What happens to the wood and chips after a tree job?

A tree job leaves a lot of material. Knowing where it goes before the crew arrives avoids surprises, and the answer affects fire safety, mulch and firewood. Here is how it works with Battle Born.

What happens to brush and chips after a job?

Smaller branches and brush go through a chipper. We run a chipper and a 2017 Ford F550 utility and chip truck, and dump trucks carry larger loads away. Chips can be blown into a truck and hauled off or, if you want them, left on your property.

Battle Born lists firewood and wood chips as a service line. If you want chips delivered or kept, call the office to ask about availability and pricing.

Using chips as mulch

The International Society of Arboriculture says fresh arborist wood chips, especially those that contain bark and leaves, are an excellent material to apply around trees and large shrubs. Its recommended depth is 2 to 4 inches, with coarse chips at 3 to 4 inches, applied near but not touching the trunk and out to the drip line where practical. University of Nevada, Reno Extension recommends 3 to 4 inches, kept 6 inches from the trunk.

Chips help soil hold moisture, which matters where Reno gets about 9 inches of precipitation a year. The ISA also notes that too much mulch can hurt a tree. Avoid mulch volcanoes piled against the trunk.

Are wood chips a fire risk near the house?

Chips are fuel. University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Living With Fire guide sets Zone 0, the first 5 feet around the house, as the ember-resistant zone and says to remove wood mulch there. In Zone 1, 5 to 30 feet out, mulch is allowed but not as a continuous, widespread layer. Read our guide to wood chip uses and limits in a fire-prone yard.

Logs and firewood

Large logs from a removal can be cut to length and hauled. Battle Born sells firewood, and the old site's line is to call the office for availability and pricing. We do not publish species, sizes or delivery terms here, because they change with the season and the trees we are working on.

If you want the wood from your own tree for your own stove, tell us before the job. The wood stays with you or goes with us depending on what you ask for in the estimate.

Firewood rules to know

Don't Move Firewood, the national campaign, says Nevada prohibits bringing uncertified firewood into the state from areas quarantined for forest pests, and it advises buying firewood where you plan to use it. Within Nevada, it advises removing the bark before transporting firewood. Burn only as much as you need.

If a tree was removed because of beetles, handle the wood with care. The Forest Service notes that infested trees can be cut and burned or chipped to kill beetles. See removing dead pines and Nevada's firewood rules.

Say it in the estimate

Tell us which of these you want: chips left on site, chips hauled, logs hauled, logs left for you or wood for firewood. A certified arborist assesses every job first. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. See our firewood and wood chips page.