, fences and barns? Yes. We'll walk the property with you, mark what stays and plan the work around your animals, fences and buildings.

My land is under a conservation easement. Can I still clear it? Often, yes, but your easement sets the rules. Check your deed and talk to the easement holder first, and we'll plan the job to match what it allows.

Do I have to burn the brush? No. Forestry mulching leaves no brush piles, so there's nothing to burn or haul. That also means no waiting on Virginia's 4 PM Burning Law, which limits outdoor burning from February 15 to April 30, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.

How long does a job take? It always comes back to the site conditions: how dense the forest is, the size of the trees, the slope and ground, access and the weather. A common rule of thumb in the industry is about an acre a day. Production mulching, where the goal is clearing the land as quickly as possible, is the fastest. A park-like setting, where we keep selected trees and leave a cleaner, more detailed finish, takes additional time. We'll walk your property and give you an estimated timeline along with your written price.

What does it cost? Every property is different, so we price each job after walking it. The price depends on how thick the brush is, the size of the trees, slope, access and total acreage. You'll get a written price before any work starts.

Call 540-408-2114 (7 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week) or use our contact form for a free on-site estimate.