Land Services
Site Preparation & Land Services Contractor in Tomball
Land Clearing in Tomball
Erase your land problems
Woodlands Land Services provides complete site preparation for Tomball and Montgomery County. Land clearing with dozers, excavators, and forestry mulchers handles half-acre to 20-acre properties. Grading includes laser-guided finish grading to quarter-inch tolerances, rough grading, and pad compaction with testing. Excavating covers foundations, utility trenching, retention ponds meeting regulations, and septic systems. We handle demolition, drainage, and storm cleanup. Owner-operated since 2005.
Land Clearing
Remove timber, brush, & undergrowth from lots & acreage. Our dozers handle sites from half-acre Tomball parcels to 20-acre Magnolia tracts. We clear for new construction, pasture development, & commercial projects, leaving workable ground ready for your next development phase.
Brush Clearing
Cut through overgrown vegetation, shrubs, and small trees choking your property. Heavy mulchers and excavators restore access to fence lines, trails, and unused acreage. Perfect for Houston-area properties left unmanaged after wet seasons – we clear overgrowth and restore full usability.
Hydro-Ax Mulching
Heavy-duty mulching for thick brush and trees up to 12 inches. The Hydro-Ax attachment grinds dense vegetation faster than standard mulchers. We use this for overgrown Magnolia ranchland, abandoned homesites, pipeline right-of-way maintenance, and heavy brush removal across Montgomery County.
Tree Removal
Fell, section, and extract problem trees threatening structures or blocking construction sites. We handle any size using excavators and rigging. Tomball’s clay soil creates shallow roots making trees unstable – we’ve removed hundreds of storm-damaged oaks and pines since Harvey flooded the area.
Bush Hogging
Rotary mow overgrown fields, pastures, and large residential lots. Our tractor-mounted bush hog cuts through waist-high grass, weeds, and brush up to 2 inches thick. We maintain firebreaks, clear fence lines, and control vegetation on acreage properties from Hockley to Waller area.
Root Raking
Clean surface roots, stumps, and debris after initial clearing. Our root rake collects material dozers miss, creating smooth ground for grading or seeding. Prevents voids that cause settling in Houston’s clay – critical step before pad construction starts to avoid foundation problems.
Yard Leveling
Fix uneven residential yards causing drainage or usability problems. We remove high spots, fill depressions, and set gentle slope from foundations. Common solution for Cypress and Spring homes built on poorly graded lots where water pools after every thunderstorm, creating foundation risks.
Finish Grading
Final precision work to exact elevations and slopes. We smooth surfaces to quarter-inch tolerances for concrete, pavers, or landscaping. Uses smaller equipment than rough grading – critical for driveways, patios, and areas adjacent to finished structures where precision matters for water runoff.
Dirt Work
Cut, fill, haul, and place soil to reshape property topography. We handle everything from small backyard fixes to large-scale land shaping for Woodlands custom homes. General earthmoving for site development, landscaping projects, and drainage correction across Montgomery and Harris counties.
Site Preparation
Clear through final grade, ready for construction. We handle tree removal, demolition, utility marking, erosion control, and stormwater management. Builders rely on us to deliver sites meeting engineering plans and permit requirements throughout Tomball – from clearing through grade certification.
House Pad Construction
Create residential foundation platforms to engineer specifications and requirements. We build level, compacted pads elevated for proper drainage away from the structure. Includes perimeter grading, compaction testing, and elevation verification before builders schedule foundation contractors.
Foundation Excavation
Dig precisely for slab-on-grade and pier-and-beam foundations to specifications. We hit exact depths, maintain square corners, and preserve undisturbed bearing soil. Critical on Tomball lots with shallow clay – over-digging or poor compaction causes foundation movement and cracking years later.
Excavator Services
Dig and move materials with our hydraulic excavator. We handle foundations, trenches, ponds, and drainage needing depth control and tight access. The excavator’s reach and bucket options make it essential for utility work, demolition, and detailed grading around existing structures.
Bobcat Services
Compact equipment for residential projects where full-size machines can’t reach or would damage yards. Our Bobcat handles small demolition, landscaping prep, and grading in tight Creekside Park and Rosehill Reserve backyards. Fits through gates down to 4 feet – we access most residential areas.
Mini Excavator Services
Small excavator for residential trenching, landscaping, and pool excavation work. Operates in backyards without destroying grass or hardscape features. Perfect for french drains, utility repairs, small ponds, and foundation fixes where you need surgical precision instead of bulldozer force.
Gravel Driveway Installation
Build crushed stone drives for durability and drainage. We excavate, set base grade, install fabric, and place compacted gravel in lifts. Common on Hockley and Waller acreage where concrete costs too much for long drives – properly built gravel lasts decades with little maintenance.
Private Road Construction
Build access roads for communities, ranches, and developments from clearing to compaction. We clear right-of-way, set subgrade, install culverts, place aggregate base, and compact to specs. Handle everything from farm roads reaching back pastures to subdivision streets ready for asphalt contractors.
Pond Excavation
Dig custom ponds for recreation, livestock, irrigation, and stormwater management. We shape basins to engineered depths, create islands, set proper slopes, and test soil permeability. Conroe-area ponds fill naturally from high water tables while Tomball sites often need clay lining.
Septic System Excavation
Dig tank locations, drain field trenches, and mound systems for rural properties. We preserve soil structure, maintain trench walls, place gravel, and backfill to specifications. Critical on Magnolia and Montgomery acreage without municipal sewer – poor digging fails in clay soils.
Utility Trenching
Cut precise trenches for water, gas, electric, and fiber lines. We call 811 first, hand-expose utilities, maintain width and depth, and keep walls stable. Tomball’s heavy clay holds trench shape better than sand but requires protection systems beyond 5 feet deep per OSHA regulations.
Emergency Land Clearing
24-hour response for storm damage, fallen trees, and blocked access. We clear roads, driveways, and structures after hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms. Equipment stays ready during hurricane season – we handled over 60 emergency calls after Hurricane Beryl hit in 2024.
Did you know?
Houston-area clay soil expands up to 10% when wet and shrinks when dry, causing more foundation damage than earthquakes and floods combined in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Land Clearing and Site Prep in Tomball
You ask. We answer.
We’re always happy to answer your questions.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us.
What’s included in site preparation?
Site prep includes land clearing, brush removal, grading the building pad, and installing drainage. We remove trees and vegetation, haul away debris, level the area where your house will sit, and make sure water drains away from the foundation. You end up with a clean, level, properly graded lot ready for construction.
How much does land clearing cost in Tomball TX?
Land clearing typically costs $1,500-$5,000 per acre depending on how thick the vegetation is. A lightly wooded lot might run $2,000 per acre, while heavy pine and hardwood forest with underbrush can hit $4,000-$5,000 per acre. We provide free estimates based on your specific property.
What’s the difference between land clearing and forestry mulching?
Land clearing cuts down trees, hauls them off, and leaves bare dirt. Forestry mulching grinds everything in place, leaving a layer of mulch that prevents erosion and enriches the soil. Mulching costs more per acre but eliminates debris hauling and burning permits.
Do I need permits for land clearing in Tomball?
Most residential land clearing in unincorporated areas doesn’t require permits, but if you’re in city limits or a master-planned community, you might need approval. HOAs often have rules about tree removal. We can guide you, but you’ll need to check with your HOA or city.
Can you clear land without destroying the topsoil?
Yes, that’s where experience matters. We use the right equipment for the job – a skid steer for selective clearing, a dozer for full clearing, or a forestry mulcher to preserve topsoil. Tomball’s clay soil is difficult enough without compacting it unnecessarily.
How long does it take to clear a residential lot?
A typical half-acre to one-acre residential lot takes 1-3 days depending on vegetation density. Light brush might clear in one day. Heavy forest with large trees and root raking could take 3-4 days.
What do you do with the debris after clearing?
We haul it off-site to a landfill or recycling facility. If you want to keep some timber or firewood, let us know before we start. We can pile it where you want it instead of hauling it away.
Do you offer emergency land clearing after storms?
Yes. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024, we helped dozens of Tomball property owners clear storm damage. If a tree comes down or debris blocks your driveway, we respond quickly.
Can you grade a property that’s already been partially cleared?
Absolutely. We often finish jobs that homeowners started themselves or fix grading problems from previous contractors. We’ll assess what’s already done and grade it properly for drainage.
What’s the difference between rough grading and finish grading?
Rough grading creates the overall shape and slope of your lot – where the house pad sits, how water drains. Finish grading is the final smooth surface before landscaping or concrete. Most builders need both for new construction.
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Nothing Like Other Contractors
Woodlands Land Services has cleared, graded, & shaped Tomball properties for 21 years. Owner Keven Ardoin operates the equipment on every job.
Because it ain’t gonna dig itself.
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