Mulching & Chipping in Beaconsfield Upper

Mulching & Chipping in Beaconsfield Upper: Local Conditions and What That Means for Your Property

On-site chipping and mulch application form a large part of our workflow in Beaconsfield Upper because the combination of large blocks, significant tree canopy and a council green-waste bin system that can't absorb bulk material means property owners need to deal with vegetation waste on site rather than hauling it off. After any substantial tree or hedge job, the brushwood volume is considerable: a single large peppermint that has had its canopy reduced by a third will produce six to eight cubic metres of chip, which is a useful asset on-site rather than a disposal problem. The clay soils on the mid-slope properties benefit enormously from a 75–100 mm mulch layer under the drip-line of garden beds and tree canopies: it suppresses the annual weeds that invade bare soil beds in autumn, retains moisture through the dry summer months when the escarpment position and westerly wind conspire to dry the topsoil quickly, and gradually improves the soil structure as it breaks down. Eucalyptus chip is slightly allelopathic, which is a useful natural weed suppressant but needs some thought before applying under species that are sensitive to it; on paddock surrounds and fence lines, a straight-through rough chip is fine. Supply-only loads, where we deliver bulk chip from off-site, suit the larger rural properties along Red Hill Road and Duffy's Road that are doing structured garden builds or establishing native revegetation areas, and the quantities are often in the ten-to-twenty cubic metre range for a single delivery.