Greater Cincinnati, OH — Hamilton, Clermont & Warren Counties

Land Clearing, Brush Removal & Site Preparation

Thirteen services. One crew. Zero guessing games. From first cut to finished site across Hamilton, Clermont, Warren, and surrounding counties in Greater Cincinnati.

Land Preparation

Land Clearing

Whether you are reclaiming overgrown acreage, preparing a residential lot for new construction, or opening up a fence line that has not been touched in years, Merten provides professional land clearing services across Greater Cincinnati and surrounding areas.

We assess terrain, access conditions, soil, and your end goal before quoting. Lot clearing, acreage clearing, property boundary clearing, and new construction site prep — handled with the right machine for the job.

Residential and commercial lot clearing
Acreage clearing and reclamation
Fence line and property boundary clearing
New construction site preparation
Invasive species removal — honeysuckle, multiflora rose, briars
Tree clearing and stump removal
Complete site prep — stump removal, topsoil stripping, debris haul-off
Building pad and driveway preparation
Coordination with septic, utility, and foundation contractors

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Land Preparation

Brush Hogging

Overgrown fields, abandoned pastures, roadside vegetation, and rural lots require a different approach than selective clearing. Bush hogging — also called brush hogging or rotary mowing — knocks back tall grass, weeds, thick brush, and light woody growth fast and efficiently.

We serve property owners, farmers, and developers across Greater Cincinnati who need large-scale vegetation management without the cost of full land clearing equipment.

Field and pasture mowing
Overgrown lot and acreage mowing
Roadside and right-of-way vegetation management
Seasonal maintenance mowing
Pre-clearing knockdown before forestry mulching or excavation

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Land Preparation

Forestry Mulching

Forestry mulching is the most efficient land clearing method for dense brush, saplings, small trees, and invasive vegetation. A single machine grinds trees and brush into mulch on the spot — eliminating burn piles, haul-off costs, and significant site disturbance. The mulch returns organic material to the soil and suppresses regrowth.

For residential property owners dealing with invasive honeysuckle, cedar, multiflora rose, or thick secondary growth, forestry mulching is usually the fastest and cleanest option.

Single-pass clearing — no burn pile required
Trees up to 6–8 inches in diameter
Invasive species eradication — honeysuckle, multiflora rose, privet
Selective clearing to preserve mature trees
Minimal soil disturbance compared to dozer clearing
Mulch layer left in place for erosion control

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Earthwork

Excavation

Excavation is the foundation of most site work projects — from digging utility trenches and septic fields to foundation excavation and access road cuts. Working in Cincinnati-area clay and varied terrain requires an operator who understands local soil conditions, drainage patterns, and access challenges.

We provide residential and light commercial excavation services across Greater Cincinnati.

Foundation and basement excavation
Utility and septic trench excavation
Driveway and access road cuts
Pond and detention basin excavation
Footing excavation for structures and retaining walls
General site excavation for development and grading

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Earthwork

Grading

Poor grading is the number-one cause of water intrusion, drainage failure, and foundation problems in Greater Cincinnati. Proper lot grading directs water away from structures, prevents standing water, and creates a level or correctly sloped surface for lawns, pads, and driveways.

We provide rough and finish grading for residential properties, new construction lots, and existing sites with drainage or access problems across Greater Cincinnati.

Rough grading following clearing or demolition
Finish grading for lawn, seed, and sod preparation
Drainage grading — directing water away from structures
Driveway and parking area grading
Building pad grading and compaction
Re-grading of existing settled or eroded areas

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Earthwork

Dirt Work & Grading

Heavy earthmoving — cut-and-fill operations, mass grading, fill placement, and topsoil work — forms the backbone of any larger site development project. Whether you need fill brought in, excess material removed, or the existing grade substantially reworked, we handle the earthwork from start to finish.

We serve property developers, residential contractors, and landowners in the Greater Cincinnati area who need significant earth movement beyond standard finish grading.

Cut-and-fill for site leveling and development
Fill dirt placement and compaction
Topsoil stripping, stockpiling, and redistribution
Mass grading for subdivisions and development pads
Soil import and export coordination
Compaction for driveways, pads, and structures

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Earthwork

Demolition & Structure Removal

Old structures need to come down before your land can be put to new use. We handle residential and light commercial demolition for property owners across Greater Cincinnati — from shed and outbuilding teardowns to complete ranch home, farmhouse, and abandoned structure removal.

Abandoned properties with collapsing barns, deteriorating ranch homes, old outbuildings, and overgrown structures are a common request. We assess the structure, coordinate utility disconnection where required, bring it down, haul the debris, and grade the site — all in one mobilization where possible.

Ranch home and residential structure demolition
Shed, barn, outbuilding, and garage teardown
Abandoned property clearing and structure removal
Concrete foundation and slab demolition
Site clearing and grading following structure removal
Debris haul-off and disposal
Coordination with utility disconnection prior to demo

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Drainage

Culverts & French Drains

Standing water, wet basements, saturated lawns, and failing driveway crossings are drainage problems that worsen over time. Proper culvert installation and subsurface french drain systems intercept and redirect water before it causes structural or landscape damage.

Cincinnati-area clay soils are notorious for poor natural drainage. We install culvert pipes for driveway crossings and site drainage, and design and install French drain systems to manage surface and subsurface water across residential and rural properties in Greater Cincinnati.

Corrugated and HDPE culvert pipe installation
Driveway culvert replacement and upsizing
French drain design and installation
Yard drainage and low-spot correction
Catch basin installation
Swale construction and grading for surface drainage

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Drainage

Pond Excavation

A well-sited and properly excavated pond adds significant value and usability to rural and semi-rural properties. Whether you need a farm pond for livestock watering, a retention pond for stormwater management, or a recreational fishing pond, proper pond excavation requires understanding site hydrology, soil permeability, and watershed area.

We excavate farm ponds, retention basins, and decorative water features for landowners and developers across Greater Cincinnati.

Farm pond and livestock pond excavation
Retention and detention basin construction
Recreational fishing pond excavation
Pond deepening and rehabilitation
Spillway and embankment construction
Site assessment for pond placement and watershed sizing

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Structures

Retaining Walls

Slopes that are eroding, hillsides that prevent usable yard space, and cut banks that fail after heavy rain are all candidates for a properly installed retaining wall. Retaining walls stabilize soil, create level terraces, and control erosion on sloped residential and commercial properties.

We build modular block retaining walls and boulder retaining walls for residential properties across Greater Cincinnati, including the hill-heavy terrain common throughout the region.

Modular concrete block retaining walls
Natural boulder and outcropping walls
Slope stabilization and erosion control
Terracing for usable yard space on hillsides
Drainage integration behind walls
Driveway and cut-bank wall construction

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Demolition

Concrete Tear Out & Removal

Old driveways, deteriorating concrete slabs, patio tearouts, and foundation removal are common prerequisites for renovation, new construction, and site development projects. Concrete tear-out requires the right equipment and experience to break, load, and haul material efficiently without damaging surrounding areas.

We remove concrete for residential and commercial clients across Greater Cincinnati — including driveway replacement projects, slab removal prior to building, and foundation demolition following structure removal.

Driveway concrete removal and haul-off
Patio and sidewalk slab tearout
Garage slab and foundation demolition
Concrete breaking and crushing on-site where applicable
Sub-base grading following removal
Coordination with new pour or paving contractors

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Earthwork

Gravel Driveway Installation & Repair

A properly installed gravel driveway starts with the right base — not just stone dumped on top of whatever is there. We cut, grade, and compact the sub-base before placing crushed stone so the driveway drains correctly, resists rutting, and holds up through Cincinnati's freeze-thaw cycles.

We install new gravel driveways on rural and residential properties, repair failed sections, regrade existing driveways that have rutted or drained poorly, and install culverts at low-point crossings where needed. Common stone types include #53 limestone, #57 clean stone, and recycled concrete depending on the application.

New gravel driveway installation — cut, base, and stone
Driveway regrading and drainage correction
Culvert installation at low-point crossings
Existing driveway repair and resurfacing
Stone selection for drainage and wear characteristics
Rural and farm access road construction

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Get started today

Ready to open your land back up?

Send the property address, photos, and what you need. We quote every job personally — no call centers, no guessing.

Request a Free Quote About Merten

Who we serve

Land Clearing & Excavation Across Greater Cincinnati

Owner-operated land clearing, site prep, and excavation serving Hamilton, Clermont, Warren, and surrounding counties — plus Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.

Ohio

Hamilton County — Cincinnati, Loveland, Indian Hill, Anderson Township, Montgomery, Madeira, Blue Ash
Clermont County — Milford, Batavia, Maineville, Goshen, Union Township
Warren County — Mason, Lebanon, Deerfield Township, Maineville

Kentucky & Indiana

Northern Kentucky — Covington, Florence, Burlington, Erlanger, Newport, Boone, Kenton & Campbell Counties
Southeast Indiana — Lawrenceburg, Aurora, Dearborn County

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Client reviews

What Greater Cincinnati property owners are saying.

Real feedback from residential property owners across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana.

★★★★★

"Had about two acres of dense honeysuckle and brush that had completely taken over the back half of our Indian Hill property. Merten came out, gave a clear quote, and had it done in a single day. Forestry mulching was the right call — no burn pile, no hauling, and the land looked incredible after. Communication throughout was excellent."

Jeff M. Indian Hill, OH

Google Review

★★★★★

"Used Merten for brush hogging and finish grading on a field in Mason. He showed up on time, did exactly what was quoted, and the drainage work he suggested actually fixed a water problem we'd dealt with for three years. Straightforward, honest contractor. Would absolutely use again."

Sarah K. Mason, OH

Google Review

★★★★★

"Had a pond excavated on our Milford property for livestock. Merten walked the site with me first, explained where to place it for the best natural water collection, and had it done on schedule. Before-and-after video was a nice touch I wasn't expecting. Great experience start to finish."

Mike T. Milford, OH

Google Review

★★★★★

"Needed a retaining wall to stop a slope from eroding into our yard in Anderson Township. Fair quote, solid work, and they cleaned up when done. He also caught a drainage issue on the uphill side that would have caused problems later. Really appreciated the honest advice beyond just the job itself."

Rachel D. Anderson Township, OH

Google Review