How to get rid of branches (too much for fire)

brooky_agb

Over the last two weekends we have cut the hedges in our garden down to about half the height they were and we have a MASSIVE pile of branches in the middle of the garden which go as high as the first floor window ledge!!

There is just too much to burn. Can anyone recommend a good way to get rid of it. I have phoned a local tree surgeon but I think it will be really expensive.

Has anyone had this problem and have any solutions to get rid of it? We don't want to spend a fortune hiring people and a machine. I don't know if there are companies that want wood chippings?

kazschow

Put an offer on freecycle someone will be delighted to come and get them for kindling I bet

brooky_agb

COol. I'll do that thanks!

EDIT: I posted a freecycle ad. A 3" wood chipper to hire is going to cost £144 for a weekend if delivered.

HarryL

Cut down a whole over grown garden about 2 years ago to place a sunhouse instead. Took down a whole 1.5 story holly tree and a lot of bushes. Was too much to burn in one go yeah. however we bought a burning bin (just a metal bin, like homeless people gather around in films)

We figured we would burn the whole lot over a couple of week. But once you get a fire really going in one of those bins. its basically eats the branches.

Obviously I can tell how much stuff you've got to burn. But surely if your worried about cost, just having more than 1 fire would be the way to go.

brooky_agb

Thanks, we have quite a big garden but there is just so much keeping a fire away from the house is not easy. I think we will cut it into smaller bits and burn on the fire.

Thanks All...

Itismehonest

Do you ue mulch or woodchip anywhere on your garden? When we have a mammoth thinning session we usully then hire a wood-chipper. Depending on the amount of chippings you produce it can save a fortune on buying mulch etc.

brooky_agb

Thanks. Handy tip! Don't know if we need it or not TBH.

splodger_seedswapper

when you have a large amount of wood waste - it is essential that you cut it up into smaller, easy to handle pieces.

as said above - a burning bin will eat up the wood in no time at all - i use an old oil drum in my small garden - and make charcoal for myself when i do a big burn - it's time consuming but very rewarding (and saves money)

if you have a big garden - then you could actually create lovely wildlife habitat - just by making the bits small enough to break down eventually. you could make a lovely shelter with sticks for example to make a sort of hedgehog house, somewhere near a hedge would be ideal - make a mini wigwam or something - fill with dry leaves inside - and cover with some membrane and wwet leaves ontop - or just pile the smaller brash in a corner somewhere to rot down naturally (obviously the bigger the branch the long it takes to rot - so smaller bits will go in no time at all (assuming it wasn't a really durable hardwood that you have taken down - like oak, chestnut, hornbeam, ash, alder etc as these will not rot as easily)

a big pile of sticks in the corner of a garden will attract all sorts of wildlife - especially beetles and woodlice etc - and these will then attract birds etc to the garden - so it's a win win situation if you have the space