You bought the lot in Riverview or out toward Lithia. The survey stakes are in. Between you and the house pad is a wall of palmettos, pines, and Brazilian pepper. StormGuard Trees clears land across Tampa and Hillsborough County for new homes, additions, pools, fences, and acreage. We bring the right machine for the ground.
What land clearing includes
- Removal of trees, brush, vines, and saw palmetto
- Forestry mulching for brush and small trees, with the chips left as ground cover
- Excavator removal of stumps and root balls on build sites
- Selective clearing that keeps the oaks and pines you want
- Hauling of logs and debris, or chipping on site
- Rough grading so the site is level and drains
- Help with the tree survey and permits the city or county requires
Two ways to clear a lot
Forestry mulching is the fast, clean option for brush, palmettos, and trees up to about 8 inches. A tracked machine with a spinning drum grinds everything into mulch in place. Nothing gets hauled, there are no burn piles, and the mulch layer keeps the sand from blowing and washing. It’s ideal for fence lines, trails, pasture, and the parts of a lot you’re not building on.
Conventional clearing uses an excavator and a skid steer to cut, push, and pull. This is what a house pad or a pool needs, because the stumps and roots come out of the ground instead of staying in it. We use both, often on the same job.
Selective clearing
Most people don’t want a bare lot. They want the palmettos and the pepper trees gone and the big live oaks and the tall pines left standing. We flag the keepers with you before we start, clear around them by hand where the machines can’t go, and protect their roots from the equipment. A lot with mature shade is worth more than a lot without it.
Problems we fix
| Problem | Our fix |
|---|---|
| New home site buried in palmettos and pines | Full clearing with stump and root removal, then rough grading for the builder |
| Back acre gone wild with Brazilian pepper | Forestry mulching in a day, with the invasive pepper removed at the roots |
| Fence line you can’t even walk | Mulched strip along the property line, ready for the fence crew |
| Pool going in where three oaks stand | Permit check, then removal, stump pulling, and root removal for the pool contractor |
| Overgrown lot the county sent a notice about | Cleared and mulched so the notice goes away |
Protected trees and clearing permits
The City of Tampa regulates removal of most trees 5 inches or larger at chest height. Hillsborough County requires a permit for most yard trees 12 inches or larger. Grand oaks have stricter rules in both. A new build usually needs a tree survey showing what stays and what goes, and mitigation trees are often required. Invasive species like Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, and melaleuca can be removed without a permit. We’ve worked through this process many times and can point you to the right forms or handle the tree side of it with your builder.
Wetlands and drainage
A lot of Hillsborough County land is low and wet, and wetlands have their own rules. If your lot has standing water, cypress, or a drainage easement, tell us early. We’ll keep the clearing where it’s allowed and make sure the grading moves water away from the house pad.
Why choose StormGuard Trees for land clearing
We bring the mulcher and the excavator, we know which trees need a permit, and we leave the site the way the builder wants it. Every job is quoted in writing after we walk the property with you.
Serving Tampa and nearby areas
Land and lot clearing across Tampa, Riverview, Lithia, Plant City, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Thonotosassa, and the rest of Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Call (813) 498-3737 for a free site visit.
