Shredder

KeenOnGreen · May 2020

We would like to shred all of our hedge and shrub trimmings, to add to our compost bin at the allotment. We need something which can handle fine trimmings (Privet, Pyracantha, Pittosporum, Choisya). We cut these regularly, so there are no large woody bits, only leaves and slightly hard stems that are about half a centimetre thick. Can anybody recommend a model, that won't get choked up by so many leaves?

Pete.8 · May 2020

I bought a cheap one years ago and used it once. It kept getting jammed and the noise was unbearable.
In 2016 I bought one of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00D43EF06/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and am very pleased with it.
It's quick, quiet, it self-feeds and so far has not jammed.
Best of all it turns it all into great composting material - even branches 2" thick

KeenOnGreen · May 2020

Thanks Pete.8 It was the jamming I was worried about, as the reviews of the model we were thinking of getting say it is prone to jamming with lots of leaves. I'll do some research on the one you suggest.

KeenOnGreen · May 2020

@Pete.8 Forgot the @ in my previous post

Lyn · May 2020

We bought this one in 2011 as you will see from the link.
no trouble, the blade can be turned over and we bought a new blade last year.
We have a very big garden with lots of woody shrubs, 60+ hydrangeas, and several buddleia and other shrubs, it does get caught up if you put a forked piece in there but if you use loppers to make sure you have straight sticks it fine.
If we ever need a new one, we will buy this again.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001123CCO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

KeenOnGreen · May 2020

Thanks @Lyn We don't need one for big shrubs, as we have nothing that substantial that needs shredding. We need one for fine work, mostly leaves and very small, softish branches. We have been using shears to chop things up, but it's exhausting.

We could chuck everything that we currently prune straight on the compost heap without shredding, but we want it to break down as quickly as possible, which is why we want a shredder.

Pete.8 · May 2020

Have a look here KOG
I find this guy's recommendations very useful.
http://www.fredshed.co.uk/boschshredders.htm
Hope you manage to find one that works for you

Wilderbeast · May 2020

I use our lawn mower for hedge prunings, it is a large unit and big engine but we do put stuff through that's really too big. Prior to the petrol mower we had an electric mower and it did a great job on small stuff including laurel hedge trimmings. I've tried several different shredders as a rule of thumb ones that do green leafy material are really noisy and wear blades fast, ones that do larger material are quiet but much more expensive.

micearguers · May 2020

I use the same as @Lyn or a very similar one, certainly a Bosch impact shredder. I like the simplicity of it and use it for e.g. shredding the pruning of hedges and fruit trees. I think that these are in fact better for fresh material than e.g. crushing (silent) shredders, as quiet shredders only really deal with woody waste. ... a lot of the leafy waste simply drops through. I agonised quite long before committing but the impact shredder is perfect for this purpose I'm convinced.

Lyn · May 2020

Our shredder, mentioned above doesn’t like to much leafy stuff and thin whippet sticks, leaves take a long while to break down, maybe you could make a leave cage for them. I think they take something 2 years to break right down.

The_herpetologist · May 2020

I faffed around with rubbish electric shredders before thinking ‘sod it’ and went out and bought a beast. It shreds trees. Lots of fun too if you’re a boy who likes his toys. Makes great compost fodder.

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