Fence Line Clearing in Central Ohio
A fence line that hasn't been maintained for a few years is barely a fence line anymore. Bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, young trees, and briars move in fast. In five to ten years, the fence is buried — you can't see it, can't check it for damage, and can't access it for repairs. Livestock get through gaps you didn't know existed.
We clear fence lines with tracked forestry mulching equipment. The machine runs along the fence, grinding the brush on both sides down to ground level. The fence posts and wire stay in place — we work around them. What was a wall of vegetation becomes a clear, accessible right-of-way in a single pass.
Fence line clearing is priced per linear foot — $3 to $8 depending on vegetation density and how far out from the fence we're clearing. Most jobs we do in Licking, Knox, Muskingum, and Fairfield counties are cleared 8 to 15 feet on each side of the fence line, enough to get a tractor alongside for future maintenance.
What We Clear and How We Work
- Bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and autumn olive — the most common fence line invaders in this region
- Young pioneer trees — cottonwood, box elder, ailanthus — that have grown up along the fence
- Briars and blackberry thickets
- Climbing vines including wild grape and bittersweet
- Tall grass and herbaceous vegetation along the fence base
We ask you to walk the fence line with us before we start, or at minimum flag any sections where posts are loose, wire is down, or there's something specific to work around. We're careful with wire — a fence is a significant investment and we're not in the business of creating new problems.
"One of the more memorable fence line jobs we did was a property in eastern Knox County — about 800 linear feet of fence that the owner's family had farmed for generations. The fence hadn't been maintained since the late 1990s. We found the posts still solid, the wire mostly intact under the honeysuckle. The owner said it was the first time he'd been able to walk his fence line in twenty years."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does fence line clearing cost?
$3 to $8 per linear foot depending on vegetation density and clearing width. A 500-foot fence line with moderate brush typically runs $1,500 to $3,000. Written quote provided after walking the line.
Will you damage my fence posts or wire?
We work carefully around existing infrastructure. Posts and wire stay in place. We ask you to flag anything loose or damaged before we start so we can approach those sections carefully.
How wide do you clear on each side?
We discuss clearing width with you at the estimate. Most agricultural fence lines benefit from 10 to 15 feet cleared on each side — enough for a tractor or ATV to run alongside. Narrower clearing is possible where the fence is close to a property boundary.
How do I keep the brush from coming back?
The mulch layer suppresses regrowth for one to two seasons. Honeysuckle will resprout — spot treatment with herbicide on new growth the following spring is the most effective follow-up. Periodic mowing along the fence line after that keeps it open.