What Is Hydro-Axing Anyway?
To give the simplest definition, hydro-axing is a method of tree removal. Specifically, hydro-axing is perfect for when you have a lot of trees to clear out, such as for a fence line, a walking trail or even just to thin out a patch of trees that have grown too unruly and dense.
But if you’re picturing tree removal with a chainsaw, think again. Hydro-axing is like nothing you’ve ever seen and is almost beyond description. But we’ll give it a shot.
Like a Giant Shredder
Imagine a giant shredder attached to a tractor and you have a hydro-ax. The blades can be lifted up to the top of smaller trees and brought slowly down, annihilating the entire tree as it goes and leaving nothing but wood chips behind. It’s like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons, where Bugs would instantly chomp at a carrot and it was gone in a flash. The tree is the carrot. The hydro-ax is Bugs. Bet you didn’t think a tree could disappear before your eyes, but it absolutely does with the hydro-ax. Needless to say, it’s quite the spectacle.
Larger trees can be tackled with the hydro-ax from the side. The blades chop through the trunk until the top of the tree falls over, and then the hydro-ax is slowly pushed over the remains like a bulldozer combined with a lawn mower. It’s the kind of tool that won’t be found in the average person’s shed, so to take advantage of its awesome power, you’re going to have to call the pros.
Removing Water-Guzzling Cedar Trees in Texas
Cedar trees are the bane of Texas land holders, soaking up tons of water and leaving very little for other trees. Cedars are quick to spread, release significant amount of allergy-inducing pollen in the spring and prove unappealing to cattle. Their overall invasive and unhelpful nature means that many in Texas want to get rid of them.
Hydro-axing is the perfect solution for this kind of scenario. The hydro-ax has the ability to remove groups of cedars quickly, but it is also precise enough to leave desirable trees untouched. Better yet, the hydro-ax finally makes use of cedars by instantly turning them into coarse mulch that aids the other trees. The mulch suppresses weeds, keeps the soil cool and moist and releases some nutrients back into the soil as it slowly decomposes.
So if you’re struggling to keep cedars or other plants from overwhelming your pastures and turning native grasslands into invasive woody tangles, you need to call in a hydro-axing crew. It is the absolute best way to clear out a large number of trees in a short amount of time, and cuts down on overall maintenance as there’s no hauling or shredder to do once the tree is down. It’s all done in one fell swoop, as it were.
Blazing Trails and Clearing Fence Lines
Another useful application for hydro-axing is to cut trails for walking, riding or biking. The machine chops not only trees, but any kind of vegetation, meaning that a trail can be cleared within minutes. In fact, the trail even gets a nice soft layer of mulch, making it look clean and official and ready for action immediately.
By the same virtue that keeps the hydro-ax plowing forward to cut ample paths through fields or forests, the hydro-ax also can clear the way for a new fence line. No need to fight through snarls of undergrowth to bring post-hole digging equipment and rolls of wire fence in. The hydro-ax can clear as much space as you need to maneuver comfortably and get the job done.
Great All-in-One Tool
The bottom line is that the hydro-ax is a very powerful tool that does several jobs at once: chops trees, mows down brush and converts everything it touches into instant mulch. Whether for land clearing or land restoration purposes, if you have a large, wild space that needs to be tamed, calling in a hydro-ax team is the most efficient way to get things done.