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

• Warrenton and nearby: Warrenton, New Baltimore, Broad Run and the farmland around them

• Northern Fauquier and hunt country: Marshall, The Plains, Delaplane and Upperville

• Southern Fauquier: Catlett, Midland, Calverton and the surrounding farmland

We also work in the neighboring counties of Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax and Stafford, and across the rest of Virginia, including the Eastern Shore.

• Forestry mulching: one machine cuts and grinds brush and small trees in place and spreads it back over the ground as mulch. It's how we bring back overgrown pastures, open up fence lines and riding trails, and turn tangled woods into a park-like setting.

• Invasive species removal: clearing autumn olive, multiflora rose, Bradford pear 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, riding arena or driveway.

• Tree removal: large, dead and hazardous trees, trees near homes and storm cleanup.

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

Invasive removal is a big part of what we do, and Fauquier has plenty of it. The Clifton Institute, a 900-acre field station near Warrenton, names autumn olive, oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle and tree of heaven among the invasives it works to control, according to its nonprofit profile. Autumn olive and multiflora rose are common in the county's fields, according to Middleburg Life.

Left alone, these shrubs take over pastures, fence lines and the edges of woods within a few seasons. 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. Fauquier 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.

Here's what Fauquier County's rules say, according to the county's land disturbing permit page:

• More than 10,000 square feet: disturbing more than 10,000 square feet (about a quarter acre) needs a land disturbing permit. That includes building a single-family home or farm buildings.

• More than 1 acre: disturbing more than 1 acre (more than 5 acres for a single-family home) needs a land disturbing permit plus a state stormwater (VESMP) permit.

• Single-family homes under 5 acres: these can usually use a simpler "Agreement in Lieu of a Plan," a contract between the owner and the county that lists the erosion controls to use.

• Farms: agricultural work that meets Section 11-5 of the county code is treated differently. Farm work that doesn't meet it needs a permit like any other project.

Conservation easements: In 2015, Fauquier became the first county in Virginia to protect more than 100,000 acres with conservation easements. That land included 39,256 acres of forest and 395 miles of streams, according to the Piedmont Environmental Council. Easement programs in the county include the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the county's Purchase of Development Rights program and the Land Trust of Virginia, according to Fauquier County. Many limit how much land can be cleared, so if your land is under an easement, 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 was very knowledgeable about zoning restrictions and explained how the grading of my land could impact water retention information that was important before removing trees." —D. Perkins, Broad Run, 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

"I have been preparing my 10 acre lot for an upcoming house build. I obtained 3 quotes from various local companies, and I am so glad I did!" —R. Pal, Midland, VA

You can read all 53 of our reviews on Google.

Can you bring back an overgrown pasture? Yes. It's some of our most common work in Fauquier. We mulch the brush, cedars and invasive shrubs that have moved in, and leave the good trees standing. The mulch breaks down and feeds the soil, so the field can be mowed, grazed or reseeded.

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.