Mechanical Vegetation Treatment

Mechanical removal of undesired vegetation can be completed with the use of a rubber tract skid steer machine equipped with masticating head or IRM crews utilizing chainsaws or mechanical implements to remove weeds. Restoration crews range in size from 2 to 20 individuals, and often utilize multiple tools between the crew.  As described below, each of these techniques has their particular advantages.

Services:

  • Mastication:  Ideal for dense, large, relatively gentle sloped areas with little understory vegetation (e.g. blackberry and Scot’s broom thickets).
  • Chainsaw Removal:  Ideal for woody invasives (e.g. blackberry and Scot’s broom thickets), that are on steep slopes or scattered across the landscape.
  • Weed Eater: “Weed wackers”  can be effective for reaching smaller patches of invasives in areas where the Lightfoot cannot access.
  • Metal Blade Weed Removal Ideal for smaller-stemmed invasives that are less dense and ensures that treated stems are close to the ground.

Please contact Habitat Restoration Coordinator Matt Mellenthin or 541 929-3408. Visit our Projects: Terrestrial Habitat Restoration page for examples of Mechanical Vegetation Treatment Projects completed by IRM.