Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi there folks.

I'm just in the process of taking down a huge privet bush which has gone completely mad and would like to know if anyone can advise as to the best chipper to invest in?

Cheers,

Allyclaret

Hi allyclaret and welcome to the Vine!

I know nothing about chippers, I'm afraid, but perhaps you could hire one rather than splash out?

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Wed 20/08/2008...Cracking Carrots!...

Hi Hazel, thanks for the lovely welcome.

I'm looking to make constant use of the shredder once the bush is tamed so hiring is out of the question. But thanks for the advice!!!

Ally

It all depends upon your budget. If you can, go for a petrol one as they are much more robust than electric ones and get one that takes at least 50mm diameter branches, 75mm is better. Going for a well known brand means that you will always be able to get spare parts and more importantly, spare blades.

Budget £2-300 for a reasonable one and £500 for an excellent one.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated at last - Saturday 9th at 2040hrs

I would recommend not putting children in the chipper to avoid this.

Thanks for the question Allyclaret and welcome to the Vine. Can I expand the question. I don't have a shredder but have thought about it. I do have plenty of space where I can dump stuff out of sight until it rots down - even if it takes years. Or I could put it through a shredder. Is a shredder really worth having. What would I gain ?

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

It take a lot less space ALice and it will rot down in half the time ( if you save your old compost bags add 6ozs ( I think) Sulphate of ammonia and stand back 12 months later lovely stuff to either dig in your beds or use as a mulch.

PS I got one from Focus its a Champion and I got it for £100 and it is retty good but you can't get big stuff thru it. I want on elike the one they brought to our lottie site that was a beast. It took 3"+ branches no probs but I suspect it had a nought on the end of what piglet suggested !

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Do you mean chipper or shredder? They are different beasts really. Chippers are big and meaty and a small one will take 8" branches and small trees. Very expensive and not worth it on domestic scale. I think you mean shredder? No experience of these, sorry, but I just wanted to clarify!

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Dwell simply ~ love richly

We've just pruned a Privet (god I hate the smell of their flowers) and will use the bits as twiggy pea sticks. Once they've dried out a bit, so they don't root!

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Much cheaper to put stuff out on lawn and run over it with rotary mower.... same tool -two jobs. Obviously don't be too ambitious but it works well.

Easy TS...I once put a load of unshreded privet in the heap and the whole lot sprouted ...nightmare.

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

Thanks to everyone for "chipping" in! (ho ho ho!!)

I'm going to try the lawn mower trick with my hedge clippings and if that works, maybe hire a shredder/chipper for the 16 foot bush I'm taking down.

Thanks again all!

Ally

Just resurrecting this thread to add that the Bosch 1800W electric shredder I just bought is going back to the shop because it doesn't do the job. It claims to shred up to 33mm diameter branches, but struggled with anything over about 10mm and jammed so often that I gave up. I wanted it to deal with the bits that were too big for the lawnmower (soft hedge trimmings get spread over the grass and mowed over - works a treat) but it wasn't powerful enough.

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You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

blog: http://allyheebiejeebie.blogspot.com/ and my (basic!) page: http://www.allythegardener.co.uk/