Garden Shredder Buying Guide

October 2, 2024 | Nate Cord

From how they work to what features you should look out for, here’s what you need to know before buying a garden shredder.

What is a Garden Shredder?

A garden shredder is a machine used to break down garden waste into smaller pieces, such as branches, twigs, leaves and other organic plant debris. This makes garden waste easier to compost, repurpose as mulch, or dispose of.

Shredders are different to wood chippers, which are designed first and foremost to process waste wood (including large, dense pieces of wood), rather than green waste. Most domestic shredders will cope with wooden stems less than 3-4cm in diameter, but for thicker branches, a heavy-duty shredder or wood chipper should be used. However, there are some hybrid models, such as the Hyundai Petrol 4-Stroke Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher, which are designed to shred, mulch and chip – ideal for large garden clearances or maintaining estates/business premises.

Types of Garden Shredders

There are two main types of shredders that you can choose from.

1. Impact Shredders

Impact shredders, sometimes known as rapid shredders, use fast-spinning blades that slice up garden debris into fine pieces. The operator has to keep feeding the material in and, as long as the blades remain sharp, this works well to chop up green material.

Impact shredders are more suited to chopping up leaves and lighter garden foliage, rather than big chunks of wood, and tend to be lighter than roller models. In general, these machines get blocked less than roller shredders. However, impact shredders can be aggressive (meaning you need to wear personal protective equipment) and loud.

2. Roller Shredders

Roller shredders, sometimes known as quiet shredders, use a slow-rotating roller to crush and cut garden waste. This makes them more effective at dealing with tougher material and shredding lots of waste. Indeed, a roller shredder is particularly suited to shredding hard, woody material such as branches, tree off-cuts and woody shrub off-cuts, and can do so with minimal noise. However, these shredders tend to get blocked by greener, more fibrous garden waste.

Electric vs. Petrol Shredders

Electric shredders are the most popular choice for small to medium-sized gardens. These are quieter and lightweight compared to petrol models. However, they need to be plugged into a nearby power source.

Petrol garden shredders, on the other hand, are powerful machines designed for heavy-duty tasks. They don’t need to be plugged in, which makes them ideal for larger gardens or remote areas, and can handle thicker branches and larger volumes of material. However, petrol models are louder, heavier, require more maintenance, and produce more fumes than their electric alternatives.

What Garden Shredder Do I Need?

The right garden shredder for you depends on several factors, including the type and amount of material you need to shred.

Power Source

Electric shredders are ideal for small to medium gardens and light to medium shredding tasks, whereas petrol shredders are best for large gardens or heavy-duty tasks involving thick branches.

Motor

The more powerful a motor is, the more the garden shredder can handle and the faster it can process garden material. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger your branches, the more powerful of a machine you need.

For small gardens, we recommend an electric model between 2,000–2,500 watts. For large gardens, a petrol model with a 150–250cc engine.

Material

The type of material you’re planning to shred also informs the type of shredder you need. If you’re looking to break down large chunks of heavy wood like logs or trunks, we would recommend a wood chipper instead of a garden shredder.

If you’re looking to chip large chunks of wood but also want to shred lighter branches and foliage, you should consider a hybrid model that does both (shred and chip).

If you only plan on breaking down lightweight foliage like leaves, branches, and hedge trimmings, a garden shredder will suffice.

The shredding capacity (measured in kg per hour) indicates how efficiently the machine works.

Maximum Diameter

Check the maximum branch diameter that the shredder can handle. For most domestic models, this is between 3-4 cm. For larger gardens or professional use, petrol shredders can handle branches up to 7-8 cm thick.

Size & Weight

Consider the weight of the shredder, especially if you need to move it around your garden. Lighter models are more portable but may offer less power. If portability is important but you require a larger machine, look for a model with wheels.

Some shredders have a folding design, which makes them easier to manoeuvre and store. This is particularly useful if you have limited storage in your garage or shed.

Maintenance

How easy is it to clean and change out the blades/roller? How easy is it to sharpen the blades? Do you need to change the oil and refill the fuel? If so, how often? Will the engine need servicing?

Noise

Garden shredders can be loud, with noise levels typically ranging between 85 to 105 decibels (dB). Quiet shredders are a better choice if you’re concerned about disturbing neighbours.

Collection Box

A collection box is a useful feature for gathering shredded material, making it easier to dispose of or reuse. Some models come with a built-in collection box, while others may allow you to attach a separate container.

The size of the hopper (the area where you feed in the garden waste) can vary between models. A larger hopper makes it easier to feed bulkier items, reducing the need to pre-cut the waste.

Tamper or Reverse Settings

A tamper or reverse setting can help force items back out of the shredder if there’s a blockage.

Chipping

Some garden shredders double as wood chippers, producing fine wood chips that can be used for pathways or mulch.

Conclusion

To recap, here are the essential factors to consider when buying a pressure washer.

• How large is my garden?
• Do I have easy access to a power source?
• What type of material do I need to shred? How thick are the branches and debris I need to shred?
• Do I need a shredder that can also chip wood?
• How much garden waste do I need to shred regularly?
• Does the shredder need to be portable?
• Do I need a collection box for the shredded material?
• Would a tamper or reverse setting be useful for clearing blockages?
• How easy is the shredder to maintain?

Looking for a premium garden shredder? At Generators Direct, we offer a range of garden shredders for your specific needs from a range of top-rated brands. All of our products are manufactured, tested and certified to industry standards, and come with a price promise – you won’t find prices cheaper anywhere on the web, but if you do, we’ll match them. In addition to this, all orders come with free mainland UK shipping and after sales support from our experts.

If you require additional advice or have a question for our team, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us using this form or via phone at +441639849847.