Rhododendrons quickly spread and become invasive if not properly managed, undermining many woodlands, private estates and peatland sites. If you’re seeking professional and effective rhododendron clearance once and for all, you’re going to want to choose a trusted company that has industry-leading equipment and highly qualified and experienced operatives to complete the job safely and effectively.
In this blog, we’ll cover the three key types of machinery used for rhododendron clearance including:
- LGP (Low Ground Pressure) excavators
- Cutting heads
- Tracked carriers
Let’s take a look at the machinery in further detail and outline the key advantages…
LGP (Low Ground Pressure) excavators
Low ground pressure excavators (LGP) are light weight and have greatly reduced ground pressure due to purpose-built undercarriages. They are designed to travel over soft and delicate terrain as well as reducing damage caused to existing flora. These machines are ideal for rhododendron clearance in areas such as peatland based sites, wetlands and woodlands where maintaining the integrity of the site is paramount.
Key advantages include:
Minimal soil disturbance: LGP excavators have the ability to operate with minimal impact on the ground. Due to the wide tracks, this allows for the distribution of the machine’s weight over a large surface area, therefore reducing soil compaction. Where preserving soil structure is paramount, LGP excavators are a must for rhododendron clearance.
Precision Removal: LGP excavators are equipped with advanced cutting equipment allowing for the precise removal of rhododendron and other vegetation to be cleared. Excavators allow the operator to obliterate rhododendrons entirely, smashing the woody stems to virtually nothing leaving a clean and tidy site on completion.
Versatility: These types of machines can be fitted with a number of different attachments for versatility. This allows the operator and the team at hand to handle the various different aspects of the rhododendron clearance process with ease. This particular benefit and features make LGP excavators a valuable asset for large-scale rhododendron clearance projects.
Cutting Heads
Over the last 12 years Treeclear UK has designed and developed a unique disc style cutting head to efficiently tackle heavy woody vegetation and rhododendron. These high output mulching heads are extremely fast – enabling operators to clear large areas of heavy vegetation much more efficiently and efficiently than other types of mulching head.
Key advantages include:
Efficient cutting: With disc mulching heads we guarantee an efficient cutting system to tackle the most awkward of vegetation. Our disc mulching heads will effortlessly cut through even the thickest of rhododendrons and vegetation. Using a rotating blade with teeth mounted around the outer edge and underneath they will cut fine branches as well as heavy stems, leaving a clean and tidy finish on your site or in your woodland.
Clearance of large areas: Clearance of large areas is an easy process with our specifically designed mulching heads, especially when compared to traditional types of mulching heads. Disc mulching heads are particularly beneficial for large-scale clearance projects, such as those required in conservation areas, large estates and woodland overgrown with rhododendron.
Controlled clearance: If you require selective clearing as an integral part or rhododendron clearance, our mulching heads are the perfect. A key example of where this may be essential is where you want to clear rhododendrons without harming other species in a specific area or creating wildlife habitats.
Tracked carriers
Tracked carriers are an extremely lightweight and powerful type machine adapted perfectly as a mulching unit for large scale rhododendron clearance . These purpose-built low ground pressure tracked machines can be fitted with either a twin disc mulching deck or 3m wide drum mulching head. Tracked mulchers are ideal for larger areas of rhododendron, regenerated birch, pine and Molinia on sensitive sites such as SSSi’s and mulching woody vegetation on various types of terrain.
Key advantages include:
Enhanced mobility: Tracked carriers are specifically built to handle varying terrains, including sensitive ground such as peat bogs, nature reserves and undulating terrain. and therefore, provide the enhanced mobility required for your project. Tracked carriers also provide excellent traction and stability, allowing them to navigate areas that would be inaccessible to other vehicles.
Unrivalled power:
Both our specialist track carriers boast 430Hp our dedicated mulcher comes in at just under 10 tonnes including mulching unit. With 1 meter wide tracks the ground pressure is reduced to 1.2PSI making it the most powerful light weight mulcher in the UK.
Integration with other Equipment: Low ground pressure tracked mulchers are often used in conjunction on site with LGP excavators’ equipment with disc mulching cutting heads. This formidable combination allows us to tackle both the larger areas of rhododendron and the more awkward areas around the perimeter or on the peat face.
