Chipper Shredder and Composting.

Chipper Shredder and Composting.

http://xrl.us/pdxv 2 July 2006 Operating the shredder.

http://xrl.us/q7gy 24 July 2006 Turning compost bin over.

This ten horespower machine is used to chop up all waste foliage. I make a pile of foliage, and when there is enough I wheel the machine out, and chop up the waste. It only takes a few minutes. I use to do this with a machette on a wooden block. It disposes of the branches and waste plants in a clean and quick manner. Unfortunately, one has to justify the cost, and it probably wouldn't be economical with a small yard. Anyway it is probably easier than taking garden waste products to the dump.

The amount of composted material is very minimal. All I get is about 6 cubic yards of garden ready material, which I spread on the garden in the spring. I even get my neighbors grass clippings from two properties. I leave my grass clipping where they fall.

Leaves can be a hassle in a compost pile, since they tend to stick together and eventually become like a paper book. Leaves compost just fine if chopped up with the lawnmower into small pieces by running over and over a pile.

Durgan.