Burn baby burn!!!

[smallfrog]

Hiya all,

Just after a bit of allotment advice. I have been given permission to cut down a very large hegde that shades my plot. I'd say it was 10ft of blackthorn, dog rose and any other thorney thing you can think of. so have reduced it down to a meer 3ft/ 4ft.

Now have a hugeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee pile of hegde to get rid of. We're allowed bonfire so was thinking of burning some. Filling hegde with some kinda layering with hopes of keeping the munk jack (think thats spelt wrong) deer at bay. Theres a barbed wire fence on the other side of the hegde but its only two pieces. so could lay the old trimming to fill in the gaps. Will this work i know its not how to lay a proper hedge but it would get rid of some of the branches. Will they reshoot?

On the burning side of things i'm thinking small contained fire in old metal dust bin. My plot partner wants huge funeral pyre i'm not keen. Dustbin idea might take a while to get rid of it all. so then i thought i could strip bigger branches down and use as posts for fruit cage for strawberries or will the blackthorn resprout into giant cuttings.

Any other ideas of what to do with the cuttings? Would it burn on a open fire alright at home? There about 5-10cm branches.

Taking it all to the tip isn't an option either as there's too much and would take too long with my little car. Will bag up some and do it that way as well.

Note to parents do not leave middle size beans in car to play driving while you cut hedge even for a short time. They will leave the lights on and you will have to ring around everyone you know to get a jump start.

[Nicos]

Why not hire a shredder- then you can make good use of it!!!

...seems such a pity to waste it

larger branches will need stacking for 1-2 years and then they will burn well on your fire at home.

it'll be much more environmentally friendly than having a huge bonfire

[Guttata]

Ask your council, not sure which department, and see if they will do the shredding for you. Some will and so you get free shredded wood. Some will take it away for council use like they do when they cut bits off the trees.

[smallfrog]

Rang the council and they didn't want to know. They said i can put it into our grey dustbin. I said there was rather alot and may take most of the year to do it that was way. I asked was there another way they said i should just burn it. :O(

stupid question but can you get petrol shreddars.

[Nicos]

Yup- you sure can!!!

[Paulottie]

Blackthorn makes very good walking/thumb sticks so cut any of those that look suitable out...(they can be straitened a bit with steam). many retired country folk like to make them....sure you'll find a home.

Larger stuff will indeed burn on your fire

I don't think blackthorn resprouts much but is very successful through sloes and underground runners.

The thinner stuff I have to say I wouldn't be bothered to put in the dustbin to burn as it is pretty vicious....be careful of leaving little bits on the ground too We have quite a patch of it in France and i have even had it go through shoes.

[smallfrog]

started chopping and have a nice pile of big bits to dry out and and pile to burn of thorney bits. Now its being chopped up again it doesn't seem such a mamouth task.
I've also put alot into the gaps in the hegde to keep the deer out. if it doesn't work it can be burnt at a later date. I'm covered in scratches not but not too many splinters which is good.

[geoff]

Burn it, but in smallish doses, about a dustbinfull at a time, and keep topping it up. When it's burned down, start again. Spread the ash over the plot.
It will be easier if you have a hand - axe, billhook , or machete , and keep it razor sharp
I envy you. There is absolutely nothing that compares with sitting around a fire on a summer evening with a couple of mates and a can of beer or a mug of tea and putting the world to rights

[smallfrog]

Thanks geoff will be burning and chopping tomorrow afternoon.

Plan to save the ash but where am i best to make use to it. Should i wait for autumn and add to empty beds or dig some in where i'm putting the runner beans.

Might have a little bbq at the same time. If little bro the butcher comes up with some sausages. :O)

[ginger ninger]

Have a look at this smallfrog it'll give you a rough idea what to do with your wood ash, it's good stuff if used proper .

Can You Use Wood Ash on the Garden? | eHow.co.uk

[smallfrog]

Thanks ginger going up there today to harvest my ash.

It didn't take that long to burn it considering. Have 1 large pile to do but might leave it for a while. Had a bit of a bbq and have kept the big sticks branches for either burning at home or using as makeshift posts.

Filled in the hedge gaps which looks a bit of a mess but it should keep intruders out.

Thanks for all the advice