If you are a homeowner, cleaning up the yard can be a simple task if you have only a few trees and bushes. If you live in a wooded area or have a lot with heavy vegetation, maintenance can require constant attention.
Winter months can take a toll on yards with all the broken tree limbs and fallen leaves. Picking them up can be time consuming and hard on your body. If you don't have the money to hire someone you might want to invest in a wood shredder. Because even if you have the time and energy to clean it all up, what are you going to do with it?
Wood shredders create mulch which can be used in gardens or around the base of trees and shrubs for a decorative landscape. If consider purchasing a wood chipper you would need to consider what you are using it for. Small wood chippers cost around 0 and larger ones retail at about 00. When you compare these machines to commercial machines they are totally affordable. Industrial versions of wood shredders cost around ,000.
Rent or Buy
Wood shredders are a much more convenient option than rakes and bags but you have to ask yourself if you want to purchase one or just rent. Some jobs can be too much to handle in one day or even a weekend and after you rent one you might find that you'd like to have one at your disposal or that it's not worth having. So, maybe renting one is the best way to make an informed decision before you purchase.
You can find a local rental facility at rentallocator.com. Be aware though that sometimes, as with any rental equipment you might not even be using the highest quality machine. There are many horror stories about rental machines of this caliber. Sometimes they are too heavy, or they break down but that isn't always the case.
There are also terrible stories about people loosing arms, hands and fingers so please be aware of your own safety if you rent or buy a machine like this. Evaluate the machine for safety; check to see if the belts, shafts, and cutting mechanisms covered. Follow these safety guidelines:
1. Wear protective glasses or goggles, read the directions and never work alone.
2. Keep children, observers, and pets far away from the area where you are operating the shredder.
3. Only put approved materials into the machine at recommended feed rates.
Top brands for residential home wood chippers are said to be Troy Bilt, Echo Bearcat, Craftsman, MTD, and Patriot. Reviews on these manufacturers are available at Popularmechanics.com and Amazon.com.
