Leylandi Tree Chopped Down ......

[SusieG]

Don't know if I'm on the right bit here, but:

1: Does anyone know if it's okay to burn on a multi fuel burner, leylandi wood ... I have researched this a little and some places I've read says it's ok, whereas others say to avoid it.
It has a very sticky residue, so am willing to leave it piled up for a couple of years if it will then be burnable ....

2: There's a whopping heap of the 'green stuff' also. I can't compost this as its too acidic. We were thinking of shredding/bagging then to the tip (already taken 3 full car loads!!) and it hardly touched the pile .... Will it burn on an outdoor bonfire ....?

Your thoughts/ advice please!

[Nicos]

I think you can burn most trees, but the residue would probably mean you'd need to clean the chimney more than you would normally need to as it might be more of a fire hazard ?

[Nicos]

Personally I'd burn it after 2-3 years but also mix it with other types of wood.
Might make a good starter wood?

[lottie dolly]

Apparently pine spits,the small stuff should burn outside in small doses,try a bit and judge for yourself if suitable,another 1 to think about is whats around you,will it upset anyone,plus what law is there in your area,we have a body not far away,does gardening for others,then burns it and stinks out the area,it ever comes in the home through the vents,

[Bigmallly]

I have some conifer split into logs for burning. It leaks sticky resin which is a pain so I've wrapped the logs individually in newspaper as you would fish & chips..............

[happyhumph]

If you split & stack it for a few years it should be okay to burn, mix with other wood & keep on top of chimney sweeping as others have said. Don't want to scare you but our neighbour chopped down 3 enormous pines. They stacked & seasoned the wood before burning. Everything fine for the first couple of years but got a bit lazy about sweeping & had a small chimney fire.

Got it under control, but a lesson to all of us with wood fires / burners about the importance of regular chimney sweeping.

[SusieG]

If you split & stack it for a few years it should be okay to burn, mix with other wood & keep on top of chimney sweeping as others have said. Don't want to scare you but our neighbour chopped down 3 enormous pines. They stacked & seasoned the wood before burning. Everything fine for the first couple of years but got a bit lazy about sweeping & had a small chimney fire.

Got it under control, but a lesson to all of us with wood fires / burners about the importance of regular chimney sweeping.

We do have our chimney swept every autumn before we start using it in earnest again over the winter ..... I've also heard horror stories about chimney fires ........

I have some conifer split into logs for burning. It leaks sticky resin which is a pain so I've wrapped the logs individually in newspaper as you would fish & chips..............

Any salt 'n vinegar ............?

Apparently pine spits,the small stuff should burn outside in small doses,try a bit and judge for yourself if suitable,another 1 to think about is whats around you,will it upset anyone,plus what law is there in your area,we have a body not far away,does gardening for others,then burns it and stinks out the area,it ever comes in the home through the vents,

We talked about the nuisance of bonfires, and would be considerate in doing so ..... We're in a rural area where the local farmer often has a good 'burn-up' ~ yes, I'll check local bye-laws too, good point!

Thanks all for your thoughts

[veggiechicken]

Can you shred it and use it on paths? I had a load of shredded conifer and it smells delicious when you walk on it.

[SusieG]

It has a lovely lemony fragrance ...... mmm, not thought of using it shredded on paths .....

[Mr Bones]

Tree cutters bring shredded leylandi to our lotty for use as path mulch. It gives off bio suppressants when new but rots fairly quickly into a lovely textured compost. Can't say if it's acidic though.

[SusieG]

Tree cutters bring shredded leylandi to our lotty for use as path mulch. It gives off bio suppressants when new but rots fairly quickly into a lovely textured compost. Can't say if it's acidic though.

Yeah, Mr B, liking the idea of using it on path areas ........ my problem with using on any 'growing' area,or indeed adding it to the compost bins, is that I have seen the evidence of my lawn underneath where the leylandi grow .... (Read somewhere(?) that it's acidic and my lawn is decimated - also there is an absence of weed growth there (well, apart from the ivy growing up the trees!!!))

[Nicos]

Could you use the area where the tree grew for blueberries etc ..or any acid loving plant?

[veggiechicken]

Nothin much grows under conifers. They steal the light all year round & suck up the water.

[SusieG]

Nothin much grows under conifers. They steal the light all year round & suck up the water.

......yes you're absolutely right, VC ~ they're dreadful things really ...

Folks see them as a 'quick-fix' hedge for privacy - BUT - if not kept in check grow at an alarming rate .......
Not something I'd ever choose to grow, personally ..........

[worm74]

I took 2 very large conifers down a couple of years ago the pile of branches was huge.

I burnt mine green very smokey but waited till winter and started small at about 10 pm burnt through to about 2 am got rid of it all I 2 nights by doing this everyone had there windows and curtains closed. Lucky as it was very smokey

However I did have an old pond that I had removed and used as a fire pit and was throwing whole branches on (it was a big fire)