The $10,000 Guessing Game
The forestry mulching industry is spectacularly bad at pricing.
You call a company: "How much to clear 5 acres?"
They respond: "Somewhere between $2,000 and $15,000."
That's not an estimate. That's a guess with a safety margin wide enough to protect incompetence.
The problem? "5 acres" tells me nothing about actual work volume. Light palmetto brush? Dense hardwood? Mature live oak? All 5 acres, completely different jobs. An acre of palmetto is maybe 4 points of work. An acre of mature hardwoods? That's 10 points of work. Same acre. 150% more work. But if you're charging by the acre, you're either padding every estimate to cover yourself, or you're losing money because you don't know your numbers.
For decades, the industry has quoted forestry mulching the same way: per-acre pricing that hides complexity and protects contractors from their own ignorance.
How I Built a Better System
When I started forestry mulching in Central Florida, I did something radical: I tracked every job.
Every property became a data point. Volusia County, Flagler County, Seminole County—hundreds of projects with detailed records. Vegetation types, equipment performance, actual hours vs. estimated hours, production rates across different conditions.
The patterns emerged fast. The fake Mickey Mantle quote became my reality: "It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing all your life."
After years of data collection, I had what the industry has never had: mathematical certainty. I knew exactly how long jobs would take based on measurable inputs.
That became Mulching Score.
Understanding the Mulching Score Formula
Mulching Score is a scientific pricing methodology for forestry mulching that measures actual work volume instead of relying on per-acre estimates. It combines two measurable factors—property acreage and maximum vegetation diameter—to calculate exact project costs.
The formula measures forestry mulching work using two critical factors: your acreage and the maximum vegetation size you need cleared. That's it. DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) is the forestry industry standard measurement for tree diameter, measured at approximately 4.5 feet above ground level—basically how thick the trees are at about chest height.
You don't measure every tree. Just identify the biggest stuff that needs to go. That's your package. Got mostly 4" brush with some 8" oaks scattered around? Choose the 8" Large Package. We clear everything up to that size.
The formula itself is straightforward: multiply your acreage by your DBH package size, divide by our production rate (1.3 points per hour), add travel time (usually 2 hours round-trip for Central Florida), throw in a 10% buffer for reality, and multiply by our billing rate. Done.
Let me show you exactly how it works.
Say you've got 3 acres and the biggest vegetation is around 6 inches. That's our Medium Package.
First, calculate the Mulching Score: 6 inches times 3 acres equals 18 points. That's your work volume.
Now divide that by our production rate. We run 1.3 points per hour based on hundreds of real projects across Central Florida—sand, clay, wetlands, mixed terrain. It's conservative, which means we're not promising superhuman speeds. 18 points divided by 1.3 PpH gives us 13.85 hours of actual on-site mulching work.
Add travel time. For most of Central Florida, we figure 2 hours round-trip from our yard in New Smyrna Beach. GPS calculates exact drive time on TreeShop.app, but 2 hours is the average. So now we're at 15.85 hours.
Apply the buffer. Things happen in the field—property boundary verification, hidden obstacles, equipment positioning, weather delays. We add 10% to account for reality. 15.85 times 1.10 equals 17.44 total hours.
Multiply by the billing rate. Our rate is $500 per hour. That covers the forestry mulcher, truck, trailer, fuel, operators, hand tools, chainsaws, safety equipment, software, GPS systems, maintenance, insurance, permits, business overhead, and all the government-mandated costs you can't avoid. Some of these aren't optional—the government makes sure of that.
17.44 hours times $500 per hour equals $8,720.
That's your price. Not a range. Not "somewhere between." The exact investment.
Why $500 Per Hour Makes Sense
I know what you're thinking. $500 an hour sounds expensive. Let me explain why it's not.
Running a professional forestry mulching operation isn't cheap. You've got a $300,000+ forestry mulcher that needs constant maintenance. You've got skilled operators who need fair wages, payroll taxes, workers compensation insurance. You've got fuel costs, repair costs, insurance that would make your eyes water. You've got trucks, trailers, hand tools, software systems, GPS equipment. You've got business overhead—office, administrative staff, marketing, legal compliance.
And here's the kicker: some of these costs aren't optional. The government mandates certain insurance levels. Permits cost money. Compliance costs money. Safety equipment costs money. You can't just decide not to pay for these things and still operate legally.
The $500 per hour rate reflects what it actually costs to run professional forestry mulching operations—equipment, skilled operators, insurance, maintenance, fuel, permits, and all the regulatory requirements that come with doing this work legally and safely. This rate ensures the company can maintain equipment properly, keep experienced crews, and deliver consistent quality.
TreeShop operates exclusively in Central Florida—Volusia County, Flagler County, and Seminole County, with our equipment yard based in New Smyrna Beach. We built this system using hundreds of real projects across Central Florida terrain: sand, clay, wetlands, mixed conditions. The 1.3 points per hour production rate reflects what professional forestry mulching equipment can realistically accomplish in Florida's unique environment.
How to Actually Use This
Go to TreeShop.app. Enter your property address so the system can calculate exact drive time. Select Forestry Mulching as your service. Input your acreage—if you don't know it, check your property tax records, pull up Google Earth, or ask your real estate agent. Most Florida properties have surveys on file.
Then choose your DBH package based on the largest vegetation you need cleared:
Small Package handles up to 4" DBH—light brush, saplings, palmetto, understory vegetation. Medium Package handles up to 6" DBH—small trees, dense Florida brush. Large Package handles up to 8" DBH—mature understory, medium hardwoods. X-Large Package handles up to 10" DBH—large trees, heavy growth. Max Package handles up to 12" DBH—that's maximum capacity for our professional forestry mulching equipment.
You'll get instant pricing. Not "we'll call you back in three days with a range." Instant. The exact number. Timeline included. Everything transparent.
There's an $1,800 minimum on all projects because mobilization costs money—loading equipment, driving to your property, unloading, setting up, breaking down, driving back. If your property calculates to less than $1,800, you pay $1,800. Fair is fair.
The Difference This Makes
Old way: "Yeah, 3 acres... probably $3,000 to $9,000 depending on conditions. We'll know more when we get there."
Mulching Score: Visit TreeShop.app. Enter 3 acres, Medium Package (6" DBH). Result: $8,720. Timeline: 17.4 hours. Everything included.
The math is right there. No guessing. No ranges. No waiting for callbacks. No vague "depending on conditions" disclaimers that let contractors hide their ignorance.
If you're clearing land in Central Florida for development, real estate, construction, or property management, this solves problems you didn't know you could solve. Budget certainty during property walks. Timeline accuracy for scheduling permits and construction. Transparency you can explain to clients. When competitors quote "per acre," you'll immediately know if they're realistic or if they're guessing.
What's Always Included
Every Mulching Score quote includes:
- •Professional forestry mulching equipment and experienced operators who know Central Florida vegetation
- •All labor costs and travel time from our service area
- •Round-trip transport with GPS-calculated drive time from New Smyrna Beach
- •Complete on-site mulching and cleanup
- •10% buffer for real-world field conditions
What's not included: Stump grinding (separate service with its own TreeShop Score formula), off-site debris hauling (material is mulched in place), or grading and dirt work (we clear vegetation only).
The System Behind It
Mulching Score isn't a simple calculator I threw together. It's backed by years of production data from hundreds of Central Florida projects. The system tracks equipment performance by vegetation type, production rates across different Florida terrain (sand, clay, wetlands, mixed conditions), actual vs. estimated time on hundreds of jobs, real fuel consumption and operating costs, and GPS-accurate drive times from our yard.
TreeAI uses real equipment costs, actual labor burden, and historical project data. The pricing matches reality, not industry guesswork. TreeShop.app is what customers see. TreeShop Ops (coming soon) runs the entire operation—from customer inquiry to crew phone, with live updates, automated scheduling, and systematic project management.
Common Questions People Ask
What if I have mixed vegetation sizes?
Choose the package for your largest vegetation. We clear everything up to that size. If you've got mostly 4" brush with occasional 8" trees, pick the Large Package (8" DBH). Done.
Do I need to measure every tree?
No. Walk your property, identify the biggest stuff, pick that package. That's it.
What if I can't assess my property?
Make your best guess based on what you can see. The system accounts for variation. If you're way off, we'll adjust when we see it—but the online estimate gets you close enough to know if we're in your budget.
Can I calculate my own price?
Yes. The formula is in this article: (DBH × Acres ÷ 1.3 + 2 hours) × 1.10 × $500. But TreeShop.app does it instantly with GPS-accurate travel time for your specific address, which is faster and more accurate.
Why $500/hour? That seems expensive.
Because $500/hour covers the forestry mulcher, truck, trailer, fuel, operators, tools, software, maintenance, insurance, permits, and all government-mandated costs. Some of these aren't optional. The rate ensures professional operators, well-maintained equipment, and quality results. When you see cheaper quotes, ask what corners they're cutting. Are they properly insured? Do they have experienced operators? Is their equipment maintained? Cheap often costs more when jobs take twice as long or damage your property.
Why not just charge per acre like everyone else?
Because per-acre pricing is mathematically wrong. An acre of palmetto (4" DBH) is 4 points of work. An acre of mature hardwoods (10" DBH) is 10 points of work. Same acre, 150% more work. Mulching Score measures actual work volume. Per-acre pricing hides this and forces contractors to either pad every estimate defensively or lose money on dense jobs because they don't know their numbers. If that's not valuable to you, we're not a fit. Call someone else.
What if my property is farther than 2 hours away?
Travel time adjusts automatically on TreeShop.app using GPS. Enter your address, the system calculates actual drive time from New Smyrna Beach. If you're four hours away, the math accounts for it.
Does TreeShop Score work for stump grinding?
Yes, different formula. Stump grinding uses diameter, height above grade, and grind depth. Same philosophy—transparent pricing based on measurable work. It's called StumpScore and it's just as systematic.
What This Means For You
You now have a benchmark for evaluating forestry mulching quotes.
When other companies give you vague ranges like "$2,000 to $15,000 for 5 acres," you'll know they're guessing. When they quote "per acre" without asking about vegetation size, you'll know they don't understand the work. When they can't explain their pricing, you'll know they're either padding estimates to cover uncertainty or they'll hit you with surprise charges later.
Mulching Score gives you transparency. You know exactly what you're paying for and why. You can budget accurately. You can schedule with confidence. You can compare quotes intelligently instead of just picking the lowest number and hoping for the best.
The Bottom Line
Forestry mulching has operated on gut feelings and protective ranges for decades. Mulching Score replaces guesswork with systematic precision.
You get instant estimates, transparent pricing, accurate timelines, and no surprise billing. When other companies quote "per acre" without measuring vegetation, you'll understand why their numbers don't add up. You'll know exactly what you're paying for and why the price makes sense.
Whether you're clearing for development, improving pasture, preparing property for sale, or managing vegetation in Central Florida, you deserve pricing that makes sense.
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
Get your Mulching Score at TreeShop.app.
What's Next
TreeShop is building the complete operational system for land clearing—from instant estimates to crew management, with live updates, automated scheduling, and systematic project management. Everything you've seen here is just the beginning.
You're seeing the future of land clearing services: transparent pricing, instant estimates, systematic operations, and professional accountability. No more waiting days for vague quotes. No more surprise charges. No more wondering if you're getting a fair price.
Follow @MrTreeShop on X for updates on TreeShop services and land clearing insights.
Thanks for reading.
TreeShop is Central Florida's first fully systematic forestry mulching operation. Serving New Smyrna Beach, Deltona, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Flagler County, and Seminole County with GPS-accurate estimates and transparent pricing.