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If you grow trees in your garden or on your small holding then the chances are that you will have to dispose of branches and leaves over the year as the seasons change.
While mowing the lawn will work fine for grassy areas and a pair of secateurs will be great for small branches, for large trees you will need something better designed for the job.
Getting rid of tree branches and cuttings can be a tiresome job. You may have to haul them to a local tip yourself. In many areas burning them may be illegal and considered not eco-friendly.
Chipping or shredding tree branches becomes a good option when you have more than one or two trees to deal with.
Materials from trees, when chipped or shredded make an excellent mulch. Additionally, they decompose slowly so you don’t need to re-apply right away.
Shredders will give you manageable wood chips which can be used for mulching as well as laying on paths to present a rustic appearance. They can also be added to the compost heap to decompose.
What do Garden Shredders Do?
Garden shredders have only one job to do, and that is to turn all your bulky wood into shreds and chips as fast as possible.
Shredders come with a blade mechanism which slices branches into smaller pieces or chunks. A heavy-duty industrial shredder will make use of a roller to move material through where it will be further crushed into smaller pieces.
There are two things which matter when buying a shredder, namely size and price. More expensive shredders are designed to handle larger, thicker branches. They will normally come with a larger bag or box to catch the waste.
Less expensive models may not come with a bag or bin so you will need to get something suitable before you start.
Do Shredders Jam Often?
The reason shredders jam is because too much material has been fed into the machine and the blades simply cannot cope with the amount.
Bargain basement shredders may also have cheap, softer blades which will become blunt faster and cause a jam.
Most shredders will occasionally jam but adding material at a consistent speed and never overfilling will mean less jams, no matter what the size or price of the shredder is.
Gas-Powered Compost Shredders Vs. Electric Compost Shredders
Knowing the difference between the types of garden shredders will enable you to make the best decision when looking for a garden shredder for conifers and other waste.
Both gas powered and electric shredders come in medium and large sizes with machines available in all price ranges.
There are two types of garden shredder, namely electric and gas-powered.
1) Electric Shredders
- Have quieter motors
- Make less noise than gas engines
- Are more eco-friendly
- Need a power source and possibly an extension lead
2) Gas Powered Shredders
- Are more powerful than electric shredders
- Can handle large loads and thicker branches
- Are suitable for big gardens with lots of waste
- Do not need a power source to run
- Do not need extension leads
Can I Shred Conifers?
Like anything else from the garden, conifers can be shredded and composted. However, there is a good reason why most gardeners do not add them to the compost heap.
The leaves and resin in conifers is very acidic and this can upset the natural balance of the compost heap. The resin is toxic so this may be another reason why they are not used much in compost heaps.
It is not uncommon for the branches of conifers to take up to 5 years to rot down – this is the main reason for using them on rustic paths, they last longer.
Many gardeners with conifer trees to shred will build up a separate compost heap where only the cutting of the conifer is added.
Conifer shreddings are suitable around plants who need acidic conditions so you need to know which plants they will harm and which will benefit before spreading them.
What is the Best Garden Shredder for Conifers?
1) SuperHandy Leaf Mulcher Shredder
The shredder comes with an overload protection switch and an instant start button. It also has wheels for easy transportation around the garden.
The maximum diameter of branches is 12.7mm and the shredder works at a constant speed of 4,100 RPMs. Because it does not create smog it is eco-friendly to use.
2) Snow Joe CJ601E Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder
You will find that your garden waste is reduced by up to 1/16th of the original load, making this an effective shredder for most gardens and small holdings.
The shredder comes with 6” wheels for easy moving around the garden and there is a safety feature which ensures that the motor stops when the hopper is opened.
3) Sun Joe CJ603E
You will find a safety feature on the hopper to prevent the motor from working when the hopper is opened.
For extra manoeuvrability the shredder is equipped with 7” wheels.
Is it Worth Buying a Garden Shredder?
Shredders can be a costly outlay considering that it is not something that you will use every day. That being said, a good machine should last you many years.
In fact, many people will only need to buy one shredder, so the cost becomes less of an issue.
If you have a small holding or several trees on your property you will eventually need to trim them back. Unless you have a shredder you may find that this is a long and arduous process.
A shredder will make this far less exhausting, and therefore something that you may do more often to keep your garden neat and tidy.
Thinking about shredders in a financial way – not only are you disposing of waste for free, buy you also get your compost made at no cost, rather than buying from a local garden centre.
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What’s the Difference Between a Chipper and a Shredder?
Chipper
A chipper is typically designed for taking in large branches and chopping them down into smaller pieces. This is what you may see at garden centres in bags to lay on paths or around trees.
The job of the chipper is simply to break down the branches into smaller pieces.
Shredder
A shredder is designed to pull the small pieces of wood apart and expel them in a state which is ready to be made into compost.
The shredder has a blunt edge which pulls the wood apart, into smaller pieces than those that are simply chipped.
What is the Best Garden Shredder for Composting?
1) Sun Joe CJ602E-RED 15 Amp Electric Wood Chipper/Shredder
There are 6” wheels to make moving the shredder easy, and a safety feature which shuts off the motor when the hopper is opened.
2) Earthwise LM71313 Amp 13-Inch Corded Electric Leaf Mulcher/Shredder
The mulching capacity of this machine is 55 gals/min, and the mulch ratio is 16:1.
There are 3 mulch settings with a sliding lever to change them. There is a bag for collection of the mulch.
The mulcher has wheels for easy moving around the garden and the funnel comes off for storage.
3) Super handy Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher
The chipper/shredder is built to be compact and light in weight making it ideal for small gardens. The chute has an adjustable discharge angle and can expel debris at 90°-145°.
The gas-powered machine uses 87+ unleaded gasoline and takes 0.7 gallons at a time. It is EPA/CARB certified.
Final Thoughts: What is the Best Garden Shredder for Conifers?
While it may seem to be an expensive outlay for a machine which may only be used a few times each year, you will find that having a garden shredder to dispose of conifers and other branches will be one of the best investments you make.
Not only will you have free disposal of your garden waste, but you will also have a supply of material to add to your compost heap.
Not to mention having trees which are not overgrown and unsightly but add to the value and appearance of your property.
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