What exactly is a mulcher?
Mulchers are pieces of forestry equipment that grind brush and trees into small particles called “mulch”. In local parks, you’ve likely seen wood chips or mulch in playgrounds, on pathways, or even gardens.
Mulchers are useful skidsteer attachments. Mulchers are also found on farm tractors, dozers, and large excavators. Depending on the form, mulchers can be installed on a long boom arm far from the chassis or much closer to the operator.
Forest and other terrain is mulched for a number of reasons - see our previous blog post describing some of them.
How does a mulcher work?
Mulchers come equipped in two types: vertical and horizontal shaft mulchers.
Hoizatonal shaft mulchers are essentially chipping drums mounted on the arms of a machine. The drum rotates at high speeds as it shreds through foliage and trees. These mulchers tend to use forward momentum and push bars to shove any falling trees away from the equipment.
Vertical shaft mulchers are a scaled-up version of lawn mower mulchers. Some of them use large, singular chipping disks which are mounted on skidsteers, tractors, excavators or dozers and use a boom arm to chip a tree from the top down.
How do you know when to use a mulcher?
Using a mulcher effectively depends on your forestry operation. If you’re considering using (hiring) a mulcher, crosscheck that your worksite follows the conditions of tree size, proper gradient and optimal ground conditions.
Tree sizes
Vertical shaft mulchers have upward limits on the types of trees they can fall. When you get to your worksite, ensure to measure the diameter of growth you need to mulch. Vertical mulchers tend to handle up to 8 inches just fine, whereas horizontal mulchers can fall trees up to 30 inches.
Remember the larger the tree diameter, the more strain on the machine and the operator. Mulching can be dangerous due to the sheer volume of flying debris. Ensure you know the capabilities of the mulcher being used.
Gradient
Understand your team’s experience with mulchers and their comfort of steep slopes. Some machines however cannot handle slopes with a ratio greater than 3:1. Again, it’s important to check the machine's specifications and the intended operator’s experience and comfort level.
Optimal Ground Conditions
If you’re considering mulching, ensure to check the terrain for rocks. High levels of rocky terrain could cause the teeth to wear considerably faster. More importantly, rocks tend to cause sparks which will pose a fire risk to you, and the environment.
ROCKandLAND Forestry Mulching Specialists
ROCKandLAND Skidsteer is your trusted choice for all land clearing and reclamation needs! Our forestry mulching attachments can offer a variety of options, such as a rough mulch in forested areas that won't be accessed regularly, to a finer mulch for walking paths and yard areas. We operate disc mulchers, drum mulchers, and brushcats / bushhogs to ensure optimal results.
Give ROCKandLAND SKIDSTEER a call to discuss your spring and summer projects, we'd love to come and take a look!