Coverage & scheduling
Do you work in my county?
We serve southeastern and central Michigan and northern Ohio. If you're outside that area, send us your address anyway — we'll either confirm we can get to you or be honest that we can't.
How far in advance should I book?
For routine projects, two to four weeks is typical. Spring and fall fill up faster — booking 4 to 6 weeks ahead is a good idea in those seasons. Larger projects (multi-day or multi-acre) get scheduled further out.
How long does a typical job take?
Most quarter-acre to one-acre clears finish in a single day. Trail clearing depends on length and terrain — a quarter mile of moderate woods is usually a half-day. We'll give you a realistic time window with the written quote so you can plan around it.
Do I need to be home during the work?
No. As long as we've walked the property together once, you don't need to be on site while we run the equipment. Some customers prefer to be there for the walkthrough at the end — we're happy either way.
The work itself
Is mulching better than hauling?
Often yes for brush and smaller trees: less truck traffic, less soil compaction, and the organic matter stays on site to break down. There are jobs where hauling makes more sense — large diameter trees, tight access, or when a customer specifically wants the ground bare. We'll tell you which approach fits your property.
What size projects do you handle?
From a quarter-acre lot up through multi-acre clearings. Trails from a few hundred feet up to a mile are routine. For very large or very small jobs, contact us — we'll either book it directly or refer you to someone better suited.
What about stumps?
Forestry mulching grinds standing brush and small trees flush with the ground, leaving the root crown in place. For full stump removal of larger trees, we coordinate with stump grinding or excavation as a separate scope so you get the right equipment for that step.
What happens to the cleared material?
For mulching jobs, the brush and small trees become a mulch layer on the ground that breaks down naturally. For brush hogging, the cut material is left in place to decompose. If you'd prefer hauling, we can quote that separately or partner with a hauler.
Can you work in wet or muddy conditions?
Sometimes. Our tracked equipment handles soft ground better than wheeled machines, but there's still a point where running heavy equipment will tear up your property. If conditions aren't right, we'll reschedule — protecting your soil is part of doing the job correctly.
Can I keep specific trees?
Yes. Walk the property with us and mark anything you want preserved with flagging tape, paint, or anything obvious. We'll work around marked trees and confirm with you before taking down anything that's borderline.
Pricing & quotes
How do I get a quote?
Easiest path: use the instant pricing calculator for a ballpark, then fill out the request form with your project details. We'll respond within 24 hours and schedule an on-site visit before pricing in writing.
Is the calculator the actual price?
No — it's an honest ballpark range based on the inputs you give it. The firm price comes after we've seen the property, because access, debris volume, soil conditions, and any extras can move the number. Most jobs land inside the calculator's range, but we always confirm in writing before any work begins.
Do you charge for a site visit?
Standard site visits within our service area are free. If you're at the edge of our service area, we may ask for a small drive-out fee that we'll roll into the project price if you book the work.
Will I be billed more than the agreed price?
No, the number on the agreement is the number you pay, plain and simple.
What payment methods do you accept?
Check, ACH transfer, and most major credit cards. For larger projects we typically take a deposit when the work is scheduled and the balance once the walkthrough is done. Net terms can be set up for repeat commercial customers.
Insurance, safety & trust
Are you insured?
Yes. Silver Star Land Clearing is fully insured for all operations and projects.
Are you really veteran-owned?
Yes. The owner spent ten years in U.S. Army Special Forces. The company name is a deliberate aim at the standard the Silver Star represents. The full story is on the About page.
What about underground utilities?
For any work involving digging or stump removal we call 811 before starting. Pure forestry mulching of standing brush typically doesn't require it, but if there's any doubt, we err toward calling it in. Mark any private lines (irrigation, well, septic, electric to outbuildings) for us before we arrive.
Do you take before / after photos?
Yes. We document the work with photos at no extra charge — useful for your records, insurance, or future reference. Just let us know if you'd prefer we don't.
Still have a question?
If we missed yours, drop it in the contact form and we'll get back to you within 24 hours. We'd rather answer a real question over the phone than leave you guessing.