Shredders

[Stephen]

I am clearing a half-plot (next to my established half) which has not been dug or cleared for about three years.
This obviously produces a lot of material, which I thought would benift from shredding/chipping before I put it into a compost heap.
This would be a hired item as I doubt if there would be sufficient material sudsequently.
Do people have reccomendations and thoughts about this?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Stephen, i'm afraid i like a bonfire too much to hire a shredder, so i will have to leave this to someone else to answer.

[John]

Hello and welcome, Stephen
You don't say what the overgrowth is like. Shredders are really at their best when dealing with woody, twiggy sort of stuff even then some things like bramble are too awkward to shred.
If the ground is reasonably level and clear of junk perhaps you might do a better job with a strimmer to get the worst off then a rotary mower - a mulcher type on its highest setting. The mowings could then be gathered up or dug straight in.

John

[richard p]

id probably get the cheapest rotary lawnmower i could find on ebay or freecycle and run over with that. if you press down on the handles so the front wheels are clear of the ground its surprising what they will chomp through, if you get one with a bag on the back its all collected ready to tip on the compost heap. just check the undergrowth for rocks old iron etc before you start.
or try the local hire places for heavy duty mowers

[Stephen]

Ah, it is all cut down, so in a heap. I just wanted to get it all into small bits an dump it to compost (it will take time). The stuff is mostly raspberry stems, rhubarb root (I saved some, but much was intertwined with bindweed - see my contribution to the Bindweed thread). Mostly not woody.

Old Herbaceous: I agree about enjoying a bonfire. I absolutely love the smell and the smoke too to a large exyent but here in Berkhamsted they are frowned upon. I wish that the &^%$£ barbeques were equally despised but it is one of those double standards things, IMO.

[oldherbaceous]

Good morning Stephen, a hired shredder it must be then.

I don't think i would put the rhubarb roots through though, i think they might bung the machine up, unless they are very dry.

You could always burn them on a barbeque.

[richard p]

i wouldnt compost bindweed, you only need one piece to survive on the edge of the heap.. perhaps wait for the heap to dry out, then have a barbeque but remember where to accidentally dispose of the hot coals or just light it when nobody else is about and swear you saw a couple of hoodies legging it over the back fence, where theres a will theres a way

[Stephen]

Thanks for the advice, rather what I thought. Don't worry I can cope with the odd disapproving look!

[Monika]

Hire the largest shredder you can afford or get to the plot, because small shredders clog up very easily and are just not worth the bother. You might also find that brambles wind themselves round the cutters rather than be shredded. We have a large one but only use it for straight branches and other very dry, straight vegetation because it can't really cope with anything else.

If you do get one, the resulting shredded material is lovely for the mixed compost heap, it really helps to make good, clean compost when mixed with green stuff.

[Stephen]

Hi Monika
It was the thought of the outcome that made me ask!
I was also taken aback by the cost of hire, so it has to be worthwhile expenditure.