When I cut a tree or trim branches on your property, the last thing I want is to leave you with a massive pile of brush and debris. That's why I chip everything right there on site, turning what would otherwise be a cleanup headache into useful material you can keep. Here's how wood chipping works and when you might need it.
What wood chipping actually involves in St. Vital
Wood chipping is the process of feeding tree branches, limbs and brush through a mechanical chipper that reduces them to small, uniform chips. I bring a chipper to your property and process the material on the spot, which means no multiple truck trips hauling brush away and no mess left behind for you to deal with later.
The chips that come out are fine enough to use as mulch in garden beds, around shrubs, or anywhere you want to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. They break down over time and add organic matter back to your earth. It's a clean, efficient way to handle what used to mean renting a bin or paying for haul-away fees.
Why it matters
Without chipping, you face a real problem. A tree removal or heavy pruning job leaves behind an enormous volume of material. A single large limb can take up more space than you'd think once it's on the ground. Renting a dumpster is expensive, and hauling it away yourself means multiple trips and a lot of physical work.
Chipping solves that right away. I process everything on the spot, so your property is clean when I'm done. The chips stay with you (except in special cases like elm, which I'll explain), so you get a useful product instead of a disposal bill. You save time, money and the environmental cost of trucking material to a facility. If you've already cut branches yourself and just have a pile sitting there, I'll come out and chip that too, even if I didn't do the cutting.
When to schedule wood chipping in Winnipeg
You need wood chipping whenever you have tree work done. If I'm removing a tree or doing major pruning, chipping is part of the job. If you've done your own cutting over the season and accumulated a pile of branches and brush, that's when you call me to handle it.
There's no bad time to chip. Winter, spring, summer or fall, the machine works fine. The only timing constraint is elm. Here in Manitoba, there's a provincial pruning ban on elm from April 1 through July 31 to prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease. If you have elm that needs work, it has to happen outside that window. Once elm is cut and chipped, those chips cannot be stored on your property or anyone else's, they're considered a disease risk and must go to an approved facility, which I handle.
How it works
Start by calling me at (431) 444-5195 or getting in touch with a rough description of what you have. Tell me approximately how big the pile is, what species if you know it, and where it's located on your property. I'll give you a free estimate so you know what to expect.
When I arrive, I park my chipper where it can access the material safely. I feed the branches through the machine, and the chips collect in a bin or pile. If you want to keep them for mulch, they stay on your property in a designated spot. If it's elm or you don't want them, they go into my truck and I haul them away to an approved facility.
The whole process is loud while the machine is running, but it's fast. Once I'm done, your property is clean, the chips are stacked where you want them, and I'm gone. No mess, no follow-up cleanup on your part.
The situations I run into in the Winnipeg area
Chipping from my tree work: If I'm removing or pruning a tree for you, chipping is included. Everything gets processed on site and you're left with a clean yard.
Chipping a pile you've already cut: You've done the cutting yourself and now have a pile of branches sitting around. I come out, assess it, give you a free estimate, and chip it. You keep the chips or I remove them.
Elm wood: This is the exception to the rule. Elm cannot be stored anywhere in Manitoba due to Dutch elm disease regulations. If your pile contains elm, the chips must leave with me and go to an approved disposal facility. I handle all of that. If you're planning to cut elm, it has to be done between August 1 and March 31 to comply with the provincial pruning ban.
Mixed species: Most of what I chip is a mix, maple, ash, birch, willow, caragana from hedge trimming. All of it chips well and makes good mulch. I can usually tell you on the spot what you have and whether it stays or goes.
