If you’ve never hired a wood chipper before, you might be wondering how to track down a good deal for your upcoming project. This short guide is designed to answer the most common questions about hiring a chipper, including how much they cost and where best to hire one from.
What are wood chippers used for?
Let’s start with the most obvious question: what exactly is a wood chipper. This is a very important question because depending on the type of ground you are clearing, a wood chipper may not be the most appropriate machine.
In simple terms, if you need to clear tree trunks, branches and tough, woody material, a wood chipper is ideal. But if you are clearing shrubs and vegetation, a shredder is what you need because chippers are not designed to deal with flexible, sappy branches and leaves.
Can I use wood chips as mulch?
You may have come across advice that recommends using wood chips as mulch – a layer of organic material used to improve soil and suppress weeds. The good news is that wood chips is a very effective mulch. As explained by the Soil Association, wood chips are ideal as a mulch because they:
- Retain water, reducing evaporation
- Act as a slow-release fertiliser
- Suppress weeds
- Keep plants insulated
- Reduce landfill waste
- Are free!
What types of wood chipper are there?
Without getting too technical, there are four basic types of wood chipper: wheeled, towed, self-propelled and stationary. While a small, wheeled chipper may be sufficient for a simple domestic job, most projects will require a towed or self-propelled chipper. Self-propelled chippers usually run on petrol or diesel although there are electric models.
How much is it to hire a wood chipper?
When considering hiring a wood chipper, it is important to avoid basing your decision on cost alone. Your chosen chipper must be reliable and able to handle the demands of your project, which is why we only hire out machines from leading brands.
Maintenance and storage is also essential. Even the best chippers will break down if they are not regularly serviced or exposed to the elements when in storage.
Chippers are usually hired either by the day or week, with weekly hire prices starting from around the £80 mark. When getting quotes for your hire, watch out for hidden extras (e.g., damage waivers, fuel, delivery, etc.)
Where can I hire a wood chipper?
The two main outlets for wood chippers are general tool hire companies and specialist arboricultural or grounds maintenance companies.
As a specialist in grounds maintenance machines, we recommend you add Elmstar to your shortlist of hire partners. We offer a range of benefits, including:
- Towed and self-propelled chippers from leading brands
- Delivery and collection service
- Servicing from a dedicated, in-house team
- 48 hour machine replacement in the unusual event of a problem
Visit our wood chipper hire page for full details, or contact us to find out more.
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