Wood Chipper and Operator Hire in Colchester
Piles of branches, hedge cuttings and brash take up space and are awkward to get rid of. A wood chipper with a trained operator turns them into chips on site, which can be left for your borders and paths or taken away. Send a photo of the pile and the access for a quick provisional quote.
- Chipper and operator in one price
- NPTC-qualified and insured
- Free written quotes
- 5-star Google rated
- Open 7 days, 8am to 6pm
From Brash Pile to Useful Mulch
A heap of branches that would fill several skips goes through the chipper in a fraction of the space, and the chips can go straight back into the garden.
Branches from pruning, hedge cutting or a storm pile up quickly, take over the lawn and are too bulky for green bins or car trips to the tip.
The brash is chipped on site, the lawn is raked clear and the chips are left in a tidy heap or loaded up and taken away. Tree pruning Colchester
Spread as a surface mulch, wood chip suppresses weeds, holds moisture in borders and makes a soft, free-draining path. Tree removal Colchester
Wood Chipping Services in Colchester
The chipper always comes with a trained operator, priced together, whether it is part of a tree job or a standalone visit to clear a pile.
Chipping After Tree Work
Branches from felling, pruning and pollarding chipped as the work goes, so the garden is never buried in brash.
Garden Waste Piles
Branches and cuttings you have already cut yourself, chipped on a standalone visit instead of countless trips to the tip.
Hedge Cuttings
Brash from hedge cutting and reduction, including bulky conifer and leylandii cuttings that do not fit in a green bin.
Site Clearance
Overgrown ground, scrub and problem areas cleared and the vegetation chipped, ready for landscaping or building work.
Storm Debris
Fallen branches and wind-blown limbs cut and chipped after storms. For trees that are still dangerous, see our emergency tree service.
Chips Kept or Taken Away
Chips left in a heap for mulching borders and paths, taken away for recycling, or a mix of both to suit you.
Why the Chipper Comes With an Operator
Self-drive chipper hire looks cheaper on paper, but wood chippers are among the most dangerous machines used in tree work. The feed rollers pull branches in at speed and do not stop for a snagged sleeve, glove or twig caught in clothing. The Health and Safety Executive publishes specific guidance on the safe use of wood chippers for exactly that reason.
A trained operator knows how to feed material butt-end first, stand to the side of the in-feed, keep the discharge chute pointing somewhere safe and stop the machine properly. They also get through a pile far faster than someone using a chipper for the first time, which matters when you are paying for the day.
That is why the chipper is only supplied with an operator, and why both are included in one price rather than a machine hire charge plus labour.
Getting Rid of Garden Waste Legally
Whoever takes your branches, chips or garden waste away is transporting waste, and the rules apply to householders as well as businesses.
Carriers must be registered. Anyone moving waste as part of a business needs to be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency.
Householders have a duty of care. You are expected to take reasonable steps to make sure your waste goes to someone authorised to take it. If waste is fly-tipped and traced back to your property, you can be fined even though you did not dump it yourself.
Check before you pay. The Environment Agency keeps a public register of waste carriers that anyone can search online. Be wary of cash-only offers to clear garden waste cheaply with a van and no paperwork.
Keeping chips on site to use in the garden avoids the question altogether, and usually brings the price down too.
General information, not legal advice. Check the Environment Agency's guidance for current rules on household waste and carriers.
Using Wood Chips in Your Garden
Fresh wood chip is one of the most useful free materials a garden can get.
As a surface mulch. A layer of around 5cm to 8cm around trees, shrubs and borders suppresses weeds, keeps moisture in the soil through dry Essex summers and gradually feeds the soil as it breaks down. Keep it clear of stems and trunks.
On paths. Chips make soft, free-draining paths through vegetable plots, woodland areas and play spaces, topped up every year or two.
Not dug in fresh. Digging fresh chips into the soil temporarily draws nitrogen away from plants as the wood starts to rot. Leave them on the surface, or compost them for six months to a year before using them in vegetable beds.
Not from diseased trees. Chips from trees removed because of disease are best taken away rather than spread around other plants.
What Affects the Cost of Chipping
Volume and type of material. A large pile of mixed brash takes longer than a neat stack of straight branches. Twiggy conifer and hedge cuttings are bulky to feed.
Carrying distance. The chipper stays on the drive or road, so the further material has to be carried, and the tighter the access, the longer the job.
Branch size. Anything too thick for the chipper is cut into logs, which can be stacked on site or taken away.
Chips kept or removed. Leaving chips on site for your garden is usually cheaper than taking everything away.
Send a photo of the pile, the route to the road and where you would like any chips left for a provisional figure, followed by a free written quote.
Pile of Branches to Clear?
Upload a photo through our quote form any time, or call between 8am and 6pm, seven days a week.
Wood Chipper Questions
Common questions about wood chipper and operator hire in Colchester.
Can I hire a wood chipper without an operator?
We only provide the chipper with a trained operator. Wood chippers pull material in fast and can cause very serious injuries to anyone unfamiliar with them. Having an operator also means the machine is set up properly, fed safely and the work is done far quicker, with the chipper and operator in one price.
What size branches can a wood chipper take?
Most towed chippers used for garden and tree work handle branches up to around 150mm in diameter, which covers typical pruning, hedge and brash waste. Larger limbs and trunks are usually cut into logs instead, which can be stacked for a wood burner or taken away. Photos help confirm this before booking.
Can I use wood chips as mulch in my garden?
Yes. Spread as a surface layer around shrubs, trees and on paths, wood chip suppresses weeds and holds moisture. Avoid digging fresh chips into the soil, as they temporarily lock up nitrogen as they break down. For vegetable beds, let the chips rot down for six months to a year first.
Do you take the wood chips away?
Yes, chips can be taken away, left in a heap for you to use, or a mix of both. Leaving some or all of them on site usually reduces the price, because there is less waste to transport. Just let us know how much you would like to keep when you ask for a quote.
Does whoever takes my garden waste need to be a registered waste carrier?
Yes. Anyone transporting waste as a business needs to be registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency, and householders have a duty of care to use one. If waste is fly-tipped and traced back to you, you can be fined. You can check any carrier on the Environment Agency's public register.
Can you chip a pile of branches I have already cut?
Yes. If you have done your own pruning, hedge cutting or clearance, the chipper and operator can come in and chip the pile. Send a photo showing the size of the pile and the route from the road so the right amount of time can be allowed for the visit.
How much access does a wood chipper need?
A towed chipper is parked on the drive or road, so it needs a safe spot close to the property. Branches are then carried to it. If there is no side access, material may have to come through a gate, garage or over a boundary. Photos of the route in help plan this.
Can wood from diseased trees be chipped?
Diseased wood can usually be chipped to reduce its bulk, but the chips are best taken away rather than spread in your garden, where they could spread problems such as fungal disease to other plants. Let us know if a tree has been removed because of disease when you ask for a quote.