Mulchers in the Winter

6 ways equipment rentals can keep mulchers moving, the debris flying, and revenue flowing in the frozen months.

Engineered for heavy-duty land clearing, the Drum Mulcher OD Pro X from Diamond Mowers delivers a fine mulch while maintaining optimal ground contact, ensuring a clean and professional finish after every job.
Engineered for heavy-duty land clearing, the Drum Mulcher OD Pro X from Diamond Mowers delivers a fine mulch while maintaining optimal ground contact, ensuring a clean and professional finish after every job.
Diamond Mowers

Should the winter projects slow to a crawl, contractors might be able to change tactics a bit and keep the jobs coming in and revenue streams consistent. With a different strategy and renting the right equipment, your pro customers can bring a tailored service and help grow their client base.

Here are a few avenues a rental store can consider to keep their mulchers attachments making money throughout the winter.

Winter Storm Cleanup

Winter storms can wreak havoc, leaving behind fallen limbs, tree trunks, and debris that obstruct roads and pathways. By offering prompt storm cleanup services, contractors can address urgent community needs while generating valuable revenue. Assisting property owners and municipalities in clearing hazardous obstructions not only restores safety but also reinforces their role as a reliable resource in times of crisis.

Severe winter weather can leave a trail of destruction and debris that clutters the landscape and creates significant issues for landowners. Quickly clearing this debris is essential for ensuring safety, supporting sustainability, and restoring the land’s functionality and appearance so landowners can get back to work.

With the right equipment, storm debris can be efficiently broken down and removed. For example, disc mulchers are engineered for use with skid steers and excavators that can cut through trees and brush up to 14-in. diameter and shred material up to 6-in. diameter. For skid steers, the mulchers come in open and depth control models and are designed to continuously mulch material up to a 9-in. diameter. Excavators with such attachments deliver powerful, versatile solutions for storm cleanups of all sizes.

Field Prep

Winter is ideal for agricultural operations to prepare fields for spring planting because clearing stumps, brush, and other vegetation during the off-season helps to lay the groundwork for a productive growing season. Farms and agricultural operations will be looking to maximize their spring yield, so having the assets they’ll need ahead of spring should allow these customers to start early and prepare for planting or construction.

A brush cutter is an excellent tool for efficiently cutting through thick grass, shrubs, branches, and small trees. This versatile, all-in-one attachment combines power and adaptability, making it ideal for reclaiming property, controlling overgrowth, and managing unwanted vegetation. For large-scale land clearing, look for small- to -mid-size skid steer mulchers with a motor that provides enough torque for performance and high productivity. A quick spool-up and greater force to help them tackle larger and denser material will help ease the job.

Vegetation Control for Wildlife Management & Trail Maintenance

The cold months present an ideal time for landowners to manage their properties for wildlife, whether preparing for hunting season or supporting conservation efforts. Controlling overgrown vegetation improves access for wildlife and helps sustain a healthy ecosystem.

For large brush and tree removal, a depth control drum mulcher is a highly effective tool. Designed to pull entire trees into its deck, this robust attachment is built to withstand heavy ground engagement, making it ideal for demanding land management tasks. Consider a drum mulcher with sharp planer teeth to deliver maximum productivity and to help create an aesthetically pleasing mulch on the first pass. An attachment for excavators should allow customers to process material up to a 12-in. diameter to assist in forestry management and land reclamation. A stump grinder is essential for clearing remaining trunks and roots once trees are removed.

Public parks, private lands, and recreational areas also require maintenance during the winter to keep trails and pathways safe and accessible for hikers, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. By providing these services, land management professionals equipped with the right tools can deliver significant value to park services and private landowners, creating an excellent off-season revenue stream.

Fire Mitigation Services

Fire mitigation doesn’t pause for winter. In wildfire-prone regions, the colder months provide an ideal opportunity to clear potential fire hazards, such as overgrown brush and dead trees, helping to reduce risks before the next fire season.

Thinning or removing these fuels creates open areas that act as barriers, reducing the spread and intensity of fires and making it harder for them to encroach on valuable land. Contractors can offer this essential service to landowners in fire-prone areas, such as rural regions or those susceptible to seasonal dry spells, as a proactive measure to protect homes, farmland, and other properties from the devastating effects of wildfires.

Mulching heads and brush cutters are excellent for managing thick, flammable vegetation, helping to reduce fire risks before dry conditions set in. Mulching this vegetation and even the burnt remnants of previous fires can help return valuable nutrients to the soil and foster a healthier ecosystem.

Infrastructure Protection

Protecting roads, utility lines, and other critical infrastructure from encroaching vegetation is a year-round priority. Winter provides a perfect window for this work as reduced foliage allows easier access to dense vegetation. Utility companies and municipalities often seek contractors equipped with brush cutters or mulchers for right-of-way maintenance to clear vegetation near power lines, roadways, and pipelines. These services not only improve roadway safety and drainage but also reduce erosion and mitigate infrastructure risks during harsh winter conditions.

Site Prep

Winter is an ideal time for site preparation, offering land clearing contractors a chance to assist developers in clearing land for upcoming construction projects. The season’s frozen, hardened ground is firmer, which prevents rutting, while reduced foliage improves visibility, making it easier to work and mulch efficiently. Additionally, the cold causes vegetation to harden, allowing it to shatter and process more easily during mulching.

While most construction shifts indoors during the winter, site preparation and development can continue because contractors can take advantage of frozen ground and reduced foliage to streamline the process.  

Winter doesn’t have to bring land management work to a halt. With the right equipment, contractors can diversify their offerings and tackle seasonal projects like storm cleanup, fire prevention, agricultural field prep, and right-of-way maintenance—keeping schedules full and revenue flowing throughout the winter. Offering these winter services not only helps maximize the value of rented equipment but also allows professionals to stay productive and profitable year-round.

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