Fence row clearing takes out the brush, saplings and vines that grow up along a fence line, so the fence can be maintained and the field edge farmed again. A forestry mulcher does most of it in one pass and leaves the material as mulch on the ground.
Why fence rows grow in
A fence row is the one strip of farm ground that never gets worked. The planter, the disk and the mower all stop short of it. Birds sit on the wire and drop seed underneath. Mulberry, honeysuckle, multiflora rose, box elder and wild grape take hold where nothing disturbs them. Give it a few seasons and the row is head-high brush. Give it longer and there are real trees growing through the wire. Every year the brush leans out a little farther into the field. The shade and roots cut yield at the edge, and turning equipment gets harder. On pasture ground the problem is the fence itself. Wire that is buried in brush cannot be checked or repaired, and trees growing into it pull it apart.
What fence row clearing involves
Most fence row work is done with a forestry mulcher on a tracked machine. It grinds the brush and saplings where they stand and leaves the material on the ground as mulch. There are no brush piles to burn and no trailers hauling material out. The machine works along one or both sides of the line, taking the growth back to the width you want. Larger trees that have grown into the row are handled one at a time. Some are worth keeping as shade or a windbreak. Others are better gone. Mulching takes the standing growth down but leaves the roots, so regrowth will come back as soft shoots. Mowing it once or twice a year keeps the row from closing up again. Our right-of-way and fence row clearing page covers the corridor work we do.
Protecting the fence, or replacing it
Decide before the work starts whether the fence stays. That one choice changes how the job is run. If the fence stays, the operator works carefully along it and leaves a narrow strip right at the wire. Vines and stems wrapped through the wire may need hand work afterward. If the fence is coming out, the old wire and posts are easier to deal with once the brush is gone. Mulcher teeth and old wire do not mix, so wire buried in the brush should be found and pulled first where possible. Tell us about any steel posts, old wire on the ground or hidden debris you know of. Clearing first also makes a new fence line far easier to build, because the builder can see and reach the whole route.
Neighbors, property lines and division fences
A fence row often sits on or near a property line, so the brush on the far side may belong to your neighbor. Talk to them before anyone clears it. Most neighbors are glad to see a fence row opened, and some will share the work. If you are not sure where the line is, a land surveyor can locate and mark it. Do not assume the old fence is on the line. Illinois has a Fence Act that covers division fences between adjoining owners. It says each owner makes and maintains a just proportion of a division fence. If you have questions about a shared fence, read the Act or ask an attorney. We clear where the owner shows us, so clear marking up front keeps everyone on good terms.
Timing and ground conditions
Fence rows next to row crops are usually cleared after harvest and before planting, when the field can take a tracked machine without damage. Frozen ground in winter can be a good time on soft or wet rows. Pasture rows depend on where the livestock are and whether the fence has to stay up the whole time. After clearing, plan for regrowth. A bush hog pass once or twice a season keeps the row open at much lower cost than another round of mulching later. For the difference between the two machines, see bush hogging vs forestry mulching.
Fence row clearing in Illinois and Iowa
OPS works out of Ohio, Illinois, in Bureau County. We clear fence rows across the Illinois Valley and northern Illinois, from Bureau and La Salle to Lee, Whiteside, Henry and Rock Island counties. We also work the Iowa side of the Quad Cities, including Scott and Clinton counties. Landowners around Clinton, Iowa, can read more on our Clinton, IA land clearing page. To get a price, walk the row and note its length, how thick it is and whether the fence stays. Photos help a lot. Then call James at (815) 240-9065 or use the contact form. He can tell you how the job would run and what keeping it open will take.
The Short Version
- Fence rows grow in because they are the one strip that never gets worked, and birds seed them from the wire.
- A forestry mulcher clears brush and saplings in place with no burning or hauling.
- Decide whether the fence stays before clearing, and point out any wire or posts buried in the brush.
- Talk to neighbors and confirm the property line; Illinois has a Fence Act covering division fences.
- Regular mowing after clearing keeps the row open. Call (815) 240-9065 for a price.
Quick Answers
How do you clear an overgrown fence row?
Usually with a forestry mulcher. It grinds the brush and saplings along the line and leaves mulch on the ground. Large trees are dealt with one at a time, and hand work finishes vines tangled in wire.
Can the fence be saved when the row is cleared?
Often, yes. Tell us before the work starts. The operator leaves a strip at the wire, and vines in the fence are finished by hand.
Do I need my neighbor's permission to clear a fence row?
Clear only what is on your side unless your neighbor agrees. If the line is unclear, have a land surveyor mark it first.
Do you clear fence rows in Clinton County, Iowa?
Yes. OPS works the Iowa side of the Quad Cities, including Scott and Clinton counties. Call (815) 240-9065 with photos and the length of the row.
See our right-of-way clearing service or call (815) 240-9065.