Grading and excavation work in Highlands County addresses two contrasting soil conditions: the excessively drained deep sands of the ridge and the seasonally saturated flatwoods of the lowlands. We construct building pads, retention areas, driveway cuts, and drainage systems tailored to each site's hydrology. Serving Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid, Venus, and 1 more communities across Highlands County.
Site grading, drainage swales, retention areas, foundation prep, driveway cuts, and earth moving. Proper water management for Florida's flat terrain and high water table.
Ridge sites drain almost too well -- stormwater percolates through Archbold sand so rapidly that retention ponds may need clay liners to hold water. Flatwoods sites face the opposite problem, with seasonal water tables that rise to within inches of the surface. Effective grading requires understanding which challenge each parcel presents and engineering solutions that satisfy both county requirements and the realities of Highlands County's variable terrain.
The Lake Wales Ridge runs through the heart of the county, supporting globally rare sand scrub ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. Deep sandy ridges alternate with lake-dotted lowlands, flatwoods, and the remnants of once-vast citrus groves. Western areas transition to cattle ranch and wet prairie connected to the Kissimmee River basin. Highlands Hammock State Park preserves ancient hardwood hammock with champion-sized trees.
Citrus grove clearing and conversion as the industry contracts, residential lot preparation in Sebring and Lake Placid, ranch pasture reclamation in the western lowlands, hunting property management on large tracts, homesite preparation on lakefront parcels, and sand mine reclamation projects on depleted ridge sites. Citrus greening disease continues to decimate remaining groves, creating thousands of acres needing clearing or conversion. Sebring and Lake Placid attract retirees seeking affordable lakefront living, driving steady residential clearing demand. The cattle industry in western Highlands requires ongoing pasture maintenance. Solar energy companies are evaluating former citrus land for utility-scale installations. Archbold Biological Station's prescribed burn programs occasionally require firebreak clearing on adjacent private lands.
We assess your Highlands County property in person — evaluating terrain, vegetation density, and equipment access to deliver an accurate T&M quote.
Clear scope, timeline, and expectations documented in our Master Service Agreement before any equipment rolls. No surprises, no hidden charges.
CAT track loaders and 20+ ton excavators mobilize to your Highlands County site. Production-grade equipment means faster timelines and cleaner results.
Owner Jeremiah Anderson walks the finished project with you to confirm every detail meets expectations before we close out the job.
The Lake Wales Ridge harbors the highest concentration of rare and endangered plant species of any region in the continental United States. Archbold Biological Station conducts internationally recognized research on scrub ecology and provides scientific oversight that influences land management countywide. Highlands Hammock State Park, one of Florida's original state parks, protects virgin hardwood hammock and cypress swamp. The Florida scrub jay -- a species found only in Florida -- has critical habitat designations scattered across ridge parcels. Any clearing on sandy ridge soils almost certainly triggers listed species surveys.
Protected species: Highlands County is home to Florida scrub jay, Gopher tortoise, Eastern indigo snake, Sand skink, Blue-tailed mole skink, Florida ziziphus (plant, federally endangered), Highlands scrub hypericum (plant, federally endangered), Scrub blazing star (plant), Cutthroat grass (plant), Crested caracara, Florida black bear. Pre-clearing wildlife surveys may be required depending on habitat type and project scope.
Waterways & buffers: Properties near Lake Istokpoga, Lake June-in-Winter, Lake Placid, Lake Jackson (Sebring), Arbuckle Creek, Josephine Creek, Kissimmee River (western border), Istokpoga Canal may require setback buffers and water management district permits. TreeShop works within all required buffer zones.
Soil conditions: Archbold fine sand -- the signature soil of the Lake Wales Ridge -- is excessively well-drained, nutrient-poor, and supports the endemic scrub vegetation that makes this region globally significant. Astatula and Tavares fine sands occupy other ridge positions. Lower elevations feature poorly drained Myakka and Immokalee fine sands typical of flatwoods. Placid and Samsula muck soils occur in lake margins and depressional wetlands. Former citrus lands sit primarily on Candler and Lake fine sands with good internal drainage.
TreeShop provides professional grading & excavation across Highlands County, including:
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Grading & Excavation in Highlands County