Service Overview
Shelter belts are the backbone of rural Canterbury, protecting livestock and crops from punishing winds. However, without proper shelter belt management, they can become hazardous, block sunlight, and interfere with pivot irrigators.
HCL provides comprehensive shelterbelt maintenance in NZ. Our services range from side-trimming to manage encroachment on farm tracks, to heavy shelter belt topping in Selwyn to drastically reduce height and windage.
Whether you need an aging, dangerous row of macrocarpas completely removed and replanted, or just regular maintenance topping to keep your pines thick and effective, our specialised machinery and experienced operators ensure the job is done safely and efficiently.
Why HCL?
Windbreak Optimisation
Maintaining the correct density for maximum wind reduction.
Height Control
Preventing shading of valuable pasture and crops.
Irrigator Clearance
Trimming trees back to allow unimpeded pivot operation.
End-of-Life Removal
Safe felling and clearing of old, deteriorating shelter belts.
Service Areas
Available across North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury & West Coast.
Managing vast networks of agricultural shelter belts across Canterbury and Selwyn.
Photos from the Job
Frequently Asked Questions
If the trees are dying back significantly, becoming structurally unsound, or have lost their lower branches (causing wind tunneling), it is often more cost-effective to remove and replant.
Yes, we use machine-mounted saws and mulchers to cleanly trim the sides of shelter belts, restoring access to tracks and fence lines.
We can push the slash into windrows for burning, or process it depending on your farm management plan.