I've been thinking about getting a shredder for composting after I saw a post about the benefits. However, I remember seeing a panel discussion where they dismissed shredders, saying they only work well for large council-level machines. I'm also seeing mixed reviews about smaller ones, especially from brands like Bosch, where users complain about jamming. My partner is leaning towards getting one, but I'm still skeptical. We usually have shrub prunings around 1-3cm in diameter with leaves attached. We do have a brown garden waste bin where we usually throw this stuff. I'd love to hear your experiences or recommendations! Thanks!
3 Answers
I had a budget model from Screwfix and it did a decent job on twigs but struggled with leaves. I often had to remove the leaves beforehand to make it work better. If you're planning to do a lot of shredding over time, it might be worth a small investment, but for occasional work, renting a chipper might suit you better.
Have you thought about just renting a shredder instead of buying one? That way you can use it when you really need it without worrying about storage later on.
Good suggestion, I think that could save me a lot of hassle!
In my experience, most of these garden shredders just aren't worth the hassle. They tend to jam easily and can't handle much thicker material. I recommend renting one for bigger projects or just dealing with a compost pile for the bits you can't shred. You'll likely be disappointed with a consumer model.
Thanks for the insight! I’ve been taking leaves off for compost already, so it sounds like I might have to keep doing that, even if I get a shredder.