Use Case — Land Clearing

Land Clearing Attachments for Skid Steers

Clearing brush, trees, stumps, and slash from raw land. The right attachment depends on what you're clearing, how big it is, and what you want left behind.

Land clearing is rarely a single-attachment job. Most clearing projects need at least two tools: something to cut and process vegetation, and something to move or sort the debris. A mulcher handles brush and small trees and leaves nothing to haul away. A grapple is what you use when you need to grab, stack, or load slash. Stumps require a dedicated stump grinder. Heavy brush and pasture requires a rotary cutter.

What Are You Clearing?

⚠ Hydraulic Flow Note Mulchers (drum and disc) and stump grinders are high-flow attachments — they typically require 28–40 GPM. Verify your machine's hydraulic output before purchasing. Standard-flow machines (15–22 GPM) can run rotary cutters and grapples, but not mulchers. See hydraulic flow guide →

Drum & Disc Mulchers

Best for: brush, small trees, leaving nothing to haul

A mulcher shreds trees and brush into chips and spreads them on the ground — no piling, no hauling, no burning. Drum mulchers (spinning cylinder with carbide teeth) are more common for forestry work and handle uneven terrain better. Disc mulchers are faster on open land. Both require high-flow hydraulics. Expect to pay $15,000–$40,000+ for a quality unit.

Read: Mulcher Attachments Guide → Browse Mulchers →

Root Grapples

Best for: grabbing, sorting, stacking slash and debris

A root grapple (open-bottom grapple with tines) lets you grab logs, brush piles, and slash while dirt falls through the tines. Essential for loading debris onto trailers, building brush piles for burning, or sorting cleared material. One of the most useful all-around attachments for land clearing and farm work. Standard-flow compatible.

Browse Grapples →

Stump Grinders

Best for: grinding stumps below grade after tree removal

A stump grinder attachment mounts to the front plate and uses a spinning carbide-toothed wheel to grind stumps 6–12" below grade. Much faster than digging stumps out with a bucket. After grinding, the cavity fills with chips you can grade over and seed. High-flow typically required. Best for properties where you want a clean, finished result.

Read: Stump Grinder Attachments → Browse Stump Grinders →

Rotary Cutters

Best for: brush, tall grass, light scrub, pasture reclamation

A rotary cutter (brush hog) uses heavy rotating blades to cut brush, tall grass, and light woody material up to about 3–4" diameter. Significantly cheaper than a mulcher and standard-flow on smaller models, though high-flow improves performance. Best for reclaiming overgrown pasture or cutting back scrub — it cuts but doesn't grind, so debris remains on the surface.

Browse Rotary Cutters →

Dozer Blades

Best for: pushing debris, windrow piles, rough grading after clearing

After mulching or cutting, you often need to push debris into piles or rough-grade the site. A straight dozer blade or angling 6-way blade works for this. Also useful for pushing root balls and stumps once a grapple has loosened them. Standard-flow, relatively inexpensive, and extremely versatile for the final cleanup phase.

Browse Dozer Blades →

Rock/Skeleton Buckets

Best for: separating rock and debris from soil after clearing

On rocky Canadian Shield land or boulder-filled ground, a skeleton (rock) bucket lets you scoop and shake soil back through the tines while retaining rocks and roots. Useful when you want to pile rocks separately for a rock wall, or when clearing land that's too rocky for grading. Pairs well with a grapple on a two-attachment job.

Read: Skeleton Bucket Guide →

Guides & Articles

Land Clearing Attachments for Skid Steers Overview of clearing tools with a focus on Canadian conditions
Using a Skid Steer for Land Clearing Machine selection, attachment combinations, and workflow for clearing projects
Mulcher Attachments for Skid Steers Drum vs disc mulchers, hydraulic requirements, brand comparison
Drum Mulcher vs Disc Mulcher When each type makes sense — forestry work vs open land clearing
Grapple Attachments for Skid Steers Root grapple, bucket grapple, and clamshell — which type for which job
Using a Skid Steer for Tree Removal Felling, processing, and stump removal workflow
Hydraulic Flow Guide Required reading before buying a mulcher or stump grinder — GPM requirements
Land Clearing Attachments: What Order to Use Them Practical sequencing guide — which tool runs first and why it matters
How to Match Attachment Weight to Your Skid Steer's ROC Mulchers and stump grinders are heavy — make sure your machine can handle them
Quick Attach Systems: What You Need to Know Before Buying Switching between a mulcher and grapple mid-job requires the right coupler setup
Renting vs Buying a Skid Steer Attachment Mulchers are expensive — this guide helps you decide when to rent vs own
How to Winterize Your Skid Steer Attachments Protect your mulcher and grinder teeth through the off-season

Other Use Cases