Mastication and Mulching
El Dorado, Amador, Placer, and the many cities these counties encompass are some of the most forested and serenely beautiful areas in Northern California. Maintaining this beauty both on a residential and organizational level can often be challenging. Heavy brush growth, invasive vegetation, overly dense tree cover, and wildfires are just a short list of the potential challenges faced by those residing in towns from Cameron Park and Shingle Springs to Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, and everywhere in between.
Proper land management is an important and necessary consideration in these areas, and regular mastication service is one of the most effective strategies suggested by CalFire and the U.S. Forest Service to help maintain a healthy natural eco-system and reduce fire dangers.
What is mastication?
Tree or brush mastication is often referred to as mulching. But this isn't the type of mulching commonly associated with residential mowing that cuts and spreads small pieces of grass onto your lawn.
Professional mastication, sometimes called forestry mastication, is a highly specialized process that involves grinding, shredding, or chopping heavy vegetation, small trees, brush, and other organic debris into small chunks, chips, and pieces.
The first step in the process utilizes the masticator's upper blades to chop and grind biomass into smaller chunks (about the size of those found in a typical bag of mulch). Next, the masticator uses its lower roller to spread this mulch and redistribute it back onto the top layer of soil.
This environmentally friendly land clearing method mimics natural forest nutrient cycles and provides a wide range of benefits.
Benefits of Mastication
Masticating your property creates a pristine scenery around your home or business. But its benefits stretch far beyond just aesthetics.
According to Cal Fire, mastication and other defensible space land management strategies, such as tree removal services and brush clearing, can moderate fire behavior and shift it from an intense, high-crown fire that can spread rapidly to a significantly lower-intensity surface fire that can be better mitigated.
Time Efficient
Mastication is the quickest and most efficient method of removing trees and clearing brush
Cost Effective
No disposal or hauling fees for brush, shrubs, downed limbs, trees, invasive plants, or vegetation
Fire Fuel Mitigation
Reduces the dry fuel like brush and small trees used to ignite and spread fires
Fire Ladder Reduction
Mulching layers can reduce fire laddering and flames from 30 feet to 6 - 12 inches
Eco-Friendly
Turns trees, brush, and unwanted vegetation into beneficial mulch for a healthy habitat
Soil Enrichment
Increases soil nutrients and fertility for healthy plant and tree growth
Erosion Control
Helps to maintain soil temperature, retain moisture, and slow velocity of runoff
Defensible Space
Dramatically reduces wildfire risk around home and property
Hargo's Best In Class Mastication Services
We've been clearing, managing, and maintaining land since 2013 with trusted partners that include Caltrans and Cal Fire's Amador-El Dorado Unit.
Our defensible space evaluators are certified by the El Dorado County Fire Council. We're intimately familiar with state, county, and local guidelines to ensure your land management needs are completed in accordance with regulations, laws, and ordinances in mind.
Our owner, Aaron Hargo, personally assesses every project and provides expert evaluation, planning, equipment, and implementation of the most efficient and cost-effective mastication and land-clearing strategies for your specific needs.
Schedule a free evaluation to assess:
- Optimal wildfire mitigation strategies
- Fire fuel reduction
- Invasive and non-native plant species removal
- Brush clearing needs
- Insurance clearing and eligibility
- Fire breaks
- Land clearing requirements
- Vulnerability to soil erosion
Once our objectives and strategies are clear, we’ll suggest a clear course of action to achieve your goals and provide an estimate for services.
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Hargo's is licensed, bonded and insured.
We partner with trusted local, county, and state organizations to provide essential land management services.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS
We strive to exceed your expectations. See what our customers have to say.
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Huge shout out to Hargo's Land Management. I needed two very large hazard trees taken down, plus a bunch of trees trimmed. From start to finish this company is courteous, responsive, reliable, reasonably priced, and the work is top-notch. They know what they are doing, don't waste any time, are friendly, respectful, easy to schedule, arrive on time, and clean up was impressive. If you are in need of land clearing or tree work I highly recommend Hargo's.
Tamsen Bryon
August 1, 2024Aaron has been working on my property for the last 10 years. Him and his guy's are hard working and do Excellent work!! I have always been happy with the service they provide.
greg gillock
August 1, 2024I recently had the pleasure of working with Hargo’s Land Management and I couldn't be more impressed with their exceptional service and professionalism. From start to finish, they exceeded all of our expectations. First and foremost, their team is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. Their recommendations were thoughtful and tailored to my specific needs, demonstrating their deep understanding of tree and brush removal. The crew arrived promptly and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring the job was done efficiently... read more
Astrid
August 1, 2024 -
Aaron and his team are prompt, professional, and always do a solid job! I have had nothing but pleasant experiences with their administrative team, and their field team alike!
Carli Petretti
July 25, 2024They showed up at 7:45 AM, exactly as discussed, they were ready to go and got right to the job at hand. Very professional, great service, easy to work with. They took off a very large broken branch on a historical oak, and took down a 150ft pine that was 20 feet from my house. Did the job safely, and very efficiently. If you need any tree work done, these are the guys to use
Brad Jensen
July 25, 2024Aaron & His Team did a awesome job knocking out a large area of trees, shrubs, weeds and overgrowth on the outer portions of our lot. Arrived on time, finished the job ahead of schedule, and exceeded expectations. I'd give him 6 Stars if I could! Highly recommend!!
Aaron T.
July 15, 2024 -
Aaron and his crew performed dead and down tree cleanup, chipping and removal on our family's property. They are hard working, easy to work with, and reasonably priced. I highly recommend them.
Cathy Wood
April 15, 2024We had Aaron take down several pine trees in our yard. He did an excellent job and left our yard clean afterward! All for a reasonable price with excellent service. I highly recommend him.
Susan Emigh
March 2, 2024Solid work from solid people. Could not be happier.
Ryan Bock-willmes
June 23, 2023
CONTACT US TODAY
Serving El Dorado and Surrounding Counties
Locally owned and operated since 2013. Use our live chat support to get in touch about your mastication and land clearing needs.
Request a free evaluation and estimate by completing our online form or book an on-site appointment.
El Dorado County: El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Coloma, Placerville, Camino, Pollock Pines, South Lake Tahoe and more...
Amador County: Jackson, Ione, and Surrounding Towns
Sacramento County: Sacramento and Surrounding Cities
Placer County: Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, and Everything In Between
Nevada County: Penn Valley, Nevada City, Grass Valley