I'd round up an arsenal of tools, several sizes of loppers, a good pruning saw, perhaps a gasoline telescoping pruner. Cut close to the ground, leaving a few inches that can be given a freshly cut surface in the spring. Don't think you'll be able to kill at this time of year. In the spring, IF you'll use herbicides, get a recommendation from Clemson to treat the multiple stumps. There may be things in that mess that you want to save.

Lovely home.

HTH, Rosie, Sugar Hill, GA

See if there's poison ivy in there before you get serious. :)

Fine tuning the recs. a little, I would recommend getting a very sturdy lopper. The handles seem to be the weakest part. I've had Timberline 55 for a long time and they're still holding up. I broke the handle on an earlier pair after some brutal use. Of cheaper, lighter duty types I broke them all and do not buy any more. In my experience, the anvil type cutter holds up much better over time than the by-pass type. I've used the heavy duty Corona lopper but not over a long haul. It seemed very nice (not sure if handles are as durable as Timberline 55.) It's advantage is being lighter weight.

Would recommend the Corona 10" folding saw. It's sharp, cuts fast and has a long enough stroke to cut through some very stout wood. It's amazing how much growth can be quickly cleared with loppers and a saw.

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A skilled backhoe operator can remove all of it in an hour.

catkim has given the best advice! That would take out a ton of roots also. And you might be able to negotiate an even better price if you get a bid, then ask if it could be reduced some if he can do it when he has the time, rather than scheduled.

Wasn't thinking of backhoe - my privet, poison ivy, etc. thicket was in rear of fenced backyard, not accessible without fence removal.

If you want it all gone ... the backhoe or what they call a "brush hogger" - it's sort of a mobile cross between a chipper-shredder and a lawnmower. One brand is the "Brush Blazer"

The key words for searching are "brush removal"

Another possibility is this thing, which looks dangerous as hell! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in4L56ni0Lo

Here is a link that might be useful: Brush Blazer site