Brush piles.  Fallen limbs.  Uprooted saplings.  Leaf piles.  Garden waste.  On large country properties, there are dozens of ways to make use of a wood chipper or chipper/shredder.  But how can you know that purchasing one is the best choice for you?  As you consider your chipping and shredding needs, ask yourself these three essential questions:

What do you need to chip?

Take a close look at your brush piles or the types of fallen branches that you have.  What is the biggest size you’d like to be able to chip?  You probably won’t find a wood chipper that will take over 5-1/2” or 6” diameter branches unless you step up to a commercial machine – an expensive step.  And a 6” diameter branch can probably be cut up and put to better use in your wood pile anyway.  Also note that although many wood chippers on the market claim to have a 5” or 6” chipping capacity, you would really struggle to get that big a branch to chip.  DR RapidFeed Chippers are self-feeding, so when we say it will chip branches up to 5-1/2” thick, we mean it!

Consider your “shreddable” material as well.  Weeds, grass clippings, leaves, kitchen waste, and other flexible, green materials shred fantastically and leave you with a fine mulch that will easily turn to compost.  If you have a small compost pile that is easy to turn, you may not need the shredding capabilities of a Chipper/Shredder.  If you have a lot of shreddable waste, however, shredding is an ideal way to begin the decomposition process.  If you want to be able to shred large material such as corn cobs or thick stalks, think about the Pro-XL or PTO DR Chipper/Shredders.  If your material is smaller, the Premier might be all the machine you need.

How often will you use it?

If you only need a chipper after big storms or once a year to clean up a few brush piles, renting one for a day’s use might be the best option for you.  However, consider how the costs of renting add up over the years.  Renting a wood chipper or chipper/shredder can cost between $100 and $200 per day, depending on the type of machine and your location.  For some homeowners, that might mean renting is the more viable option.  If you plan on chipping two or three times a year, however, or if you have a garden and lawn that produce a lot of shreddable waste throughout the growing season, you will probably enjoy the flexibility of owning your own machine and being able to put it to use at your convenience.

Where is your chipping and shredding material located?

Consider also how you’ll get your chipper or chipper/shredder to your brush piles, garden waste heaps, or forest full of downed limbs.  Whether you rent or buy, make sure that your machine is either towable by the towing vehicle of your choice or that your materials aren’t too far away.  DR RapidFeed Chippers and DR Chipper/Shredders all come equipped with either handles for pushing around your property or hitches for towing.  If you own a tractor, PTO chippers and chipper/shredders are another option.  These use your tractor’s 3-point hitch mechanism and PTO shaft for power and transport.

Taking these things into consideration, you’ll be able to decide how to take care of your unsightly brush piles, garden waste, and fallen limbs.  If you’re considering purchasing a DR Chipper or Chipper/Shredder, remember that every one of our machines comes with our 6 Month Hands-On Trial.  Try any model out on your property for a full 6 months and if you decide it’s not the right machine for you, we’ll take it back, no questions asked.