Based in Augusta, Georgia, Big Dog Stump & Tree has been in business for more than 30 years, growing from a small operation into a multi-division company handling everything from residential tree work to large-scale land clearing and infrastructure projects.
Owner Brian Ligon has seen that growth firsthand, and on a recent six-mile county road widening project, his team was responsible for clearing trees and removing stumps ahead of major construction work.
To keep up with the pace and scale of projects like this, Big Dog has built out a fleet that includes a SENNEBOGEN 718 and an Albach Diamant 2000, alongside excavators, grinders, and support equipment.
Building a Safer, More Efficient Process
For Ligon, the biggest shift came from how the SENNEBOGEN 718 changed the way work gets done in the field.
“Being able to reach from the road all the way to the easement and pull it in really helps a lot,” Ligon explained.
Instead of relying heavily on climbers or additional ground crews, the machine allows operators to safely section and control material from a distance, keeping the job moving without adding unnecessary labor.
“It takes away from manpower. They just move along cutting, and then I’ll come through and process it,” he said.
The result is a more controlled workflow, especially in roadside environments where space, traffic, and safety all have to be managed at the same time.
Powering Through Material with the Albach
Once material is on the ground, the Albach Diamant 2000 becomes the centerpiece of the operation. Known for its high-output chipping capacity, the machine allows Big Dog to process large volumes quickly and consistently.
“That thing’s a monster. It speeds up the process a lot,” Ligon said.
Its self-propelled design also gives the crew flexibility to move between job sites without additional transport logistics.
“I can chip at one site in the morning and be at another later that same day,” he added.
Together, the SENNEBOGEN 718 and Albach Diamant 2000 work in tandem, creating a system that keeps material flowing and minimizes downtime between steps.
Growing the Business
Since adding the SENNEBOGEN 718 more than two years ago, the machine has become a regular part of the operation, used week in and week out.
“It’s been used every week since I bought it,” Ligon said.
As efficiency has improved, so has the company’s capacity to take on more work and expand beyond its typical range.
“It broadens your horizons… you can do a lot of things that other people can’t do,” he explained.
That growth is already changing how Big Dog approaches the future.
“We’re doing so much work now, we’re going to have to go find more work,” Ligon said.
For Ligon and his team, investing in purpose-built equipment hasn’t just improved productivity, it’s opened the door to new opportunities and a new level of scale.