Mulching & Chipping in Mount Burnett

Mulching & Chipping in Mount Burnett: Local Conditions

Mount Burnett's free-draining hilltop soils benefit from mulching more than most places in the ranges. Organic mulch at 75 to 100 mm holds summer moisture in garden beds that would otherwise lose water quickly through the well-drained subsoil, and exposed beds also lose moisture in the wind. Frost settles hard across unprotected beds from May to September, and a mulch layer gives the soil some protection. On-site chipping is practical given the volume of prunings and branch material that mature eucalypts and roadside wattles produce, and the chip makes effective path cover or bed mulch. The elevated position means mulch blows off exposed beds in strong wind, so placing it in sheltered spots or against existing borders improves retention. Bush-adjacent blocks collect enough green waste from clearing and pruning to justify chipping on site rather than carting it away. We chip prunings and branches on site, spread by hand, and take surplus away on our tipper and trailer. Mount Burnett is small and rural, with large lots, so the volume from a single tidy-up is often considerable. We separate fine green material from woody chip where it helps, since the fine material breaks down faster. Placement matters on a hilltop, so we position mulch before the windy spring months, not after.

Working in Mount Burnett