Folks in the region are beginning to understand the concept of “fuels” and what it means to manage your property to keep fuels at a healthy level. Without the natural component of fire in the Sierra Nevada, the amount of vegetation growing on our properties can quickly reach an almost unmanageable level. Excess vegetation means more fuel for a fire, and the more fuel the more intense the fire will burn.
If you want to have brush removed and thinning done on your property, mastication may be the most cost-effective treatment option.
What is Mastication?
Also known as “forestry mulching”, mastication is a method of vegetation management that is generally completed with a skid-steer (think “bobcat” on tracks) or excavator machine. A special attachment is able to mulch down smaller trees and brush leaving finer debris similar to what would come from a chipper. This helps to reduce fuels in overgrown forests and is often the most cost-effective treatment option for larger areas.
Our Takeuchi TL-12 masticator on a project in Grass Valley, CA
Benefits of masticating property:
Fuels reduction. Reducing ladder fuels helps to moderate fire behavior and helps reduce risk to structures.
Less severe fire behavior can provide an opportunity for first responders to access the fire safely
Often the remaining tress are “limbed up” as part of this service, which creates separation of the ground fuels from the tree canopy. This further reduces the risk of a damaging crown fire
By reducing unfavorable brush and smaller trees, the remaining trees will enjoy reduced competition for light and water
Improved watershed function-more water available to remaining trees and increased runoff. Studies have linked forest thinning to increased water availability.
Remaining trees will grow with more vigor and also be more resilient to fire, drought, and beetle outbreaks.
Many find that they are able to enjoy their property like they couldn’t before. The resulting “park like setting” allows increased opportunities of viewing wildlife and much easier walking on the property.
A property we masticated in Nevada City near Deer Creek