Garden shredder's

What is a garden shredder, and what is it used for?

You know what a paper shredder looks like? The one lying around the office, or that one you have at home to destroy confidential documents? Well that's basically what a garden shredder is, except it's ten times bigger and ten times worse if you get your tie caught in it. Just like your paper shredder destroys important documents, garden shredders will convert your garden debris (small branches, twigs and leaves) into mulch for use around the garden. The output small shreds of debris will compost a lot quicker too. So in short, this is the old way:

(Bad)

And this is the new, easy way:

(Good)

So what more can we learn about these helpful pieces of equipment? Well a lot to be honest! But lets stick to the basics for now..

Major advantage:

• No more burning garden rubbish or trips to the tip

Major disadvantage:

• Loud noise levels whilst cutting
  

Garden shredders come in two major forms. Those powered by electricity and those by petrol. Below the two types have been compared:

Electric Shredders vs Petrol Shredders

Electric shredders are far cheaper as they run off your home's power supply or the national grid instead of the costly petroleum which, within the current economical climate, has been seen to hit prices of up to £1.59 per litre! However for those with particularly large garden's you will need to ensure that either the cable will reach far enough, or that you also have an extension cable handy to allow access to the power for the shredder.

Petrol shredders are generally much more powerful than their electric counterparts and give you the freedom to move around your garden. The higher cost is a major disadvantage, but this does bring with it its own unique advantage. The quality of the cuttings produced by petrol shredder is far higher than that of the electrical ones; so it is a classic toss up between cost or quality? Don't throw caution into the wind however as a petrol garden shredder will require more maintenance.

Noise levels and type of blades

Here we address the previously stated problem of noise. Lets address the problem by analysing where does the sound come from? The noisier garden shredders tend to be the ones that work by using a spinning metallic blade to do the chopping. The quieter models (often labeled silent shredders) use a pull and crush mechanism whereby instead of pushing the waste material into the machine; this material is actually pulled into the shredder by cogs where it is then crushed before being cut.

Opposed to simply throwing branches and leaves at a high speed spinning blade this significantly decreases sound 'pollution', if you will. Unfortunately however, the louder models also tend to be the cheaper pieces of machinery. Again it is up to your own personal preference which matters more to you.

Now we move on to what else you can encounter once you have purchased your very own garden shredder.

Be prepared to..

Unclog your shredder regularly. This is especially important if you are using your first ever garden shredder, as you will be learning what material your machine can and can't take effectively. Make sure you clean it out as wet or damp garden waste can clog up the insides of the machinery.

In addition, it is best to make sure you have somewhere decent for it to live such as a garden shed or garage (particularly the electric shredders) as they will degrade quickly when left outside.

Using a garden shredder to make compost or mulch

Garden shredders do not make compost; what they do do is chop your gardening waste into smaller bits which will then decompose a lot quicker. This is called mulch, which can be used to create an amazing compost once it has been left to mature.

This mulch doesn't however have to be stored for months to then create compost. It can be used straight away within the garden and utilized as an effective protective cover upon the top layer of soil to modify the effects of the local climate. If applied correctly it can benefit plant growth and reduce garden labour. Depending upon what materials the mulch is made from, different aesthetic and beneficial properties can be created.

For further information upon what mulch actually is and how its benefits can be used, have a look at the following link: I want to know more about mulch

The best types of waste to use with your garden shredder..

Offshoots from hedges, foliage, dead plants, leaves, twigs and branches and even kitchen waste which hasn't been cooked like vegetables and fruit can all go in a garden shredder to make a great, rich compost.

You can check out our selection of the best shredders and accessories available at the following link: www.essentialgardensupplies.com/shredders.html

Note: We do not include products which have been proven to be disappointing upon our website; only those with the best reviews or recommendations by our members of staff get put on our website.

Keep your hands dirty,

- ESG