Brush Mowing

The rare habitats of prairie, savanna, oak woodland and wetland require stewardship to keep them healthy.  They sometimes need initial brush clearing followed by frequent landscape fire, invasive weed control and the planting of native seeds.  

With careful stewardship these lands can be rich with birds, mammals, turtles, snakes, and insects off all sorts — habitats that are a joy to experience.

Damian Considine demonstrates the forestry mower's ability to mulch larger trees.

When habitats have become overgrown with brush a brush mower is often used to quickly and safely mulch brush.  Follow up work is often an application of herbicide to each shrub or tree stump, one at a time.  Frequent fire is the main tool that keeps these habitats open.  

​With donations and help from partners we purchased the Fecon FTX200 forestry mower.  The mower is a game changer that is helping clear brush for various partners in the Middle Rock area. View the habitat renewal efforts using the forestry mower:  

• 2020 Brush mowing at Illinois DNR Franklin Creek Natural Area
• 2023 Franklin Creek Natural Area Brush Mowing​
  ​(see slideshow above)

UPDATED 1/2024