Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-05)

@PopularMechanics _ May 2019 51

HAUL IT

Place your largest Y-shaped branch on the bottom with the stem facing away from

the cab—this will act like a sled carrying everything you’re about to load on top. Load

the rest of the stuff on top of the open portion of the Y. (If your largest branch is

too big and the tailgate needs to remain open, be sure to secure the load with rope.)

When it’s time to unload, pull that stem of the big Y branch out the back and every-

thing else will come with it.

BURN IT (IF YOU MUST)

Burning brush is not an optimal

solution. Not only does some debris

not burn well, but burning anything

creates air pollution. In a lot of places,

burning a brush pile isn’t permitted

at certain times of the year, so check

your local regulations. And be careful.

Burn the brush in a small fire pit where

the flames can be contained, and don’t

leave the fire unattended.

MULCH IT

Wood chips are great garden mulch, which sup-

presses weeds and helps plants retain water

and heat in the winter. They also serve as walk-

way substrates and play-area surfaces. Electric

wood chippers are only powerful enough for

chipping dried leaves and twigs. Gas chippers

will get you through small branches, typically up

to 3.5 inches in diameter. For less potential to

clog, use a power-takeoff (PTO) chipper—but

know that it requires a PTO tractor. Most areas

will have places to rent all three.

Use ear and eye protection and exercise

caution. And always feed the machine more

slowly than you think you need to.

VINES?
Drag thin stuff off the pile with a bow rake.
Use a fire rake for thicker vines. Then chop
it all up with a shovel. Woody vines require
loppers, such as the Fiskars PowerGear2;
a bank blade, such as the 12-inch double-
edge ditch blade from Council Tool; or
a machete, such as the justifiably famous
Woodman’s Pal. To t r a n s p o r t t h e d e b r i s ,
Fiskars’s 30-gallon Kangaroo garden
bag has an internal spring to keep the bag
upright and the mouth wide open. Line
it with a disposable bag if you’re going to
throw the debris away, or carry it straight
to the compost pile.

SAPLINGS AND BRANCHES?
Sma ll , d ead b r a n ch es c a n b e rep u r p os e d a s
kindling. Break them up with your hands or
use a hatchet. Saplings can be cut into man-
ageable pieces with loppers, then fed into a
wood chipper and turned into mulch.

DEAD TREES, STUMPS, AND LOGS?
Cut bigger saplings, dead trees, or thick
logs into smaller pieces with a light chain-
saw, such as the Makita X2. Wood that
isn’t punky can be saved for next year’s
firewood. The rest gets thrown on the
truck for disposal.

LEAVES AND WEEDS?
Grass-like weeds that were growing
under the pile can be cut with a
lawnmower. Set the deck as high as it
can go, to avoid stalls. For heavy weeds
and fibrous stalks, use a string trimmer.
The Echo SRM-2620T is a straight-
shaft trimmer with a 2:1 gear ratio for
increased torque to power through thick
grass, ground cover, and weeds. Just be
sure to wear eye and ear protection and
a face mask, or you’ll shoot your eye out.
If your objective is to clear out all the
brush en masse, you may opt for a walk-
behind brush cutter. You won’t be able to
do any kind of precise trimming, but you
will easily cut down small, bendable
saplings that have sprung up and clear
out the area faster.

WHADDA

YA G O T?

HOW TO MAKE IT GO AWAY

SCENTBLOCKER
SNAKE GAITERS
Protection up to
your knee. $60

1620 DOUBLE

KNEE NYCO

CARGO PANT

To u g h a n d

flexible. $198

FISKARS

POWERGEAR 2

LOPPER

The easiest way

to lop. $55

WOODMAN’S

PAL

Sharp.

Beautiful. $175

THERMACELL

RADIUS ZONE

MOSQUITO

REPELLENT

Avoid bugs

without bug

spray. $50

FISKARS

HARDSHELL

BOTTOM

KANGAROO

GARDEN BAG

Use it for years.

$30

ESSENTIAL BRUSH-CLEARING TOOLS

ECHO

SRM-2 620 T

Powers through

the thick stuff.

$360