non-compost menace

EastTexFrank · Oct 17, 2004

If you can't burn it, shredding or burying it are going to be your only options. I'm a composter but have never been a big fan of chipper/shredders. I have a Troy-Bilt Super Tomahawk sitting in the garage and I don't even know if it still works, it's been so long since I used it. It always seemed like so much wasted labor to pick a stick off the ground, feed it through a chipper to have it scattered back on the ground in smaller pieces that are even harder to pick up the second time. Maybe I need a set up like Bird's.

Hedge trimmings, brush and branchy/twiggy stuff I put in the burning pit. It's just too much of a hassle to compost. It takes far too long to break down even when you keep it damp and turn it regularly.

RonR · Oct 17, 2004

Several years ago, I thought I would be really green and rented a large chipper when I trimmed some hedge trees. This thing had a 4 cylinder gas engine and was pretty heavy duty.

What you could feed in chipped well, but with the twisty old hedge branches, I kept having to cut it to fit into the throat.

Got all done, it was $40 rental and I had about 70 gallons of chips. Hardly worth the effort.

NOW, our city has a treecycle place. You take your limbs there to drop off and they give away the chips. Chips are free to anyone. Probably costs us some in taxes, but it sure is a nice service.

I'm just curious if they would be upset if I took my Bota and FEL out there to load up some in the front of my trailer????????? Guess I'll ask next trip.

Ron

Cliff_Johns · Oct 17, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( . . . you could use your backhoe to dig a hole to bury all of it. It would decompose pretty quick that way.)</font>

It's a nice idea, but I'm basically on a surburban lot (albeit a large one) and while burying it sounds appealing, it's not really an option.
Cliff

Cliff_Johns · Oct 17, 2004

I am thinking what I really need is a very large trash compactor. My brush pile is about 15'X15'X5'. I think I could compact it down into a #1000 brick, then I could just truck it somewhere.

I just can't picture dragging all this stuff around the front of the house. Makes me wish I had a set of upper teeth for my FEL.

I really just let it go too long and now I'm paying the price for it.

Cliff

DocHeb · Oct 18, 2004

I'm seeing a BrushHog being lowered onto the pile, showing the pile who's boss.

EastTexFrank · Oct 18, 2004

Now there's an option.

MossRoad · Oct 18, 2004

Just take some lopping shears to it and get it down to 1 foot pieces or smaller. Makes for an hour of excercise a few nights a week. Then toss them into the compost pile layered with the other green stuff, kitchen scraps, grass clippings and some dirt. Turn the pile every 3-4 weeks. Makes another hour of excersice once in a while. They will rot down sooner or later. When you want to use the compost, just screen it through something. Anything that won't fit through the screen goes back in the pile. Composting is fun and rewarding. Fresh veggies are tastey. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif