Hey everyone! I'm currently in the process of getting rid of burning bushes in my yard and replacing them with native plants. Since it's early in the season and they haven't bloomed or gone to seed yet, I'm planning to cut them down with a chainsaw, treat the stumps, and then chip up the debris. I'm wondering if using a woodchipper on them at this time might cause any further spread of the plants. Any advice?
2 Answers
You should be all good to chip them! Once you chip the debris, mixing it into compost is a great idea. The heat generated should take care of any potential growth from the chips.
Just a heads up, I'd be cautious about mixing those chips into your compost heavily. If you leave them in a pile instead, it can generate enough heat to kill off any unwanted growth. Plus, bigger wood chips can take a while to break down.
I've done a bit of research on burning bushes too, and I haven't seen anything suggesting a risk of spreading when chipping them. Unlike Japanese knotweed, these won't regrow from small fragments. Once you chip them, they should be harmless to use around your garden.
Thanks for the tip! I'm trying to clear out a patch for future native planting, so I was thinking of laying the chips thick to kill off the grass and let it compost down.