In the last millennium we drove our neighbours insane using raucous garden shredders on a Sunday morning. But now we’re firmly in the 21st century, we can get to work shredding and chipping as our friends next door enjoy their lie-ins.
As shredders increase in popularity, manufacturers are producing quieter more efficient machines. Yet purchasing a modern shredder offers other advantages aside from maintaining healthy neighbourly relations. Shredding and crushing woody material avoids the need for bonfires or trips to rubbish tips, and the mulched result is perfect for composting and replenishing nutrients in the soil.
The most popular variety of shredders are electric which come in two forms.
Firstly, impact shredders; a simple design which works like a food processor. Material is sliced by spinning oversized razor blades as you feed it through the aperture. Lightweight and manoeuvrable, the disadvantage comes with the need to replace blunt cutting blades. Without sharp blades the cutting efficiency is reduced and machines may clog. Replacement blades cost under £20 and how frequently you change them depends on what you cut. Dead hard wood and wet green material blunt blades quickly and be sure to avoid feeding stones into your shredder.
Alternatively, we offer quiet shredders, which produce lower decibels and are self-feeding; perfect for branches and twiggy material. Quiet shredders use either the cutting drum or spiral cutting mechanism. In the former, a revolving metal cog draws in branches and crushes them against a plate. The spiral cutting system replaces the cog with a screw-type tool slicing and grounding material.
Both styles are very efficient and as there are no sharp blades to go blunt, maintenance costs are reduced. Quiet shredders also cope with softer stringy material, such as shrubs, flower stalks and ivy, and produce a better compostable substance as they not only shred but also crush.
Electric shredders are designed with a variety of apertures, such as clover, kidney and key-hole shapes. For safety reasons apertures are limited in size, usually allowing branches up to 40mm in diameter to be shredded.
Prevent blockages by trimming branches appropriately and not overfeeding your shredder. When selecting an impact shredder, look out for models that come with a wide paddle to aid feeding.
Electric shredders are perfect for the average garden, but if you’re looking for more power read our review of petrol shredders. These noisier machines may be best for you if you’re a professional gardener or those with a lot of material to dispose of.
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