Rent a chipper and turn prunings into mulch - Brief Article

Sunset, Oct, 1999 by Jim McCausland

Disposing of garden prunings can be a daunting task, especially when you're cutting hedges, trees, and shrubs. Try renting a machine to turn that woody waste into a pile of chips you can use as mulch.

You'll find gasoline-powered machines in a variety of sizes at rental yards. They're rated according to the branch size they'll take without jamming. Small units are often referred to as "shredders"; medium and large units (recommended for pieces thicker than 2 inches) are called "chippers." Most units are rented in half-day or one-day increments.

Plan a chipping party with a couple of neighbors. Prune your gardens a day ahead and gather all the waste in a central location, such as a vacant driveway. When the chipper arrives, work as a team, feeding waste into the machine and sharing the mulch.

SMALL SHREDDERS. Rated for 1 1/2- to 2-inch-diameter branches, they will grind up limbs that large, but very slowly. They rent for around $95 per day. These machines may be hard to find at rental yards, but they are a good choice if you're grinding only small-diameter prunings and want finely shredded material for compost.

MEDIUM-SIZE CHIPPERS. They can handle branches as large as 4 to 6 inches in diameter. They rent for $105 to $175 per day. These workhorses can go through a lot of material quickly, turning out fairly coarse grindings.

LARGE CHIPPERS. Machines rated for 9-inch-diameter branches churn out coarse chunks, some as big as bagels. They rent for about $210 per day.

Whatever their size, these machines all tend to choke on green or fibrous material such as cedar boughs, cornstalks, and blackberry canes, which can wrap around the chipping mechanism and make it stall. The trick is to feed the green stuff into the chute with woody material; then all goes through more easily.

Only small units can be carried home in the back of a truck or van. Medium and large chippers must be towed. Rental yards will sometimes deliver and pick up a unit for an additional charge if you live within a few miles.

It's essential to follow the safety guidelines posted on the unit and to wear eye and ear protection. Keep children well away from the work area.

RECYCLING THE LEFTOVERS

Most people are surprised by the relatively tiny heap of chips these machines make from a small mountain of branches. And the chips go fast, especially when you pile a 3-inch-deep layer of mulch around trees and shrubs. Still, if you wind up with more mulch than you can use, start a compost pile. Mix chips with green garden waste (such as grass clippings) and let them decompose.