What to Ask a Land Clearing Contractor Before You Hire

1. Are you insured and properly licensed?

Any contractor running heavy equipment on your property should carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm it is current. In Kentucky, land clearing does not always require a specialized state license, but the business should be registered and able to pull any permits the county requires.

If they hesitate or tell you insurance is 'not really needed,' that is your sign to keep looking.

2. What equipment will you use, and why?

The right machine depends on the job. A forestry mulcher is ideal for brush, honeysuckle, and saplings. A dozer makes sense for building pads and grade work. A chainsaw crew is fine for selective tree removal. Ask what they plan to bring and why it fits your site.

Also ask about ground pressure. On soft Bluegrass pasture or horse paddocks, a tracked mulcher under 5 PSI protects the sod. A wheeled skid steer or dozer can rut the ground badly enough to need reseeding.

3. How do you price the job?

Pricing can be by the acre, by the hour, or as a flat job rate. For forestry mulching in Central Kentucky, expect $1,200 to $3,000 per acre depending on density, slope, and access. Make sure the quote includes the on-site visit, clearing, and basic cleanup — not just a day rate that balloons once work starts.

Ask whether there are minimums, trip charges, or fees for hauling debris. A written quote protects both sides.

4. What exactly does cleanup include?

Cleanup is where contracts get fuzzy. Does the price include grinding stumps flush? Removing fallen trees? Raking chips? Leaving mulch in place is standard for forestry mulching, but if you want it spread, hauled, or burned, that should be spelled out.

Get the cleanup spec in writing so you aren't left with brush piles, ruts, or stump holes after the crew leaves.

5. Do you handle permits and utility locates?

Kentucky burn restrictions apply during forest fire hazard seasons, and many counties require burn permits. If the job involves burning, confirm the contractor handles permits and follows local rules. Even if no burning is planned, ask whether they call 811 for utility locates before digging or grinding near underground lines.

Forestry mulching usually avoids permits entirely, which is one reason it is popular, but utility lines still matter.

6. How do you protect soil and trees I want to keep?

A good contractor walks the property with you and marks trees, fence lines, and boundaries. Ask how they avoid root damage to keep trees, how they control erosion on slopes, and whether they will work around wet ground or wait for better conditions.

If they seem annoyed by the question, imagine how careful they will be with your actual land.

7. What is your timeline?

Ask when they can start and how long the job will take. Weather and equipment breakdowns happen, but a professional can give you a realistic window. For reference, a tracked mulcher typically clears half an acre to one acre per day on average brush.

Be wary of crews who can start tomorrow year-round — that often means they are not busy for a reason.

8. Do you subcontract the work?

Some companies sell the job and send a different crew. That is not automatically bad, but you should know who will actually be on your property and whether the person quoting the job will supervise. At Bluegrass Thickets, the crew that quotes is the crew that runs the machine.

9. Can I see recent work or references?

Photos, recent job sites, or references from similar properties are fair to ask for. Look for work that matches your situation: horse farms, food plots, pasture reclamation, or fence line clearing. A contractor with happy local customers should be glad to share them.

10. What happens if something goes wrong?

Ask about their policy on damage, missed cleanup, or follow-up treatment if regrowth is worse than expected. A written warranty or follow-up visit clause is a strong signal they stand behind their work.

Red flags to walk away from

Watch for these warning signs:

• Pressure to sign or pay in full before work starts.
• No insurance or refusal to provide proof.
• Verbal-only quotes with no written cleanup spec.
• Plans to burn without mentioning permits or season restrictions.
• Equipment that is clearly too small or too large for the job.
• No local references or unfamiliarity with Central Kentucky terrain and invasives.