Weather and Your Central Texas Land Clearing Project

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By: SEO Dogs

Weather will slow down any clearing project. And it can happen at any point during a project in Central Texas. If you are clearing land in the Hill Country, you will run into a dry hardpan that will break your teeth in July. You will also have flooding in August that makes creek crossings impassable and freezes that will freeze the ground in February.

There are many things that go into dealing with weather on your land clearing project. Knowing what weather you can continue through and what you can't will allow your project to lose minimal time to Central Texas’ difficult weather patterns.

What Will Weather Do To Your Central Texas Project

Land clearing in Hill Country terrain is different from clearing in East Texas or the Gulf Coast region. The soil isn't deep clay that compacts and becomes unworkable in a sustained wet stretch. It's thin limestone-based ground that drains fast in most areas – and then fails completely in others. A rock shelf that's bone dry in June can sit under six inches of standing water after a single thunderstorm if drainage is poor, and it can dry out again within 48 hours.

That variability is the challenge. Equipment decisions that work on one side of a property may be wrong on the other side of the same property after rain. A forestry mulcher moving efficiently across a flat, open section can sink in a low spot near a creek crossing that wasn't wet when the crew arrived. Experienced operators learn to read the ground before they commit machinery to it, particularly in the weather-sensitive stretches of a project.

Another thing to consider when clearing land in Central Texas is the heat. During the months of June through September, we will see high temps that can cause your equipment to overheat just as much as your cattle. Most land clearing companies will clear early in the morning to get their hours in before it gets too hot outside.

Burn Bans

When it comes to clearing your land in central Texas, you will most likely have to burn some of your debris. Depending on the size of your property and the amount of debris, you may be able to burn it all on site.

There are times when the county will put out burn bans. When a burn ban is in effect, you are unable to burn your debris on site. If this happens during your project, you have two choices: Wait for the burn ban to lift or clear your land by mulching everything.

If you have a lot of debris that needs burning, waiting for a burn ban to lift can take days to weeks. It's best to have your project cleared by mulching your debris.

Wet Ground

When it rains in Central Texas, you're going to have to deal with wet ground. Some areas will dry quicker than others on your property. Knowing where those areas are will help you get your project finished on time.

You don't want to be using your equipment on saturated ground. It can damage your property by compacting the soil. This will cause your grass to grow back slower and leave you with ruts that will have to be filled in.

A good clearing company will know where on your property it can get wet and work around those areas. By doing this, your project will finish quicker, and you will save money by not having to fix the damage your equipment caused.

Planning ahead in land clearing is critical for Central Texas property owners. You don’t want to be stuck in a flash flood in the middle of a project.

Always know the access to your property and any obstacles, like a rushing creek that could make safe access difficult.

At Cactus Creek Land Clearing, we help our clients survey their land and create a clearing plan that ensures safe and efficient access. We don’t let the weather dictate how well we get the job done.

What Can You Do As The Land Owner

Make sure you let your clearing company know what areas on your property flood. If you know certain roads on your property wash out, let them know. The more information you can provide your clearing company, the better they can get your project done.

Also, keep the temperature in mind. If you're clearing during the summer months, try to allow your clearing company to come out earlier. The hotter it gets, the less they will be able to safely work on your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will weather delay my project?

A: Weather can delay your project anywhere from a day to a few weeks. Central Texas soil tends to dry up quickly. So you shouldn't have to wait long for your project to continue. If you're clearing during the winter, you may have to wait a bit longer due to rain and snow. The best time to clear your land in Central Texas is in the fall.

Q: Will I be charged for weather?

A: This depends on the company you hire. Most clearing companies will not charge you for weather. If your project is long enough that you will be paying a daily rate, they may charge you. Be sure to ask your clearing company what their policy is when it comes to weather.

Q: When is the best time to clear land in Central Texas?

A: Fall is the best time to clear land in Central Texas. The ground will be dry andyou'rer able to clear without any issues. Summer can be a good time to clear, but you will have to clear in the mornings. Spring is a good time to clear as well, but it can get rainy.

Clearing Your Land With Cactus Creek Land Clearing

When hiring a land clearing company to clear your property in Central Texas, make sure they know how to deal with weather. There are many factors that can affect your project when it comes to weather. Make sure you know what you're getting into before you hire a company to clear your land. Cactus Creek Land Clearing is yourone-stopp shop for all your land clearing needs in Central Texas. Give us a call today or fill out our contact form to get your free estimate.

Brent Ebeling

Parks and his crew were very professional and communicative. We had a ton of rain this spring that kept delaying everything outside, but Parks spoke with me weekly updating me. Once here the work went beyond what I was expecting, they did areas that I did not expect and were right in line with what he quoted. I will have them back

John Rafferty

We’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Cactus Creek Land Clearing on multiple projects, and they’ve been consistently top-notch every time. Their crew is professional, efficient, and knows exactly how to handle land clearing the right way. What really stands out is the quality of their work and the results they deliver. Every job we’ve been on together, their customers have been extremely happy, and it shows in how clean and well-prepared the properties are when they’re done. They’re easy to coordinate with, communicate well, and take pride in what they do—which makes a big difference when working on shared projects. If you’re in Kerrville or anywhere in the surrounding Hill Country and need land clearing, cedar removal, or property prep done right, I highly recommend Cactus Creek Land Clearing. We look forward to continuing to work with them on future jobs.

Susan Brown

This company did a fantastic job building our road back after the July 4th flood. If you need road work done this is the company to use. They are very honest and professional. Thank you Parks.

Jeff Anderson

We contracted Cactus Creek Land Clearing to remove cedar on roughly 65 acres of property in Medina, TX in March 2024. They came on time and on budget. More importantly, they literally transformed our property - exposing land formations and terrain features that were invisible when we purchased it. The raving comments we've received from other landowners and neighbors who have known this property for 50+ years is testament enough. Parks and his team were fantastic to work with - Professional, Polite, and Focused on bringing cedar covered property alive. Absolutely love ours and intend to do more in the next years.

Katy Chapman-Hanna

Phenomenal work. Cactus Creek has the equipment AND the staff/workers to get the job done! We were very impressed by their professionalism and commendable work ethic - will definitely be hiring them again for future projects!

Dave Latch

This was my second time having Cactus Creek come out and do some Cedar Clearing. They have a great team, their communication was excellent and the property looks like a new place. I will certainly be calling them the next time!

Eileen Naski

Couldn’t be happier with process and product. From the pre bid walk, to the A+ operator. Would highly recommend and will be using Cactus Creek services again.

Chris Rotge

Parks are crew are honest and reliable have made a great working relationship

John Davis

Let me begin by saying that we are very happy with the job Cactus Creek performed for us. We had 52 acres of mesquite to clear and they took care of everything they said they would. Parks bid the job and although it took them a bit longer than they originally accounted for in the bid contract due to unforeseen circumstances Jesse kept plugging away until it was finished for the original amount bid. Their hourly machine rates are competitive with others we solicited for bids. We are extremely happy with the results. Their work ethic and professionalism are top notch. I would not hesitate to use them again.