Now that summer has come to an end and it’s time to pack away the gardening tools and fire up the fireplace.
You may be wondering how to get rid of garden waste that you don’t want cluttering up your garage or basement.
One solution is simply to toss it into the trash can or receive waste collection services.
But if you don’t have one big enough, or if you just want to avoid the extra trips to the dump, burning your garden waste in a pile in your backyard or on the side of your property could be another good option.
The following are twelve ways to safely burn garden waste.
1) Never burn building materials
2) Keep children, animals, and pets away
3) Clear the area of other combustible materials
4) Choose your time carefully
5) Use non-flammable containers
6) Tear it up first
7) Keep a bucket of water nearby just in case
8) Keep the fire container
9) Never leave a fire unattended, even for a second.
10) Stay with the fire until it goes out
11) Pour about 1 inch of sand
12) Make Sure your stovepipe or chimney draws well before lighting the fire
1) Never burn building materials
When it comes to burning garden waste, the most important thing is never to burn building materials.
This includes anything with treated wood, like old pallets or lumber. When burning these materials you will release toxic chemicals into the air. It can also contaminate soil and water sources, ultimately our nature.
Remember that when it comes to burning your garden waste there are many ways to do so safely.
2) Keep children, animals and pets away
There are a number of ways you can burn garden waste safely. And it’s important to keep children, animals, and pets away from these burning piles.
The following tip is on how you can get the job done without any mishaps.
Keep children, animals, and pets away from the yard or garden as much as possible when it’s being burned. This includes keeping them in another room with the windows closed so that they don’t smell the smoke.
This is especially important if you’re burning wood chips or limbs from trees.
Make sure there is a two-foot perimeter around your pile at all times so that no one will accidentally walk into the hot coals and be seriously injured.
3) Clear the area of other combustible materials
Start by clearing the area of other combustible materials like leaves and paper. Next, remove sticks and branches larger than two inches in diameter.
These can be used for kindling later on. Be sure to have a bucket of water handy in case of any flare-ups or embers that fly out during the burning process.
4) Choose your time carefully
Burning garden waste is a great way to reduce the amount of waste that you send to the landfill, but it can be dangerous.
You need to know the best time of day and day of the week for burning, how much fuel you should use, and what kind of equipment will work best.
The smell from burning can also be unpleasant. Follow these 10 tips and you’ll have a safe fire in no time!
5) Use non-flammable containers
Non-flammable containers are essential to burning garden waste because they help prevent fires.
The only issue is that it may be difficult to find a large enough container.
For example, you can use a metal trash can and make sure it has holes in the bottom for air circulation and make sure there is no plastic or cloth that could catch fire around the container.
An alternative is using a cauldron made of clay or ceramic material.
6) Tear it up first
Tearing up the garden waste before burning it is the best way to ensure that it will burn clean. This can be done with a lawnmower or by hand.
As long as the scraps are torn into small pieces, they will be able to catch fire easily and release heat quickly.
For example, if you are burning weeds in your backyard, tear them into small pieces first so that they don’t smoulder and create ash.
7) Keep a bucket of water nearby just in case
It is always a good idea to keep a bucket of water nearby when burning garden waste.
You might want to take this one step further and put the bucket of water on the ground at the base of your fire pit or in your fire pit and then cover it with dirt.
This will ensure that if any embers escape from the fire, they will not set your home or property on fire. If you have a pool, this could be an even better option as you can use it as a giant sandbox for all of your burnable.
8) Keep the fire container
If you’re thinking of burning garden waste, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
For example, when burning garden waste on a bonfire, ensure that the fire is kept small and well-contained.
Ensure the container is at least four feet from any house or property.
Keep the pile size small – two feet high by three feet wide – and make sure it’s no closer than six inches from the fire container.
9) Never leave a fire unattended, even for a second.
Never leave a fire, even for a second. Make sure there is nothing that can catch on fire in the area such as dry leaves or other flammable materials.
Use only clean, dry brush and tree limbs that are three inches in diameter or less and no longer than six feet long.
Clear an area of at least four feet around the pile so that if anything catches on fire it does not spread.
Keep children and pets away from the site until after the fire has completely burned out, since radiant heat may cause severe burns.
10) Stay with the fire until it goes out
When making a bonfire, it is important to stay with the fire until it goes out.
This ensures that the fire does not grow too big and starts a larger wildfire. It can be dangerous for property and lives.
To know when the bonfire has gone out, use a long stick or something similar and poke at it.
If there is no heat on the end of the stick, then you should make sure the fire is completely out before leaving.
11) Pour about 1 inch of sand
Laying out a sheet of plastic or tarp on the ground helps contain any ash, so it’s easier to clean up.
Place four logs in a diamond shape with one log at the base. And three logs stacked on top of one another.
Light one end of the bottom log (the foot) with a match or lighter and use it to set fire to the top logs, which will light the foot.
Once they’re lit and smoking, pile garden waste on top of them until they’re fully engulfed in flames.
Be sure to keep an eye on your fire as you continue adding more waste. If it starts smoking too much, add more sand before adding more fuel.
12) Make Sure your stovepipe or chimney draws well before lighting the fire
Before you start your fire, make sure that the stovepipe or chimney is drawing well.
This can be done by lighting a piece of paper on the stove and watching it burn.
If the flame goes out before it reaches the top of the stovepipe, you need to add more air holes or try using a smaller diameter pipe.
If it doesn’t go out at all, try blocking some air holes with a cork or other object. Whe your stovepipe configuration satisfy you, light your fire.
Conclusion
Now It’s your turn to know from you if you have any favourite tips that I have missed out on.
Please let me know. I must add it as soon as possible.
