Brush Shredding &
Orchard Floor Cleanup
Fast, cost-effective brush shredding that turns pruning debris into soil-building organic matter
Pruning brush piling up between your rows is not just an eyesore -- it is wasted organic matter sitting on top of your ground instead of working in it. Custom Farm Services provides high-capacity brush shredding that turns pruning debris into a soil-building resource, all at speeds and prices that make it the smartest disposal option available. At $20 to $35 per acre, professional shredding is the most cost-effective way to deal with brush -- and it comes with real agronomic benefits you will see in your soil and your trees.
More Than Disposal -- Real Agronomic Benefits
Shredding is a soil management practice, not just a cleanup. Returning shredded organic matter to the orchard floor delivers measurable benefits:
Soil & Water
Shredded brush breaks down and adds organic matter directly to your soil. Over successive years of shredding instead of removing or burning, organic matter levels increase meaningfully -- reducing crusting, improving infiltration, and acting as a mulch layer that helps soil hold onto irrigation water longer.
Nutrient Cycling
Decomposing wood returns phosphorous to the soil, and microbial breakdown of organic matter releases nitrogen in plant-available forms -- putting nutrients back where your trees can use them.
Nematode Management
One of the most underappreciated benefits: studies show shredded organic matter suppresses harmful ring and lesion nematodes while supporting beneficial, predatory nematode species that help keep harmful populations in check.
Production Rates & Pricing
Our shredding speeds depend on crop type, pruning density, and how the brush is stacked. When your pruning window is tight, that speed matters.
10-20
acres per hour
Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios. Standard annual nut-crop prunings move fast -- we cover a lot of ground in a short window.
6-8
acres per hour
Fruit orchards -- peaches, cherries, apples, citrus. Heavier, denser prunings require a more thorough pass.
$20-$35
per acre
Pricing depends on brush density and how it is stacked. Special rates available for projects of 150 acres or more.
These rates mean we can shred a typical orchard block in a matter of hours, not days. This is consistently the most cost-effective brush disposal method available -- compare it to hauling, burning where still permitted, or leaving brush in the row to interfere with harvest operations, and the math speaks for itself. Projects over 150 acres qualify for special volume pricing -- contact us to discuss.
How It Works
A streamlined, two-stage approach that leaves your orchard floor clean and ready:
Shredding
Our high-capacity shredders move through your orchard at production speeds, reducing pruning brush to fine material that breaks down quickly and incorporates into the orchard floor.
Follower Cleanup
After shredding, we run follower equipment to clean up the orchard floor, push material where it needs to go, and leave your rows looking sharp -- a clean, professional finish.
Soil Benefit
Shredded material is positioned for maximum benefit, breaking down to add organic matter, improve infiltration, and feed nutrients back into your soil.
Brush Stacking Guidelines
To keep production rates high and costs at the low end of the range, we ask that growers follow these guidelines before we arrive:
Windrow Between Rows
Stack brush in windrows between tree rows -- not scattered randomly across the orchard floor. Properly stacked brush lets us work at full speed.
Keep Off Berms & Lines
Keep brush piles off of berms and irrigation lines where possible -- this protects your system and keeps the shredder moving.
Remove Foreign Objects
Remove wire, metal, stakes, and other debris from brush piles. Foreign objects damage equipment and slow the job down.
Flag Infrastructure
Notify us of any irrigation risers, valve boxes, or other ground-level infrastructure that could be in the path of the shredder.
Why Choose CFS for Brush Shredding
Speed & Cost-Effectiveness
10 to 20 acres per hour on nut crops means your orchard is done fast, and $20 to $35 per acre is hard to beat for brush disposal. Volume discounts apply for 150+ acre projects.
Agronomic Benefits & Clean Finish
You are not just disposing of brush, you are building soil health -- and our follower equipment leaves your orchard floor clean, not just shredded.
4th-Generation Family Operation
Established 1969, we understand Central Valley orchards because we have worked in them our entire lives. We show up on time, work efficiently, and leave your orchard looking right.
Request a Free Estimate
Get a no-obligation quote for your brush shredding project. We respond within 24 hours.
Service Area
Related Services
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by growers across the Central Valley
"Custom Farm Services did an outstanding job removing our old almond orchard. The crew was professional, efficient, and left the field clean and ready for replanting. They handled everything from pushing to grinding and even coordinated the chip hauling. Highly recommend them to any grower in the Valley."
Dante Rojas
Ballico, CA
"We've used Custom Farm Services for three separate orchard removals over the past five years. Each time, they showed up on time, worked quickly, and delivered exactly what they promised. They also helped us navigate the Air District grant paperwork, which saved us a significant amount. These guys know what they're doing."
Kuldip Dola
Livingston, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about brush shredding in the Central Valley
How much does brush shredding cost?
How should I stack my brush before you arrive?
Will shredding damage my irrigation system?
Is shredding better than burning brush?
How quickly can you get to my orchard after pruning?
Do you shred brush from vineyard operations as well?
Turn Your Brush into a Resource
Stop paying to haul brush away or dealing with burn permits. Get on our shredding schedule -- book early during pruning season, our calendar fills up fast.