07-07-2007, 10:16 AM
Personally, I don't recommend heavy equipment if you don't really know what's out there, plus you may find some treasures and good native plants to build on. In our case, with 5 acres, we cleared just enough for the home and greenhouse, parking, watertank, and such, and the rest is getting dealt with in a more hands-on manner.
If it's only a half-acre area, pick a starting place with the weed whacker and chain saw, and start in. We purchased a chipper from Home Depot, and have been working at extensive stock beds for plants in that manner.... go in with chain say and cut down invasive types (guava, Waivi, paperbark, etc..) Chip it up, and detail the walking paths with closer work. Build your beds using the rock -- you can pile the small stuff up to make decent beds if you work it, and it'll look great! Even large walls can be made out of small stones with care.
Fill beds with a combo of cinder and/or cindersoil. Use your chipped up rubbish as mulch and plant away happily. If you can wait to fill the beds, the idea of a bobcat size thing to move the stuff into them is good, but that means doing it a load at a time or having bob-cat size paths, or being willing to do the wheelbarrow thing.
On the other hand, if you haven't bought, consider looking for a lot that has better access and letting that one go. Poor planning on house placement will haunt you no matter what.
My $.02 worth...
Jane
If it's only a half-acre area, pick a starting place with the weed whacker and chain saw, and start in. We purchased a chipper from Home Depot, and have been working at extensive stock beds for plants in that manner.... go in with chain say and cut down invasive types (guava, Waivi, paperbark, etc..) Chip it up, and detail the walking paths with closer work. Build your beds using the rock -- you can pile the small stuff up to make decent beds if you work it, and it'll look great! Even large walls can be made out of small stones with care.
Fill beds with a combo of cinder and/or cindersoil. Use your chipped up rubbish as mulch and plant away happily. If you can wait to fill the beds, the idea of a bobcat size thing to move the stuff into them is good, but that means doing it a load at a time or having bob-cat size paths, or being willing to do the wheelbarrow thing.
On the other hand, if you haven't bought, consider looking for a lot that has better access and letting that one go. Poor planning on house placement will haunt you no matter what.
My $.02 worth...
Jane