Brush Removal

If new vegetation is allowed to grow unchecked, the cost of drainage restoration becomes compounded.  When fully grown, this undesirable vegetation has to be mechanically cleared prior to excavating silt from the channel. Brush removal, called “temporary site preparation”, drastically changes the look of the countryside and sometime has staggering costs.

Regardless of how clean and functional a refurbished ditch may appear after brush removal and silt excavation, Mother Nature is already back at work. Within a few years, live stumps can perpetuate an endless and expensive cycle of brush growth and removal. Stumps left from the removal operation will re-sprout and grow multiple stems rapidly due to the live root system.  Each time tall growth species are cut, the density is increased.  It becomes less practical to devote constant attention to clipping brush sprouts off regularly. Also, future economic and regulatory environmental concerns may prohibit mature brush removal when the threshold of lost capacity is again realized!

 Brush Control & Eradication

After eliminating large trees over 5 to 10 feet in height, the use of properly labeled herbicides, applied by properly licensed chemical applicators should be considered.  It is essential from an economic and environmental standpoint to eradicate or extinguish the life of existing root systems.

Maintaining the control of new brush stems while they are small will eliminate the need for mechanical brush clearing ever again! Low growing forbs (a non-grass-like herb) and grass will soon replace undesirable brush when a prescription chemical program, utilizing one or more available methods, is in place.

Within a few years, the lower, long-term cost of brush maintenance will decrease, and the temporary site preparation needed to remove silt will be virtually eliminated. The perpetual savings each time the threshold for silt removal is reached, will allow most districts to simply use maintenance funds for tasks that used to require staggering special assessments.

InterTrade Services Corp.  - Haskell Co.

Rt. 51 North -  P.O. Box 117  - Forsyth, IL  62535

(217) 875-3324 -  (800) 836-3393  - info@intertradeservicescorp.com