Shredder for industrial quantities of holly
Discussion
Are there any domestic range shredder\chippers that can handle large amounts of green material? We've got a beast of a holly hedge (approx 250ft long, 12-15ft high and 6-8ft wide) that I need to tame and my little Bosch shredder just doesn't cut it. Not too looking for something that can handle a whole trunk, anything meaty will be chucked in the trailer and taken to the tip, just want to be able to process the material that the hedge trimmer can go through (Stihl petrol rough cut if it makes a difference)
Seen lots of the chipper/shredders in the 5-13hp bracket but these seem to be aimed more at woody material rather than the green springy stuff and waxy leaves that come with holly.
Hiring isn't really going to be practical as the job is going to have to be done in stages as and when I get the time.
Budget wise around £750 either new or second hand depending on what's suggested.
Seen lots of the chipper/shredders in the 5-13hp bracket but these seem to be aimed more at woody material rather than the green springy stuff and waxy leaves that come with holly.
Hiring isn't really going to be practical as the job is going to have to be done in stages as and when I get the time.
Budget wise around £750 either new or second hand depending on what's suggested.
JimM169 said:
Are there any domestic range shredder\chippers that can handle large amounts of green material? We've got a beast of a holly hedge (approx 250ft long, 12-15ft high and 6-8ft wide) that I need to tame and my little Bosch shredder just doesn't cut it. Not too looking for something that can handle a whole trunk, anything meaty will be chucked in the trailer and taken to the tip, just want to be able to process the material that the hedge trimmer can go through (Stihl petrol rough cut if it makes a difference)
Seen lots of the chipper/shredders in the 5-13hp bracket but these seem to be aimed more at woody material rather than the green springy stuff and waxy leaves that come with holly.
Hiring isn't really going to be practical as the job is going to have to be done in stages as and when I get the time.
Budget wise around £750 either new or second hand depending on what's suggested.
Can't really help with a chipper or shredder, but holly logs are great firewood, it's a waste taking them to the tip. Someone will have them off your hands. As long as it's dry it doesn't really need seasoning, can be burned green. Seen lots of the chipper/shredders in the 5-13hp bracket but these seem to be aimed more at woody material rather than the green springy stuff and waxy leaves that come with holly.
Hiring isn't really going to be practical as the job is going to have to be done in stages as and when I get the time.
Budget wise around £750 either new or second hand depending on what's suggested.
CambsBill said:
Burn it (possibly not all at once though, but if you do, take pictures for us 
). IIRC even when green holly leaves will burn quite easily. A 250m hedge is going to produce a lot of shreddings if that's the route you go down.
Think I'd be forcibly evicted from the village if I tried to burn it, the amount of smoke it produces is ridiculous. The amount of waste it's going to produce is somewhat daunting especially as I want to take it down to about 5ft high ie reducing it by at least half if not two thirds it's current size!!). IIRC even when green holly leaves will burn quite easily. A 250m hedge is going to produce a lot of shreddings if that's the route you go down.JimM169 said:
CambsBill said:
Burn it (possibly not all at once though, but if you do, take pictures for us ). IIRC even when green holly leaves will burn quite easily. A 250m hedge is going to produce a lot of shreddings if that's the route you go down.
Think I'd be forcibly evicted from the village if I tried to burn it, the amount of smoke it produces is ridiculous. The amount of waste it's going to produce is somewhat daunting especially as I want to take it down to about 5ft high ie reducing it by at least half if not two thirds it's current size!!). IIRC even when green holly leaves will burn quite easily. A 250m hedge is going to produce a lot of shreddings if that's the route you go down.dhutch said:
hidetheelephants said:
It doesn't smoke that bad...
Agree. It will burn green, but best left a week, and then it will burn almost clear.The only issue is you need a reasonable site to have a bonfire on, and you do get an amount of fly ash.
Masterful understatement; ensure there's nothing flammable within 100 yards as a few of the fireflies go a long way.I might consider burning some if not all of it although annoying the neighbours is still a concern as anticipate doing the job over quite a few weekends and imagine it will get a tiresome if I'm having a fire every time they want to sit out in the garden. Having said that having a petrol engined shredder going every weekend could be just as annoying. Also would struggle for a suitable area, I'd get away with a barrel but haven't got anywhere I could really heap it up for a decent bonfire 
1.
Do not cut a hedge now. You need to wait until June time now due to possible nesting birds. Its illegal to disturb a nest with eggs.
2.
Is the holly accesible from the road?
If it is I would speak to your local farmer about getting them to bring their tractor in with their hedge cutting arm. They will charge you but it will be felled in a day and then you can clean up at your lesiure.
3. If you do get a shredder where are you putting the shreddings as there will be literal tonnes. You could probably do with a large skip too.
Do not cut a hedge now. You need to wait until June time now due to possible nesting birds. Its illegal to disturb a nest with eggs.
2.
Is the holly accesible from the road?
If it is I would speak to your local farmer about getting them to bring their tractor in with their hedge cutting arm. They will charge you but it will be felled in a day and then you can clean up at your lesiure.
3. If you do get a shredder where are you putting the shreddings as there will be literal tonnes. You could probably do with a large skip too.
sherman said:
1.
Do not cut a hedge now. You need to wait until June time now due to possible nesting birds. Its illegal to disturb a nest with eggs.
2.
Is the holly accesible from the road?
If it is I would speak to your local farmer about getting them to bring their tractor in with their hedge cutting arm. They will charge you but it will be felled in a day and then you can clean up at your lesiure.
3. If you do get a shredder where are you putting the shreddings as there will be literal tonnes. You could probably do with a large skip too.
Technically June is still too early, guidance is to wait until September. However, if OP is certain the hedge isn't being used for nesting then he's free to crack on. A mature length of holly hedge is quite likely to be perfect for nesting birds. I do a thorough and methodical inspection this time of year prior to any tree or hedge work, including thermal imaging.Do not cut a hedge now. You need to wait until June time now due to possible nesting birds. Its illegal to disturb a nest with eggs.
2.
Is the holly accesible from the road?
If it is I would speak to your local farmer about getting them to bring their tractor in with their hedge cutting arm. They will charge you but it will be felled in a day and then you can clean up at your lesiure.
3. If you do get a shredder where are you putting the shreddings as there will be literal tonnes. You could probably do with a large skip too.
Lots of guidance and legal info online.
hidetheelephants said:
A barrel will speed things up, once it gets going they're like a blast furnace, the difficulty is tolerating the heat to load the barrel and definitely wear natural fibres. They also reduce smoke as the combustion is more efficient.
Try burning bamboo…….yes it goes off like fireworks but the heat that comes off it is unbelievable, its the hottest thing I’ve burnt. I couldn’t get near it to but more in Pity it cant be used in stoves.Silvanus said:
... However, if OP is certain the hedge isn't being used for nesting then he's free to crack on. A mature length of holly hedge is quite likely to be perfect for nesting birds. I do a thorough and methodical inspection this time of year prior to any tree or hedge work, including thermal imaging.
Yeah I was going to say, not easy to be certain! I have fallen foul of this once cutting back some laurel hedge, only about 10ft of hedge, checked it really carefully, the best I could manually, and found a nest in use half way through the job and had to stop, recover with some of the removed foliage, but I think I scared them off sadly as although they came back for a few days the nest was left shortly after. Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff