September 2004

0471–2335-MTDC

Privacy \| Legal	Engineering Pubs	Search Pubs

Shredding Small Trees to Create Mulch for Erosion Control

James "Scott" Groenier, Project Leader
Charlie Showers, Program Leader

The USDA Forest Service needs to reduce erosion during road construction, road removal, site restoration, fire rehabilitation, and in other situations. In addition, trees cleared from road rights-of-way need to be burned or chipped to reduce fire hazard. The USDA Forest Service’s Technology and Development Program was asked to determine whether small-diameter trees cleared from road rights-of-way could be shredded and used as a mulch for erosion control. Generally the trees being shredded are smaller than 6 inches in diameter, although the equipment reviewed can shred much larger trees.

Wood shavings, shredded wood, and excelsior were considered as alternatives to chips for erosion control. Shredding may be the best alternative because shredding machines can handle the soil and rocks found in slash material and because bark does not have to be removed from the slash. The long fibers of shredded wood interlock, helping the shredded wood stay in place. Because shredded wood (figure 1) is heavier than straw or hay, it does not need to be crimped into the soil to keep it from blowing away.

[photo] Burned slope covered with mulch

Figure 1—This burned slope on the Clearwater National
Forest was mulched using shredded trees that had been
removed to reduce hazardous fuels.

Using Shredded Wood for Erosion Control

A few reasons for using shredded wood for erosion control include:

Straw and hay bales used for erosion control have to be certified “weed free.” Trees shredded onsite won’t introduce new weeds or require the expense of certification.

Material cleared from rights-of-way can be mulched instead of burned, reducing air quality concerns.

Using small-diameter material as mulch will reduce hazardous fuels.

Pine cones ground up in the shredded material may reseed roadway fills and burned areas.

Shredding may be an alternative to chipping small-diameter material during thinning projects to reduce fire hazard in urban-wildland interface areas.

The cost of transporting hay and straw bales could be eliminated.

The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone except its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this document is for the information and convenience of the reader, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Top

Continue

since December 15, 2004