Forestry mulching

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File:Fecon Bull Hog on Bobcat skid steer.jpg

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Forestry mulching is used in the right-of-way clearing and maintenance for roads, highways, pipelines, and other utility lines. This process often requires complete removal of standing trees, stumps, and vegetation. The goal is improved soil, and it is accomplished "by shredding leaves with a mower and piling them up to age".{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/04/realestate/garden-mulch.html

|title=Why Your Garden Needs Mulch (Assuming You Do It Right)

|author=Margaret Roach |date=May 4, 2022 |access-date=January 16, 2023}}

This method can be used in commercial and residential land clearing projects such as site preparation and development, cutting and clearing brush, nature and recreational trail creation,{{Cite web |url=http://www.govengr.com/ArticlesJul08/Mulchers.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=2020-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123214823/http://www.govengr.com/ArticlesJul08/Mulchers.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/jul/06/camp-rotamer-ready-host-open-house/ |title=Camp Rotamer ready to host open house |publisher=GazetteXtra |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=November 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122201043/http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/jul/06/camp-rotamer-ready-host-open-house/ |url-status=dead }} and seismic exploration.{{cite web |url=http://www.fecon.com/applications/view/?productapplicationid=9 |title=Seismic |publisher=Fecon |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=August 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831221040/http://www.fecon.com/applications/view/?productapplicationid=9 |url-status=dead }}

Forestry mulching has become popular among non-profit riparian conservation organizations, government agencies, hunt clubs, and private landowners in attempts to maintain habitats for pheasants, doves, elk, deer, and various other animals. Maintaining an animal habitat encompasses several different aspects: food, water, shelter, and space, and there are many products that can help reclaim and maintain wildlife habitats for these animals.{{cite web|url=http://timberdoodle.org/node/87 |title=Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Becker County, Minnesota | Woodcock population and young forest habitat management |publisher=Timberdoodle.org |access-date=2013-06-28}}

• Food: Forestry mulchers and forestry mowers are often used for removing underbrush and invasive species, such as buckthorn and multiflora rose, in order to allow the rejuvenation of grasses and other eating sources.
• Water: Forestry mulchers and tree shears can be used to restore water source access that has been blocked due to tree and understory growth, allowing animals to access the water.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/20Rhome.html

|title=Extreme Mulching |author=Gerri Hirshey |date=May 20, 2007 |access-date=January 16, 2023}}

• Shelter and space: Mulching can remove invasive underbrush that prevents the growth of the grasses required by certain animals for shelter, breeding, escaping the summer heat, and protecting themselves from cold temperatures.{{cite web |url=http://www.pheasantblog.org/tag/cattails/ |title=cattails « Pheasants Forever Blogs |publisher=Pheasantblog.org |date=2010-11-30 |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723145004/http://www.pheasantblog.org/tag/cattails/ |archive-date=2013-07-23 |url-status=dead }}

Some common invasive plants such as tamarisk (salt cedar), Pinyon-juniper, Russian olive, red cedar, buckthorn, and multiflora rose{{cite web|url=http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/weeds/aqua013.html |title=Non-native Invasive Freshwater Plants - Salt Cedar (Tamarix) - Technical Information |publisher=Ecy.wa.gov |access-date=2013-06-28}} can establish in a natural habitat, soak up a tremendous amount of groundwater. This may merit removing the plants using mulchers to re-establish the native habitat or to preserve the water table.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/russianolive.html |title=Russian olive - Invasive species: Minnesota DNR |publisher=Dnr.state.mn.us |access-date=2013-06-28}} Invasive insects such as pine beetles can also devastate forests, leaving behind rotting trees with diminishing timber value and that may become falling hazards if they lose their ability to stand up against wind.{{cite web |url=http://www.arborjet.com/post/pine_bark_beetles/?gclid=CMqwtObmhrgCFe1AMgodHigAuw |title=Pine Bark Beetles |publisher=Arborjet |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070234/http://www.arborjet.com/post/pine_bark_beetles/?gclid=CMqwtObmhrgCFe1AMgodHigAuw |url-status=dead }}

Proactive mulching can reduce tree stress caused by crowding, making them less susceptible to attack from invasive species. {{citation needed|date=July 2013}} Mulching invasive species in place can control the spread of invasive plants, insects, and fungus. The mulching action tends to discharge the material downward and within a reasonably confined area, versus other methods such as rotary cutters that may laterally disperse pine beetles or other invasive species into neighbouring healthy trees.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

File:Fecon hydraulic mulching attachment on rubber-tired tractor.jpg

• Proactive mulching: Mulching reduces the potential for wildfires by eliminating small leafy plants, fallen or rotten trees, and other fuel sources.{{cite web |url=http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=12473698 |title=Forest Service using cutting-edge technology to fight forest fires - KTRE.com | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas |publisher=KTRE.com |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205093211/http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=12473698 |url-status=dead }} If left untreated, these fuel loads increase potential for fire, increase the heat intensity, and serve as fire ladders that enable fire to elevate quickly to the tops of trees which is where a fire can spread most quickly. Mulching can also be used to create a coarse grind finish that can create a more ideal controlled burn.
• Reactive mulching: In addition to proactive thinning of vegetation to mitigate fire fuels, forestry mulching can be used for reactive cutting of lines (fire breaks) on active fires. Larger forestry mulchers leave minimal clean-up requirements and can help reduce the overall costs of active fire mitigation.{{cite journal|last=Halbrook|first=Jeff|author2=Han, Han-Sup |author3=Graham, Russell T. |author4=Jain, Theresa B. |author5= Denner, Robert |title=Mastication: A fuel reduction and site preparation alternative|journal=Proceedings of the 29th Council on Forest Engineering Conference|date=July 30 – August 2, 2006|pages=137–146|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2006_halbrook_j001.pdf|access-date=6 July 2013}}
• Clean-up: After the fire is out and clean-up efforts are underway, tracked forestry mulching machines, mulching attachments, and an excavator with a mulching attachment can provide a top layer of mulch to prevent soil erosion on slopes and minimize water pollution.

The New York Times published in 2022 that the American market for mulch compostings is $1 billion (per year). In 2005 they estimated that the average paid per cubic yard was $25.{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/opinion/nyregion/rakers-vs-blowers.html

|title=Rakers vs. Blowers |author=William Alexander

|date=November 27, 2005 |access-date=January 16, 2023}}

Depending on the size and orientation of the mulching head, forestry mulchers can only fell smaller trees. Mulchers with a mulching head that rotates about a vertical axis can typically handle trees up to {{Convert|6-8|in|cm}} in diameter, while mulchers with a mulching head that rotates about a horizontal axis can handle trees up to {{Convert|30|in|cm}} in diameter. Mulching trees at the upper end of this size range can be dangerous for both the equipment and the operator. Some excavator mulching attachments are equipped with a tilting bracket that significantly reduces the risk of felling trees larger than those desired. Mulching areas with a variety of vegetation and terrain may require multiple pieces of equipment, including tracked mulching machines, excavator mulchers, and skid steer tractors equipped with mulching attachments.

Rocks and stones cannot be processed or moved by the machines, and the teeth grinding against rocky ground can both wear out and cause fire hazards. Blades, hammers, and teeth are replaceable and considered wear parts. Smaller rocks and other debris can be thrown through the air, and while these are usually deflected by a protective shroud, they can present a danger to the operator and surrounding people and structures.

Even for the largest machines, mulching is only effective when less than 25 tons of vegetation or 100 trees are present per acre.{{cite journal |last=USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station |year=2004 |title=Fuels Planning: Science Synthesis and Integration Economic Uses Fact Sheet: 1 Mastication Treatments and Costs |url=https://biomasspelletpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mastication-Fuel-Treatments.pdf |journal=Res. Note RMRS-RN-20-1WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. |access-date=6 July 2013}}

Although mulching is significantly faster and less labor-intensive than land clearing by hand, it requires the site to have road access for fueling and maintenance.

By processing trees and other vegetation where they stand, mulching machines eliminate many of the steps involved in land clearing such as site prep, cutting, felling, hauling, and site clean-up.{{cite web|url=http://www.constructionequipment.com/grinding-attachment-provides-efficiency |title=Grinding Attachment Provides Efficiency |publisher=Construction Equipment |date=2008-01-21 |access-date=2013-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=http://kwlandworks.com/kw-news/forestry-mulching-is-it-right-for-you|title=Forestry Mulching - Is it right for you?|website=KW Land Works - Forestry Mulching and Restoration|access-date=2017-03-15}} This also eliminates the need for multiple machines such as bulldozers accompanied by some combination of excavators, tree shears, wood chippers or grinders, and hauling equipment. On simpler jobs only one mulching machine is required, reducing fuel requirements and emissions.{{cite web |url=http://www.lifescapes-forestry-mulching.com/benefits-of-mulching/ |title=No Burn, No Haul off |publisher=Lifescapes-forestry-mulching.com |date=May 27, 2013 |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-date=October 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029160236/http://www.lifescapes-forestry-mulching.com/benefits-of-mulching/ |url-status=dead }}

Some mulching machines also have the ability to operate on steep slopes and in small or tight areas, in poor ground conditions, and in wet or snowy weather.{{cite web |url=http://workingforest.com/innovative-technology-keeps-canadian-contractors-working-woods/ |title=Innovative technology keeps Canadian contractors working in the woods - The Working Forest, Your #1 source for forestry and forest industry news |publisher=Workingforest.com |date=2011-07-28 |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629093236/http://workingforest.com/innovative-technology-keeps-canadian-contractors-working-woods/ |archive-date=2013-06-29 |url-status=dead }}

Mulching machines are capable of clearing land of unwanted trees and brush with limited disturbance to soils or desirable vegetation.

Traditional land clearing methods often present an increased risk of erosion by pushing over trees, uprooting the stump and roots, and substantially disturbing soils. In contrast, mulching the vegetation leaves the soil structure intact. The mulched material can be left on the ground and will act as an erosion barrier while returning nutrients back into the soil through decomposition. Over time, grass will naturally grow through the mulch and can be maintained with mowing.

File:Fecon PTO-driven mulching attachment on tractor.jpg

• Ramial chipped wood
• Woodchipper

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{{Forestry tools}}

• https://www.fae-group.com/en_US
• http://deniscimaf.com/products/dah-excavator-forestry-mulcher
• http://www.raycomfg.com/products/forestry-machines/c100lgp-forestry-mulcher.html
• http://www.erskineattachments.com/attachments/skidsteer/heavy-duty-forestry-mulcher
• http://www.brownbronto.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

Category:Forest management