Garden waste - burn or shred?
Discussion
t across the road, Mrs puts some washing out, tSaw this out of the corner of my eye, we did about two hours 'gardening' Sunday afternoon and have generated about the volume of a 40ft shipping container, diameters up to about 3" total, 4 at branch forks.
I have some mild considerations in terms of the environmental impact of burning a whole load of basically wet green wood and foliage. However I also think to chip up several large bows and 10ft of holly hedge would need a fair shredder which while it would get use of time would be a large expense (and eco impact) for a day or two use per year.
Local eco group to my parents had a co-operative owned shredder (small tow behind I think, might have been large-estate car size) so that might be an option if there are other community owned shredder options?
Daniel
I have some mild considerations in terms of the environmental impact of burning a whole load of basically wet green wood and foliage. However I also think to chip up several large bows and 10ft of holly hedge would need a fair shredder which while it would get use of time would be a large expense (and eco impact) for a day or two use per year.
Local eco group to my parents had a co-operative owned shredder (small tow behind I think, might have been large-estate car size) so that might be an option if there are other community owned shredder options?
Daniel
The Mad Monk said:
That's the trouble when you live on a council estate.
Please put up a picture of your domicile. I lived on a council estate but have lived elsewhere for some years now. My wife still puts the washing on the line in the summer months. Who is the more astute, the man whose washing goes in a energy intensive drying machine or someone who uses something that dries for free???
Personally I would shred or cut it into smaller pieces and put it into the brown bin for collection. Better for the environment and you will not upset the neighbours. Smoke does not just effect washing on the line. Some ‘council’ houses have windows that open allowing smoke ingress and some let their children play outside amongst the paedophiles.
Pip
Huntsman said:
New house with a biggish garden, lots of overgrown stuff to cut back or remove. Loads of buddleia, bay, holly, allsorts.
Burn!If you have neighbours, then you might consider how it will effect them, but this time of year is good for a 6pm bonfire....
I have many bonfires and have always found that pre-built stacks don't really work as well as starting little with decent kindling and gradually building the fire up.
Pip1968 said:
Please put up a picture of your domicile. I lived on a council estate but have lived elsewhere for some years now. My wife still puts the washing on the line in the summer months.
Who is the more astute, the man whose washing goes in a energy intensive drying machine or someone who uses something that dries for free???
Personally I would shred or cut it into smaller pieces and put it into the brown bin for collection. Better for the environment and you will not upset the neighbours. Smoke does not just effect washing on the line. Some ‘council’ houses have windows that open allowing smoke ingress and some let their children play outside amongst the paedophiles.
Pip
If I were to cut mine up to put in the brown bin to be collected every couple of weeks I reckon it would be all gone by about ooh, 2021?!Who is the more astute, the man whose washing goes in a energy intensive drying machine or someone who uses something that dries for free???
Personally I would shred or cut it into smaller pieces and put it into the brown bin for collection. Better for the environment and you will not upset the neighbours. Smoke does not just effect washing on the line. Some ‘council’ houses have windows that open allowing smoke ingress and some let their children play outside amongst the paedophiles.
Pip
Big garden, burning is the only way to get rid of a volume of stuff.
We keep everything above 1.5“ ish for kindling or burning on the stove. Anything between 0.5“and 1.5" that is straight we shred, the rest we burn.
We don't have many close neighbours, we use an old animal feed drum, cut the bits up small enough to fit and burn for a couple of hours at a time.
We have many many weeks of burning ahead and a lot more to come down...
We keep everything above 1.5“ ish for kindling or burning on the stove. Anything between 0.5“and 1.5" that is straight we shred, the rest we burn.
We don't have many close neighbours, we use an old animal feed drum, cut the bits up small enough to fit and burn for a couple of hours at a time.
We have many many weeks of burning ahead and a lot more to come down...
Pip1968 said:
The Mad Monk said:
That's the trouble when you live on a council estate.
Please put up a picture of your domicile. I lived on a council estate but have lived elsewhere for some years now. My wife still puts the washing on the line in the summer months. Who is the more astute, the man whose washing goes in a energy intensive drying machine or someone who uses something that dries for free???
Washing is done on a Monday. If people are putting close them out on a Sunday then they are the spawn of the Devil.
Bonfires are done at the weekend as the man of the house is away working during the week.
If people just stick to the fundamental rules of civilisation then washing and bonfires would never overlap.
Huntsman, there is little point in buying a heavy duty machine because once you’ve done the main blitz it serves no purpose.
Either spend the first weekend taking down the big stuff and then rent a chipper the following or build a pile of the big stuff through the successive weekends and then rent a chipper to blast through it.
Obviously, this larger stuff is good kindling but I’m assuming you don’t have a woodburner etc.
In terms of your long term land management it really would make sense to find a space to create a large mulching and composting set up as garden waste is going to be an ongoing issue and you need a blended solution. Brown bin some, compost most, burn some.
Burning is fine, you just need to keep the bonfire small and during civilised hours during the time of year when the outside temps are low.
Burning on a weekday is for the unemployed and ill bred pensioners.
Washing on a weekend is for the lazy and feckless.
Bonfires too early in the season are strictly the preserve of string vested wife beaters. As are bonfires too large for the plot.
It’s very important o fully make use of all opportunities to blend use of the internal combustion engine and fire but it has to be done intelligently and with style and panache. Like the tango it is about timing and rules and blending these rigid factors to create a smooth, seemless art that is pleasing for all.
Bonfires are done at the weekend as the man of the house is away working during the week.
If people just stick to the fundamental rules of civilisation then washing and bonfires would never overlap.
Huntsman, there is little point in buying a heavy duty machine because once you’ve done the main blitz it serves no purpose.
Either spend the first weekend taking down the big stuff and then rent a chipper the following or build a pile of the big stuff through the successive weekends and then rent a chipper to blast through it.
Obviously, this larger stuff is good kindling but I’m assuming you don’t have a woodburner etc.
In terms of your long term land management it really would make sense to find a space to create a large mulching and composting set up as garden waste is going to be an ongoing issue and you need a blended solution. Brown bin some, compost most, burn some.
Burning is fine, you just need to keep the bonfire small and during civilised hours during the time of year when the outside temps are low.
Burning on a weekday is for the unemployed and ill bred pensioners.
Washing on a weekend is for the lazy and feckless.
Bonfires too early in the season are strictly the preserve of string vested wife beaters. As are bonfires too large for the plot.
It’s very important o fully make use of all opportunities to blend use of the internal combustion engine and fire but it has to be done intelligently and with style and panache. Like the tango it is about timing and rules and blending these rigid factors to create a smooth, seemless art that is pleasing for all.
If burning on a bonfire rather than in a drum, make sure you have a method of controlling it, like a hose.
Fire brigade turned up at a friend's bonfire we were running. It was a big old fire and despite being at the end of an acre garden they still wanted to see a method of controlling it.
If you are worried about neighbours being pissed, perhaps warn them before hand or ask when would be suitable?
Fire brigade turned up at a friend's bonfire we were running. It was a big old fire and despite being at the end of an acre garden they still wanted to see a method of controlling it.
If you are worried about neighbours being pissed, perhaps warn them before hand or ask when would be suitable?
gazapc said:
If burning on a bonfire rather than in a drum, make sure you have a method of controlling it, like a hose.
Fire brigade turned up at a friend's bonfire we were running. It was a big old fire and despite being at the end of an acre garden they still wanted to see a method of controlling it.
If you are worried about neighbours being pissed, perhaps warn them before hand or ask when would be suitable?
Interesting.Fire brigade turned up at a friend's bonfire we were running. It was a big old fire and despite being at the end of an acre garden they still wanted to see a method of controlling it.
If you are worried about neighbours being pissed, perhaps warn them before hand or ask when would be suitable?
Obviously with a large enough fire will barely notice a garden hose on it, much better to have it a good distance from anything flammable and control it by the rate of adding fuel. IE don't set fire to a pile wood and hope for the best, light a small fire and then add material bit at a time.
That said, if it does start spreading out a bit, better to have a hose ready than have to set it up by which time its likely got to far.
Mehh.
FIRE !!!
Diesel will set anything on fire - even wet leaves.
Starts off real slow, giving everything time to dry off a bit.
Then starts to take off.
Then goes into turbo mode and incinerates all in its path.
Then just stops, leaving you with a nice hot fire that will burn all your stuff instantly without smoke.
It's a beautiful thing when done properly.
Starts off real slow, giving everything time to dry off a bit.
Then starts to take off.
Then goes into turbo mode and incinerates all in its path.
Then just stops, leaving you with a nice hot fire that will burn all your stuff instantly without smoke.
It's a beautiful thing when done properly.
blueg33 said:
Shred it then compost the shreddings. ...
I can see that working for mixed hedge clippings, but does it work on a larger scale for big branches, including holly and the like?Just had a look and my local hire company to 2" and 3" shredders for £30-40 a day, half price for the second day, which is a reasonably attractive option.
http://www.wirraltoolhire.com/hire/gardening-lands...
Daniel
dhutch said:
blueg33 said:
Shred it then compost the shreddings. ...
I can see that working for mixed hedge clippings, but does it work on a larger scale for big branches, including holly and the like?Just had a look and my local hire company to 2" and 3" shredders for £30-40 a day, half price for the second day, which is a reasonably attractive option.
http://www.wirraltoolhire.com/hire/gardening-lands...
Daniel
)Fibrous chippings do make a good mulch if you have space and flower beds/borders to use it on.
dhutch said:
blueg33 said:
Shred it then compost the shreddings. ...
I can see that working for mixed hedge clippings, but does it work on a larger scale for big branches, including holly and the like?Just had a look and my local hire company to 2" and 3" shredders for £30-40 a day, half price for the second day, which is a reasonably attractive option.
http://www.wirraltoolhire.com/hire/gardening-lands...
Daniel
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