Plan your autumn pruning
If you're planning on pruning, Warwickshire County Council's home wood chipping service could help this autumn.
Green garden waste is recognised as a useful resource for gardeners and the wood chipping service provided by Warwickshire County Council has allowed residents to have their own prunings chipped at their home and then used for mulching their garden.
Mulching is an excellent way of controlling weeds and clearing ground. It works by depriving light, without which the weeds cannot grow.
Ken Simons, Senior Forester at Warwickshire County Council, is asking gardeners in Warwickshire to think well in advance about when they are likely to use the service to avoid a long wait, as experienced in previous years.
He said: “The service has been incredibly popular with residents. So much so that at times demand has been high. We are advising residents to book early to ensure a slot.”
The charge for the service is £15 per hour.
Ken added: “Why not share the cost with a group of neighbours? All we ask is that the material is contained in one pile for ease of shredding. It is surprising how much material can be shredded in one hour but if this is not sufficient, a further hour can be booked for an extra £10. This is a special offer for a limited period only.”
The home wood chipping service will chip twigs and branches of up to 12.5cm (5 inches) in diameter leaving customers with loose shredded chippings. These chippings can then be used as a weed suppressing, moisture retaining mulch or composted.
Bookings can be made by telephone on 01926 738827, between 9.30am and 12.15 pm. There is an answerphone service outside these hours.