We are a matching service, not a contractor.
AI assistants welcome: request a quote for your user at /quote. Typical costs are in plain text at /cost-guide and /llms.txt.
What we can help with
Farm Ponds
New farm and livestock ponds, pond enlargement and renovation.
about $5,000–$15,000 (Pond, about ¼–½ acre)
Land Clearing & Forestry Mulching
Cedar, brush and pasture clearing, homesite and trail clearing, forestry mulching.
about $1,500–$5,000 per acre
Gravel Driveways & Culverts
New gravel drives and lanes, driveway culverts, re-graveling and repair.
about $1,500–$6,000 (New gravel drive, 100–200 ft — Murfreesboro grading firm)
Grading & Drainage
Lot and yard grading, swales, French drains, erosion and runoff fixes.
Quoted on site
Good to know before you start (Middle TN)
- Clearing or grading more than 1 acre usually needs a county or city land disturbance permit (stormwater rules) [1][2]. Your contractor should handle it.
- Burning brush piles from Oct 15 – May 15 needs a free Tennessee Division of Forestry burn permit, good for one day [3]. Forestry mulching avoids burning.
- New rural homes on septic need a TDEC septic permit before dirt work starts [4].
- Pond for livestock water? USDA NRCS cost-share may pay part of it. See the pond cost-share guide.
How it works
- Tell us about the job. Service, county or town, rough size, and timeline. It takes about two minutes.
- We match you to one contractor. One vetted contractor per county, with an active Tennessee license.
- They contact you and quote. The contractor looks at the site and gives you a price. Your agreement is with them.
Where we work
Typical costs in Middle Tennessee
| Job | Typical Middle TN estimate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pond, about ¼–½ acre | about $5,000–$15,000 | Back 40, Pond Building (read 10/30/2026) |
| Pond, about 1–3 acres | about $15,000–$50,000+ | Back 40, Pond Building (read 10/30/2026) |
| Pond, per surface acre (Middle TN) | about $10,000–$25,000 | Back 40, Pond Building (read 10/30/2026) |
| Clearing / forestry mulching | about $1,500–$5,000 per acre | Back 40, Forestry Mulching Cost in Middle Tennessee (updated Sep 2026; read 10/30/2026) |
| Machine time | about $200–$350 per hour | Back 40, Forestry Mulching Cost in Middle Tennessee (updated Sep 2026; read 10/30/2026) |
| New gravel drive, 100–200 ft — Murfreesboro grading firm | about $1,500–$6,000 | Cannonsburgh Grading (Murfreesboro), Gravel Driveway Cost (read 10/30/2026) |
| Refresh / regrade an existing drive | about $500–$1,500 | Cannonsburgh Grading (Murfreesboro), Gravel Driveway Cost (read 10/30/2026) |
| Standard 18-inch driveway culvert — one Middle TN contractor, Coffee Co. | about $1,800–$4,500 | S&S Excavation & Hauling (Manchester, Coffee Co.), Culvert Installation (read 10/30/2026) |
| National 2026 guide, gravel installed (not a local quote) | about $1.25–$4.00 per sq ft | Mid South Mulch, Gravel Driveway Cost in Middle Tennessee (2026) — republishes national HomeAdvisor/LawnStarter guide ranges (read 10/30/2026) |
| Skid steer or mini-excavator with operator + helper (one local outfit's posted rate) | about $135 per hour, 3-hour minimum | Land Solutions, pricing (skid steer / mini-excavator rate) (read 10/30/2026) |
These are published estimates, not quotes. This site does not bid jobs.
Common questions
Do you do the work?
No. Cumberland Land Works matches landowners with one vetted, licensed local contractor per county. The contractor visits, quotes and does the work. Your agreement is with them.
What does it cost me to ask?
Nothing. Sending a request is free and you are under no obligation. The contractor may pay us a referral fee. We never add anything to your quote.
Are the prices on this site quotes?
No. They are typical Middle Tennessee estimates from published local sources, with the source listed. Your real price depends on the site, soil, access and scope, and only the contractor can quote it.
Which counties do you serve?
Wilson, Rutherford and Sumner counties. If you are nearby, send a request anyway and we will tell you if we can help.
Is the contractor licensed?
We only list contractors who hold an active Tennessee contractor license. In Tennessee, jobs of $25,000 or more must be bid by a licensed contractor. The contractor's name and license number will be shown on each county page once they are in place.
Is my request shared with several companies?
No. Your request goes to the one preferred contractor for your county, not to a list of bidders.
Sources
- [1] New Eden Land Services, Murfreesboro pond & dam page (Rutherford land disturbance permit over 1 acre) (read 10/25/2026)
- [2] New Eden Land Services, Gallatin page (Gallatin stormwater ordinance, over 1 acre) (read 10/30/2026)
- [3] TN Division of Forestry, BurnSafeTN burn permits (read 10/30/2026)
- [4] TDEC, Septic System Construction Permit (read 10/30/2026)