How to Use Your New Chipper / Shredder Vac for Fall Yard Clean-Up

Ah, it's nearing autumn again. The leaves on the trees will be changing an d the countryside will shimmer in beautiful colors. Some of us wait all year for this spectacle. What any homeowner knows, however, is that this all means the leaves will be falling and with them, loose and dead branches will be coming down as well. This is the perfect time to trim trees of those branches as well. If you have a lot of foliage and take pride in your yard, the best way to deal with this time of the year is with a chipper/shredder vac.

The chipper vac differs from the usual stationary shredders in that it looks more like a large glorified lawn mower. Under the machine, suction is created that pulls in all loose debris. The blades cut, chip and shred the foliage and blow it out into an attached container, usually a canvas or hardened plastic bag that is attached to the unit. These machines make small work of yard cleanup and work especially well if you have a lot of brush and overgrow areas that need to be cleaned up before the frost and snow hits.

As with any large machinery containing fast-spinning blades, care should be taken for the sake of safety and your life. At a minimum, you will want to wear sturdy covered shoes or boots, steel-toes work best. Gloves should be worn along with protective glasses or goggles. Do not wear any loose clothing or jewelry; these can easily get caught up in the vacuum. Head protection is always a good idea as well and it doesn't hurt to wear earplugs or muffs to protect your hearing. Additionally, you should never work alone. Make sure someone else is home when you are working. If there is a major accident, you may not be able to get emergency help yourself.

Chipper/shredder vacs come in several varieties. Very small ones may be electric but I would only recommend electric if you have only light brush and leaves to chip and shred or if you absolutely must go green. Most people are suited to the stronger internal combustion models. It is also a good idea to have a unit that features a detachable hose. This can be used to suck up debris or loose plant material from tight spaces or flower gardens.

Once you have the chips and shreds, there are several uses for them. Fresh chips and mulch can be used as decoration, especially the larger pieces, straight from the bag. If you want to use the mulch for gardening, you should never use fresh mulch, except in extremely low amounts. Not only will fresh mulch adversely affect the acidity and pH levels of the soil, it will also rob the area of precious nitrogen as it decomposes.

If you do need the mulch for gardening right away, it is somewhat safe to add chemical or organic fertilizers and blood meal to the mulch. This will add nitrogen and nutrients back to the soil that the mulch will use.

The best thing to do with the mulch is to compost it. Create a compost pile or add the fresh mulch to your existing compost. It will need to sit for one year minimum to decompose satisfactorily. In one years, time you can freely use the compost to your heart's desire. Your plants will thank you and your neighbors and family will compliment you on your fabulous lawn, garden, and fresh produce.