Apologies up front for this beginner ‘farmer’ question, but I have assembled a large pile of brush, dead tree branches, etc. and am not sure how to dispose of it. For one thing, my local county ‘dump’ does not accept any kind of landscaping waste. I was told by someone to think about getting a ‘burn permit’ but am not sure how comfortable I would be setting this big pile on fire. Any suggestions? Here are some photos. I should have parked my tractor next to it for a size reference.
What to do with ‘yard’ waste?
- Thread starter racerboy
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NCL4701
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L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
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From a maintenance standpoint, still have those two permanent brush piles. If they’re rotting down as fast as we’re adding to them and we don’t need wood chips, we leave them be. If we need wood chips or they’re getting too big or we have a lot of new stuff at one time (like when a big tree goes down near the houses or a storm makes a mess), we bust out the chipper.
- Burn it.
- Leave it where it is. Call it “habitat restoration for small native wildlife”. That sounds more noble than a brush pile you didn’t feel like messing with. And it actually does provide habitat for rabbits, mice, rats, various insects, etc. (and of course the snakes that like to eat such smallish animals).
- Chip it. You can use the chips for mulch in some areas, just not around buildings. Untreated wood chips around buildings can attract termites. If you don’t want to use the chips, the chip pile will be much, much, much smaller than the brush pile and if you just leave the chip pile alone, it will rot down to nothing much faster.
From a maintenance standpoint, still have those two permanent brush piles. If they’re rotting down as fast as we’re adding to them and we don’t need wood chips, we leave them be. If we need wood chips or they’re getting too big or we have a lot of new stuff at one time (like when a big tree goes down near the houses or a storm makes a mess), we bust out the chipper.
Do you have a local Volunteer Fire Dept..? Sometimes they need to exercise equipment and practice fire-fighting.… and that would resolve your burn-permit issues as well.
Get a burn permit, a gallon of diesel fuel, not gasoline, propane torch, wait for waste to be dry dead, wait for moist weather and have pile away from flammables, break into smaller piles if needed, start pile at downwind side. Follow this and it should not be an issue
Lil Foot
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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
A few years ago I saw the Forest Circus set a pile of logs & slash on fire. (in a big open area)
It had been drying for probably ten years, and there was about a foot of snow on the ground.
The pile was probably 100ft long, 50-60 ft wide, and 20-25ft tall.
I came by about a month later & it was still smoking.
And, amazingly, it didn't get away from them.
@NCL4701's post covers it pretty well from my perspective, but I can add a couple comments. I was surprised how I could just add to a pile periodically and smush it down with the forks, and it would stay reasonably-sized for stuff collected near the dwelling. But, with enough acreage+clearing, I finally couldn't avoid getting rid of all the growing piles somehow. We looked at the same WC68 chipper. I got around to burning it first though, probably because a little diesel is way cheaper, and burning is more fun.
Probably hard to actually be "overly cautious", but my fear of things getting out of hand was maybe exaggerated, and I had soon eliminated large slash piles all over the property. In my case, my only option for water was driving into the creek to fill the loader bucket. Def increased the pucker factor, but all turned out fine. We're getting close to needing another round of burns.
Good luck with it.
Greg
Probably hard to actually be "overly cautious", but my fear of things getting out of hand was maybe exaggerated, and I had soon eliminated large slash piles all over the property. In my case, my only option for water was driving into the creek to fill the loader bucket. Def increased the pucker factor, but all turned out fine. We're getting close to needing another round of burns.
Good luck with it.
Greg
Also, FWIW, I found I prefer burning at night because A) I'm a night owl and B) less wind. Not my idea, probably a fellow night owl that rationalized it that way...
As always do as you feel is best. I prefer to make a couple of passes with a disc the day before then at first light (low wind and dampness) throw a tire or two with a little diesel and off you go. Use your bucket or grapple to keep tightening the pile.
Russell King
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Stop putting it in piles and just let it rot where it falls or wherever you move it to.. I run my shredder over the limbs to cut the smaller parts up and then the grass will grow up and cover the limb.
Educate yourself on how to properly burn it. Hint - you start with s small pile and feed more over time.
Dan
I regularly burn brush piles. No burn permits required where I live but I do consult a burn ban map first. Just be certain you have a clear perimeter around the pile. Start the fire such that it burns into the wind (if present).
A gallon of diesel in a small garden sprayer will allow you to 'feed' the fire to get it started and IF you have a leaf blower, use it to create a good hot spot of burning wood. The rest will take of itself.
A gallon of diesel in a small garden sprayer will allow you to 'feed' the fire to get it started and IF you have a leaf blower, use it to create a good hot spot of burning wood. The rest will take of itself.
I do a few things:
Huge leave pile. Turn it regularly OR leave it alone. Deadly mold can form if you don't keep turning it so if you're not going to turn it don't mess with it.
Flail mower: Mowing and chipping brush all at once.
Wood chipper: For small trees I cut them with a chainsaw and feed the whole tree. Moderate trees require thinning the tops and feeding the limbs seperate.
Wood stove: Hopefully in spring that project gets started. Right now I donate all of my wood to neighbors that heat with wood and don't have a good source of wood. I have more wood than I know what to do with so their supply won't be impacted, and I'll save some $$$ on heating myself. Generally wood heat isn't worth the expense if you have to buy wood, but since wood is a by-product of cleaning up it'll offset some of the cost of landscaping.
Huge leave pile. Turn it regularly OR leave it alone. Deadly mold can form if you don't keep turning it so if you're not going to turn it don't mess with it.
Flail mower: Mowing and chipping brush all at once.
Wood chipper: For small trees I cut them with a chainsaw and feed the whole tree. Moderate trees require thinning the tops and feeding the limbs seperate.
Wood stove: Hopefully in spring that project gets started. Right now I donate all of my wood to neighbors that heat with wood and don't have a good source of wood. I have more wood than I know what to do with so their supply won't be impacted, and I'll save some $$$ on heating myself. Generally wood heat isn't worth the expense if you have to buy wood, but since wood is a by-product of cleaning up it'll offset some of the cost of landscaping.
Always check local laws, my township has banned night burning mostly to reduce false fire reports. That said, this years leaf pile has been smouldering for two weeks as I add to it early in the day.
The county has a form to fill out to get a burn permit here. Go visit your county website.
However, brush piles are good for wildlife. I don't know how big your place is, but just moving the pile to provide wildlife habitat might be an option. So, you could help wildlife and clean up a bit by pushing it out of your way but where the wildlife can use it.
However, brush piles are good for wildlife. I don't know how big your place is, but just moving the pile to provide wildlife habitat might be an option. So, you could help wildlife and clean up a bit by pushing it out of your way but where the wildlife can use it.
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I have 4 piles that I add to, what's surprising is how fast it rots away... In the pass we have burned a ton in the fire pit, mulched a ton with the chipper (lots of work), even did the hugelkulter route (which rotted the fastest) but the easiest and quickest for us is piling it up in the woods edge; out of sight / out of mind.
Those piles look reasonably small. Assuming you clear around the piles to produce a non-combustible zone and have water and/or equipment available to extinguish if things get out of hand, you're good to go. Check with local fire folks (called fire wardens in my state) about getting a permit. They will advise on local fire risk level conditions (wind, weather, humidity etc) and only issue a permit if risk is low. Ashes are good for soil and raise pH. Not to mention the warmth is good on cold nights.
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Given your login name do you have to take any unusual precautions when burning brush
Dan
Good safety point Dan. Fortunately, they do not allow brush piles in the OR so I'm safe. When burning outside, the breeze dilutes any gasses of intestinal origin so the risk is quite low. Thank you for your concern.Given your login name do you have to take any unusual precautions when burning brush
Dan
Bmyers
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We burn brush piles. We have a large brush pile right now, this Spring it will start to be burned. The nieces and nephews will come over and we will pull out some of the brush and make a nice bonfire, roast some hot dogs and make Smores. They all love it and I get rid of my brush pile.