Autumn Olive Brush Clearing and Burn in Leelanau

Autumn olive is one of the most aggressive invasive shrubs in northern Michigan. Left alone, it takes over fields, fence lines, and hillsides fast - crowding out native plants and making land nearly impossible to manage. That's exactly what we were dealing with on this Leelanau property.

The approach here wasn't just cut and move on. We used a combination of mechanical clearing and a controlled burn to actually get ahead of it. First, we got the overgrowth cleared out and the brush piled up. Then we burned it - not just for cleanup, but to expose the root systems so they could be properly treated. Skipping that step means the shrubs come right back, which defeats the whole purpose.

This is where the process really matters. Autumn olive spreads through seeds and re-sprouts aggressively from the roots if you don't address them. By combining brush clearing with a targeted burn, we're setting the property up for real, lasting results - not just a temporary fix that grows back in two seasons.

From the aerial view, you can see how much ground was covered - multiple burn piles working across the hillside, with the CAT mini excavator managing the piles throughout the process. It's methodical work. Every pile is placed and managed with intention to keep the burn controlled and effective across the whole site.

If you've got autumn olive or other invasive brush taking over your property, this kind of site prep is the foundation for getting it under control. We handle everything from the initial brush clearing through the burn - so your land actually has a chance to recover.