Overgrown fields aren’t just an eyesore. They’re a liability. Dense vegetation creates fire hazards, especially during Virginia’s dry summer months. Tall grass and thick brush become breeding grounds for ticks and snakes, making your property unsafe for family, visitors, or workers.
Bush hogging clears all of that without stripping your topsoil or damaging the land underneath. The rotary cutter mulches vegetation as it cuts, leaving behind organic material that actually improves soil health. You get a clean, manageable property that’s ready for whatever comes next—whether that’s farming, building, grazing, or just keeping your land maintained and safe.
This isn’t cosmetic. It’s functional land management that reduces risk, improves access, and keeps your property compliant with local regulations. You’re not just cutting grass. You’re reclaiming usable space and protecting what you own.
R.E. Douglas Company Inc is a family-owned, Virginia Class A licensed business serving Weems and the entire Northern Neck region for over two decades. We’re not a franchise or a crew passing through. We live here, work here, and understand the land conditions specific to Lancaster County and the surrounding areas.
Our operators know how to handle the mix of sandy soil, dense underbrush, and seasonal growth patterns common to this part of Virginia. We’ve cleared residential lots, commercial properties, agricultural land, and right-of-ways throughout White Stone, Kilmarnock, Irvington, and beyond. You’re hiring people who’ve seen it all and know how to do the job right the first time.
We’re licensed, insured, and focused on doing clean, efficient work without the runaround. No surprises. No guesswork. Just experienced professionals with the right equipment.
First, we come out to assess your property. We look at the terrain, the type of vegetation, and any obstacles like stumps, rocks, or uneven ground. This helps us determine the right equipment and approach for your specific job.
Once we’ve walked the site and discussed your goals, we provide a clear quote. No hidden fees. No vague estimates. You’ll know exactly what the job costs before we start.
On the day of service, our crew arrives with a heavy-duty tractor and rotary cutter designed to handle thick brush, saplings, vines, and tall grass. We work systematically across your property, cutting vegetation down to a manageable height while mulching it into the soil. The process is fast, thorough, and leaves your land level and clean.
After we’re done, you’re left with a cleared property that’s safer, more accessible, and ready for its next use. We haul away any debris if needed, and make sure the site is left in good condition. You don’t have to do anything except approve the final result.
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Our bush hogging service covers everything from overgrown residential lots to large commercial properties and agricultural fields. We handle tall grass mowing, brush cutting, vine removal, sapling clearing, and dense undergrowth that standard mowers can’t touch. If it’s overgrown and needs to be cut, we can handle it.
We work across Weems, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties. The Northern Neck’s mix of waterfront properties, farmland, and wooded lots means every job is a little different. We adjust our approach based on your land’s unique conditions, whether that’s sandy soil near the Rappahannock, clay-heavy fields inland, or sloped terrain that requires careful maneuvering.
For property owners preparing land for construction, we provide site preparation that clears vegetation without disturbing the soil structure. For farmers and landowners managing pastures or fields, we offer seasonal maintenance that keeps growth under control and reduces fire risk. For commercial property managers, we deliver fast, reliable field mowing that keeps your site looking professional and compliant with local codes.
You’re not paying for a one-size-fits-all service. You’re getting a customized approach based on what your property actually needs.
Bush hogging typically costs between $75 and $120 per acre depending on the density of vegetation, terrain difficulty, and accessibility. If your property has thick brush, saplings, vines, or uneven ground, expect pricing toward the higher end of that range. Flat, open fields with lighter grass cost less.
Hourly rates run around $85 to $120 per hour for a tractor with a 5 to 6 foot rotary cutter. For smaller residential lots under an acre, hourly pricing often makes more sense. For larger properties or multiple acres, per-acre pricing usually offers better value.
We provide free quotes after walking your property, so you’ll know exactly what the job costs before we start. No surprises. No vague estimates. Just a clear number based on the actual work required.
Regular mowing is for maintained lawns and grass that’s already under control. Bush hogging is for overgrown fields, dense brush, tall grass, saplings, and vegetation that a standard mower can’t handle. The equipment is completely different.
A bush hog uses a heavy-duty rotary cutter mounted on a tractor. It’s built to slice through thick growth, small trees, vines, and woody vegetation up to several inches in diameter. The cutting deck is reinforced, the blades are designed for impact, and the machine can handle rough, uneven terrain without bogging down.
Standard mowers can’t do that. They’re designed for grass that’s regularly maintained, not years of overgrowth or dense undergrowth. If your property hasn’t been touched in months or years, or if you’re dealing with anything more than basic grass, you need bush hogging—not a lawn service.
No. Bush hogging is a non-invasive process that cuts vegetation at ground level without disturbing the topsoil underneath. The rotary cutter mulches the vegetation as it cuts, leaving behind organic material that decomposes and adds nutrients back into the soil. It’s actually better for soil health than other clearing methods.
Unlike grading or bulldozing, bush hogging doesn’t strip away topsoil or compact the ground. Your land stays level and stable. The mulched vegetation acts as a natural ground cover that helps prevent erosion, retain moisture, and improve soil quality over time.
The only time you might see minor surface disturbance is on very wet or soft ground, but experienced operators know how to minimize that. We assess your property’s conditions before starting and adjust our approach to protect the land while still getting the job done.
Most property owners in the Northern Neck bush hog once or twice a year. Once in late spring or early summer to knock down the initial growth, and once in late summer or early fall to manage regrowth before winter. That schedule keeps vegetation under control and reduces fire risk during dry months.
If your property is prone to fast regrowth—especially near water or in areas with rich soil—you might need three cuts per year. Agricultural land used for grazing or crops may require more frequent maintenance depending on how the land is used.
For properties that have been neglected for years, you’ll need an initial heavy clearing, then move to a regular maintenance schedule. Once the land is under control, keeping it maintained is much easier and less expensive. We can assess your property and recommend a schedule that makes sense based on your goals and the type of vegetation you’re dealing with.
Yes. Experienced operators can maneuver around trees, fence lines, utility poles, and other obstacles without damaging them. We slow down near sensitive areas and adjust our cutting path to avoid impact. That said, bush hogging is designed for open areas—not tight spaces or intricate landscaping.
If you have a lot of obstacles or a property with complex features, we’ll walk the site first and discuss what’s realistic. In some cases, a combination of bush hogging for open areas and manual trimming or brush cutting for tight spots makes the most sense.
We’re not going to promise we can navigate every inch of a heavily wooded or obstacle-dense property with a tractor. But for most residential, agricultural, and commercial properties in Weems and the Northern Neck, we can clear the land efficiently while protecting the features you want to keep. Just let us know what’s important to you during the initial consultation.
It depends on the size of the area and what you’re planning to do with the land afterward. In Virginia, land disturbance of one acre or more typically requires a permit, especially if the clearing is related to construction or development. If you’re just maintaining an existing field or pasture, permits usually aren’t required.
Local regulations in Lancaster County and surrounding Northern Neck areas can vary, so it’s worth checking with your county’s planning or zoning office before starting large-scale clearing. If you’re near wetlands, streams, or protected areas, additional restrictions may apply.
We’re familiar with local land management regulations and can help you understand what’s required for your specific property. If permits are needed, we can guide you through the process or recommend who to contact. We’re licensed and insured, so you’re covered from a liability standpoint regardless of the job size.