Hey folks! I'm renovating my garden and need to take down 33 conifer trees and 35 meters of an old wooden fence. I was initially planning to chip the trees and hire a skip to dispose of everything. However, I'm curious if the tree trunks might be worth anything? They range from 6 to 18 inches in diameter and are 3 to 5 meters tall, all in good condition. As for the fence, it's sturdy but doesn't offer the privacy I need after removing the trees. So, do either of these have any value, and if so, how do I sell them? Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
Conifer wood can actually be decent firewood if sold in larger chunks. You won't make a fortune, but it's worth a shot. Instead of hiring a skip, just create a pile of chips near vehicle access. While selling chips isn't likely, you might find someone willing to take them for free, which saves you a headache. As for the old fence wood, you might be able to charge a small fee or simply give it away. Just remember that the nails in the panels make them hard to chip, so keep that in mind when offering them up!
You could definitely make a nice log pile for wildlife with some of those logs; it sounds like you have the space for it. The remaining logs can be used as filler material for raised beds, and conifer wood chips are always in demand for mulch. If you season the wood well, it will burn acceptably, even though it does burn quickly—just make sure there's no sap build-up. Consider listing it on Facebook Marketplace; you'll probably find people interested in picking up some or all of the wood. You might even think about using some logs to rebuild part of your fence and create a log habitat at the same time. Check this out for inspiration: https://pin.it/7HAwuPBZj
While conifers do burn quickly, they aren't the worst for firewood—especially in places like the West Coast of NA, where people use them regularly. You can always give away the wood if you're not looking to sell. Otherwise, if you have a raised bed, using long logs can add visual interest by creating different heights. Just remember to compost the leaves and small branches for a good compost mix. Depending on your fence type, it sounds like you could either give it away or sell it for a small amount; just make sure to offer free collection to save on disposal costs!
Just so you know, while some conifers can be burnt, most don't produce much heat as they burn pretty quickly. It's always good to consider that when deciding how to use them!