As populations grow in our rural mountains, major interface is occurring between our treasured forests and encroaching development. The effects of this are many, but one serious consideration for folks living close to dense woodlands is the danger of wildfire. Wildfires, usually manmade, have claimed thousands of homes and businesses in the United States in the last decade, as well as many lives. In some states insurance coverage is now unavailable to homeowners and businesses that have not complied with local and / or state wildfire recommendations.
Many businesses and industries, both large and small, possess unimproved acreage requiring periodic maintenance. These unimproved and brushy areas are not merely unsightly they also constitute security issues, fire hazards, and potential environmental or zoning violations. Proper maintenance of these commercial property areas can provide opportunities for employee exercise, congregation and social events. It can also increase equity and marketability.
Field and pasture restoration is not only our most popular service, it is one of our most enjoyable to provide. We live and work on a 300 plus acre farm and are fully aware of the difficulties associated with restoring rural land. It has been commonplace in the past to simply scrape unwanted trees and vegetation into piles with a bulldozer or backhoe and burn them. Although there are isolated instances where we recommend and/or employ this strategy we find the majority of our customers are better served in every regard, including cost, by mulching technology.
The Southern Pine Beetle, and more recently the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, have created a nightmare for landowners in all Southern states. Infested trees quickly become tangled “deadfall” rendering property unattractive and inaccessible. Furthermore, these pine beetle infestations are threatening to more than just home and property values, they are potential fire hazards, essentially functioning as enormous piles of kindling that last for years.
If current trends are any indication of the direction right-of-way clearing and maintenance are moving then forestry mulching will certainly figure heavily in its future. Though barely fifteen years old, forestry mulching technology is rapidly replacing many traditional practices requiring large hand crews and multiple pieces of machinery.
Storm damage and disaster cleanup demand preparedness, coordination, safety and the ability to work creatively as situations arise. We have the experience it takes to be effective regardless of circumstances, weather or terrain. We maintain large-scale mechanical mitigation capabilities as well as skilled tree professionals. We frequently work in multiple states simultaneously and are accustomed to rapid mobilization and repairs. Most of our machinery is equipped with additional safety features allowing us to safely work in dangerous and tangled material.
There are good reasons logging has a reputation for being one of the regions most destructive and insensitive land use practices. Logging is largely unregulated in the Southeast and devastating examples of poorly executed logging operations abound. In fact It’s hard not to notice the damage poor logging practices have caused if you drive in any rural area. One need only read accounts of the early 20th Century struggle to save even a few acres of virgin Appalachian forest from large timber interests to forever remain distrustful of logging.
One of the major factors determining the success of a logging operation is how well the leftover material, (the slash), is disposed of. Timber slash consists of not only tree crowns, limbs and discarded logs, but also damaged standing trees as well as stumps. Poorly managed timber slash cleanup causes more than an unsightly appearance, it lowers equity and marketability, diminishes future timber quality, and contributes to erosion and fire potential.
If you have attempted the laborious task of “hand-clearing” you probably already know how time consuming, inefficient and expensive it truly is. You may have experienced, first hand, the sense of defeat that accompanies the realization that your labor has merely created further hassle in the form of brush piles. With forestry mulching technology the need for costly and tedious handwork is eliminated. Undesirable vegetation is mulched on the spot, into a rich and attractive layer, turning unusable woodlots into gorgeous glades and shady gathering areas.
V&V offers fully integrated viewscape clearing including forestry mulching and residential/commercial tree services. At V & V we believe sustainability means doing it right the first time. Viewscape clearing is more than simply chainsawing a few trees down or mulching brush. It is a skill demanding attention to detail, ecological sensitivity, safety and an understanding of a landowner’s long-term goals.
The southern Appalachians, home to more plant species than any other region of the continental U.S., is also home to hundreds of naturalized invasives. These invasives cost taxpayers and property owners literally billions of dollars every year while destroying precious native habitat. These species are categorized by the degree to which they threaten the South’s biodiversity. While invasive vegetation like kudzu and multiflora rose is well known, many such as Japanese knotweed are not.
Forestry mulching is the single step process by which undesirable vegetation - trees, brush and stumps - is ground into mulch by mobile machinery. The mulch is generally spread as evenly as possible over the entire cutting area. This retards initial re-growth, prevents erosion, and replenishes the topsoil base. Unlike other clearing methods, with forestry mulching there are no brush piles. There is no burning and no stripped and scarred land.
Erosion control is your first line of defense in the fight to stop sedimentation, one of the biggest financial costs and environmental impacts associated with land disturbance (fines as large as $5000 per day per offense can be levied against those who fail to follow relevant sediment and erosion control regulations.) Erosion control requires thoughtful planning before grading activities are undertaken. Excavating contractors must account for the volume and condition of the water leaving the site, both during and after construction. This means you should be given a clear underst
Habitat preparation takes more than just heavy equipment; it takes knowledge and sensitivity. Whether creating remote food plots for deer and turkey, edge habitat for songbirds or clearing fields for native grass plantings, you will find us fully in tune with your goals.
Nowhere is road construction more complicated, demanding and expensive than in mountainous terrain. A wide variety of factors must come into consideration if a road construction or driveway is to be a long-term success. These factors include, but are not limited to; grade (steepness), soil conditions (type), drainage features, compaction, erosion control (re-vegetation, mulch, silt fencing, etc.), and surfacing (gravel, etc.). Nearly all states and counties have individual guidelines that must be followed.
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to improve and enjoy your rural property is a trail system. Trail systems provide recreational opportunities such as riding, hiking, hunting, running and mountain biking, while adding value and marketability.
V&V specializes in precision grading and excavation for Western NC and East TN.
We work both residentially and commercially, offering services that include road building and driveways, home-site and landscape preparation, environmental services, retaining walls, pond building and more. We fully understand that you expect solid communication, technical skill, honesty, professionalism and attention to detail from your contractor. You expect your grading to be safe, durable and environmentally appropriate. We expect the same, which is why we guarantee our finished projects.
Why Hydroseed?
A necessary component of nearly all grade-work and excavation, especially road building, is re-vegetation. Re-vegetation is not just essential to stabilize and preserve expensive grading, it is the law for land disturbances of an acre or more. In fact, many municipalities now have even more stringent requirements. The fastest way to effectively re-vegetate is hydroseeding – the sprayed application of seed, fertilizer, mulch, a tackifying medium, dye and other essential nutrients such as lime.
We offer bush hogging as a basic service and also as periodic maintenance. We have three bush hogging methods available; tractors with conventional tow behind units, skidsteers with high flow hydraulic mowing decks and excavators with extendable high flow mowing attachments. In some instances we can cut material up to five inches in diameter with our bush hogs.
Scenarios Requiring Bush Hogging
V&V Land Management offers professional tree services including technical removals and complete material reduction as well as site assessments and guidance. Our comprehensive forestry experience and capabilities allow us a variety of options unavailable to most tree companies. This means you have solutions that accord with your specific requirements and budget. Our tree services include technical felling, climbing and takedowns, cabling, pruning and fertilization as well as reduction options such as mulching, chipping, firewood processing and whole log and brush removal.
Professional Forestry and Tree Services
V&V Land Management offers professional forestry and tree services from technical tree removals, pruning and complete material reduction to full scale timber harvesting. We also offer professional site assessments and guidance, including the services of one of the regions most respected professional licensed foresters. Our comprehensive forestry background and land management expertise allow us a variety of options unavailable to most tree companies.
Tree Removal Requires Training and Experience
Tree removal is not only a dangerous and highly technical skill, it is a practice that demands integrity, good stewardship and well-developed aesthetics. We have thousands of hours of successful tree removal experience in tight urban environments requiring the greatest care and foresight. We will not damage your yard or landscaping and we will not leave your site until you are completely satisfied. We work only one job at a time and have never had an on-site accident or injury. In fact, we have never had a single complaint.
Tree Trimming and Pruning Services
V&V Land Management offers professional tree trimming and pruning services at affordable prices. We serve both residential and commercial clients in Western North Carolina's mountain communities, as well as surrounding areas. We specialize in traditional tree trimming and climbing practices and rarely use mechanical methods. We believe client education is the best way to sustain and improve our urban forests. We work one job at a time and will not leave your site until your satisfaction is assured.
Professional Tree Clearing Services
V&V Land Management offers professional tree clearing services for Western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and East Tennessee. We have a licensed consulting forester with 25 years experience, and capabilities ranging from single residential take-downs and removals to full-scale mechanical harvesting. We are experienced with lot-clearing, site preparation, insect damage removal, storm damage cleanup, viewscape clearing, fire-load reduction and more.
Stump Grinding and Removal
V&V Land Management specializes in all aspects of residential and commercial tree removal, including stump grinding. Whether you have a single tree stump or multiple stumps, regardless of size, we can help. Tree removal rarely includes the removal of the stump. Using our dedicated mulching equipment we can reduce smaller stumps (up to 10” diameter depending on the tree species) flush with the ground, but for larger hardwood stumps we use specialized track-mounted
Land Management & Tree Services In Asheville North Carolina
V&V Land Management offers precision tree services for the Asheville area. We specialize in technical tree removals, viewscapes, lot clearing, pruning and reduction. We also offer firewood processing and stump grinding. V&V is a family-owned local business working towards absolute customer satisfaction. We work one job at a time employing the best of tr
One of the most regrettable impacts of large-scale corporatization is the homogenization and loss of community it has brought to American cities and towns. Fast food chains and big box retailers now replicate freely across the urban and rural landscapes on sweetheart tax incentives putting family business, regional craftsman, trades-people, and traditional markets out of business. Jobs are shipped to cheap labor markets in other countries while the quality of goods plummets.
Good land management starts with a good plan, and a good plan starts with a good resource map. Resource mapping is the foundation for planning and management. Just like when building a house, you will waste time and money without a good foundation.
If you have recently bought rural land or are investigating a purchase, our property assessment services can help you with your transition. Statistically, the majority of those currently buying rural land, whether developers, retirees or industrious “back-to-the-Landers,” have never owned or managed rural land before.
Over the years we have found the easiest way to insure our clients projects are successful is good planning. It doesn’t matter whether we are laying out roads, assessing timber, locating potential home-sites or improving habitat, planning and preparation are key. For this reason we offer affordable consulting services including digital mapping, low-altitude aerial photography, timber management plans, general property assessments, and recreational and agricultural planning. Our consulting services can help you explore and maximize your properties potential.
What is your Dream Landscape?
