The most effective way to clear a fence line depends on how far it has grown in: light brush can be cut by hand, but rows full of saplings and small trees go much faster with a machine that grinds the growth into mulch. Confirm where the line runs first, protect the fence you are keeping, and talk with the neighbor before any work starts.
First, Know Where the Line Is
A fence is not always on the property line. Old farm fences were often built where it was easy, not where the survey said. Before you clear a boundary, find out whether the fence is on the line, on your side, or on the neighbor's side.
If the corners are lost or the line is in doubt, hire a land surveyor to find and flag it. A survey costs far less than a dispute after the brush is gone. Ask the surveyor to set flagging you can see from a machine seat. Once the line is flagged, clear it soon. Survey stakes and ribbon disappear into brush faster than most owners expect.
Clearing a Fence Line Yourself
For a short run of light brush, hand tools work. Loppers, a brush saw or a chainsaw will cut sumac, dogwood and young buckthorn along the wire. Expect slow going. Every stem you cut has to be dragged out and piled, and each pile then has to be burned, chipped or hauled somewhere. Burning brush can require a DNR burning permit, so check before you light anything.
A tractor and brush hog can knock down soft growth on the open side of a fence, but it struggles with woody stems against the wire. Neither method does much about roots. Cut stems of buckthorn and aspen sprout back, so a hand cleared fence row often needs work again within a few seasons. For more on dealing with cut brush, see our guide on what to do with brush.
When a Machine Makes Sense
Once a fence line has turned into a hedge of saplings and small trees, a forestry mulcher is usually the faster and cleaner choice. The machine grinds the brush into chips where it stands. There is nothing to drag, no piles to burn and nothing to haul. The mulch stays on the strip, covers the soil and slows new growth.
A tracked machine also handles the long runs that wear people out. Back pasture fences, quarter lines and boundaries through brushy woods are where mulching earns its keep. The cleared strip doubles as a path to check the fence from an ATV. Our fence line clearing page covers the kinds of lines we open, from pasture fence to fresh survey lines.
Protecting the Fence and Posts
Tell us early whether the fence is staying, coming out, or getting replaced. A fence that is staying gets cleared up to with care. The operator works the head along the line and leaves the posts and wire alone, then hand work can finish the last bits tight against the fence if you want it perfect.
A fence that is coming down is easier to clear if the wire is rolled up first. Loose barbed wire and woven wire wrap around a mulching head and stop work. Old steel posts, rock piles and buried wire hide in fence rows too. Walk the line before the machine shows up, mark gates and corner posts, and point out anything you know is buried in the brush.
Talking With the Neighbor
Boundary work affects two owners. Even when the line is clear and the work stays on your side, a quick talk with the neighbor heads off surprises. Tell them what you plan to clear, when the machine will be there, and that the mulch stays on your side. Many neighbors are glad to see an old fence row opened.
Shared fences come with their own rules. Minnesota has a partition fence law in state statute that covers fences between neighboring properties and how disputes over them are settled. If a shared fence is part of the job, read that law or ask your township before you start. When the strip is cleared, both owners get a line they can see and maintain.
What Fence Line Clearing Costs
Fence line clearing cost comes down to a handful of things. Length is the obvious one. Density is the bigger one. A row of light brush clears much faster than one choked with buckthorn and popple. Width matters too, since clearing one side is less work than both sides plus a travel lane.
Hidden wire, rock and wet ground slow the machine and raise the cost. Access matters, because a line the machine can reach from a field is quicker than one deep in the woods. Rather than guess, Calvin walks the line with you and gives a free estimate. Our land clearing cost guide explains the same drivers for larger jobs.
The Short Version
- Confirm where the property line runs before clearing a boundary fence.
- Hand tools suit light brush, but every cut stem still has to go somewhere.
- A mulcher grinds dense fence rows in place with nothing to pile or haul.
- Roll up loose wire and mark posts and gates before the machine arrives.
- Talk with the neighbor, and read the partition fence law for shared fences.
Quick Answers
What is the most effective way to clear a fence line?
For light brush, hand tools work. For a row grown into saplings and small trees, a forestry mulcher is faster because it grinds everything in place. There is nothing to drag, pile or burn afterward.
How much does fence line clearing cost?
It depends on the length, how thick the brush is, whether one or both sides get cleared, and what hides in the row. Wire, rock and wet ground slow the work. Calvin gives a free estimate after walking the line.
Do I need a survey before clearing a property line?
If you are sure where the line is, maybe not. If the corners are lost or the fence may be off the line, a land surveyor should flag it first. Clearing on the wrong side causes trouble with neighbors.
Can the fence stay up while the line is cleared?
Yes. The operator clears up to a standing fence and works the head along it with care. Loose or broken wire should be rolled up first, since it can wrap around the mulching head.
See our fence & property lines service or call (218) 461-7376.