Green waste processing: the machines you need
2023. December 29.Using waste from households, yards, gardens and agriculture locally is not only sustainable, but also cost-effective.
On a natural farm, it is easy to achieve nutrient cycling on your own by following a few simple steps.
Think composting, chopping branches or mulching.
The only question is, what kind of machinery do you need to make the task a blessing rather than a burden?
In this article, we’ll tell you what the answer is.
Up for composting!
If you process the vegetable waste from your garden yourself, you will have a much smaller environmental footprint and you won’t burden the land with extra fuel.
Composting also produces 15-30% less waste, so the bin fills up later, not to mention saving time and money.
But it’s also worth collecting organic matter because compost is still the best source of nutrients for plants, crops and agriculture.
As well as revitalising and improving the quality of soil life, it also has a high fibre content, which makes it a good water retention medium.
The composting process is aided by soil-dwelling organisms such as fungi, bacteria, unicellular organisms, centipedes and, of course, worms.
It is important that it is always placed in a semi-shaded, wind-protected area, as too much heat or cool weather can inhibit the activity of the inhabitants.
And wind can draw too much water away, so it can easily dry out.
What and how can it be included?
This is where the question comes in: what tools do we have to make this happen? The first such machine is the branch chipper, which is needed in every large garden and farm these days. For example, the direct drive 540 rpm tool is a very powerful piece of equipment that can easily handle even the largest branches. Whether it’s fruit trees, pines or shrubs, nothing should be a problem. Once the branches have been chopped up using the right technique, the green waste can go into the compost, or straight to the soil. In most cases, it is used for mulching, as it does not allow the soil to dry out and the moisture it absorbs is slowly released. Another similar tool is the disc cutter, which is really only used on larger farms. Mounted on a tractor, it can tackle almost anything and anywhere. However, it is necessary to collect the branches afterwards, which can then be fed into the branch chopper mentioned above. 
What to look for when choosing a branch splitter?
In terms of operation, there are three types, one with a milling cylinder and one with a rotary knife.
There are also the cardan shredders, but these are really serious machines that will not be needed in every household.
For agricultural purposes, however, this will be the best option.
What is important, however, is the power of the tool, which indicates how big and what type of branches it can handle.
In addition, the cutting diameter may be an important issue, but this will also depend on how much and for what the chipper would be used.
The larger the diameter, the thicker the branches it can chop.
Less preparation is required, there is no need to saw and chop green waste, as larger branches can safely go straight into the machine.
Don’t miss the mulching either!
Shredded plant waste is an excellent choice for mulch in the garden and vegetable garden.
Chopped twigs are definitely the best mulch, but grass clippings or even autumn leaves can also be used as mulch.
The best thing to do is to have some compost at home, a small amount can be placed under the mulch layer to add nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure.
If you cultivate soil covered with mulch, you are much less likely to have excessive weeding, and you will also have less to do with watering.
This is because mulch prevents moisture evaporation.
It can also be a great help in autumn for frost-sensitive plants, for example, as it prevents them from freezing and protects them from potential frost damage.