rec.gardens.ecosystems homepage -> archive: MOD$000402.27445@rec.gardens.ecosystems



Subject: Re: Mulcher/chipper
From: <kipco@cris.com>
Organization: Concentric Internet Services
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 00 08:49:05
Message-ID: <MOD$000402.27445@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$000331.17113@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



Hi Lucy!

This ends up being a 'how do you work?' question.

I moved into a similar situation (widow moving into assisted living) about 6
years ago. I had one chipper-shredder, stationary style. I used it every day
that someone would haul it around for me for 4 years. Then, (long story) I also
ended up with a less-powerful self-propelled chipper shredder. Now, I use the
self-propelled one every day I'm in the garden and only use the stationary one
on the 'bigger' jobs.

I try to make all my own mulch. One neighbor helps with lawn clippings which I
use to 'dress' some beds (usually over the top of landscape cloth. I have an
seemingly unending supply of leaves that I use for mulch. For the beds to look
nice, I end up sheet composting the leaves (either whole or shredded) in various
beds until I can get to them. About the 3rd time through the self-propelled
chipper shredder, the result looks as good as prepackaged mulch and goes into
the soil easily. This is important to me as everything around here is clay
(almost good enough to make dinnerware).

I've had enough trouble with the neighbors to NOT attempt composting in a pile.
The neighbors have no idea what sheet composting is or they'd have me hauled
before the city judge for composting, too. :/

The self-propelled is from Troy (overpriced, underpowered, sucks stuff up,
carries the full bags to where I want to dump them). The stationary is from MTD
(reasonably priced, decent power, rake ramp to get stuff in, manual carry of the
full bags to where I want the stuff dumped).

I guess the answer to your question is 'it depends' :)

Nancy
Zone 5

"LucyF7" wrote in message
news:MOD$000331.17113@rec.gardens.ecosystems...
>
> Do ya'll have any advice on the brand of mulcher/chipper to get? Or even
> whether to get one or not? I'm a new homeowner and gardener and I've been
> cleaning up my yard. I've got alot of old branches, vines, etc to clean up.
> (The lady who lived here before me was 94 when she went to an apartment. The
> yard had been neglected for a very long time.) Also I live on a street where no
> one else appreciates leaves and other organic materials so I can get all of
> their discarded material. Do you think it's worth it to spend money on one of
> these machines? Or should I just rent one to chip my initial load of branches
> and then occasionally rent one every year or so to do additional chipping and
> mulching?
>
> Thank you.
> Lucy Foxworth
> Greenville, SC - Zone 7
>