Archie Rich/DIY Works
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Using a garden shredder is the most convenient way of cutting garden waste ready for composting. Whether you want an electric, battery or petrol-powered machine, the latest are lightweight and provide excellent cutting performance.
As garden waste comes in several forms, certain machines may not be able to handle it all. Therefore, we recommend choosing a shredder with a cutting capacity of at least 40 mm because, from our experience, a machine with this capacity should be able to handle most branches. If you opt for a lower-performing machine, you’ll have to deal with time-consuming blockages that can be really frustrating and defeat the purpose of using a shredder.
To assist you in selecting a garden shredder, our handpicked selection lists top-performing models, chosen based on our first-hand experience using multiple machines to shred an array of garden debris. Our testing and up-to-date research further ensure the quality of our recommendations.
Best Overall: Bosch AXT 25 TC Cordless
Best Value: Bosch AXT Rapid 2200
Best Quiet: Ryobi RSH3045U Silent Impact Shredder
Best Budget: Einhell GC-KS 2540 Shredder
Best Budget Runner-Up: Hyundai Electric Garden Shredder
Best Petrol: Forest Master FM6DD Wood Chipper
How The DIY Works Team Tests & Rates Garden Shredders
Shredding garden waste is a task that we carry out a lot when maintaining various gardens of properties that we manage (Airbnbs and rentals).
Whether we are shredding the debris for composting or reducing the amount of garden waste bags we fill, they’ve become an essential tool for our gardening tasks. Therefore, over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of testing a variety of garden shredders that range from budget to cordless and even large petrol chippers (as shown in the images below).
Archie Rich/DIY Works
Archie Rich/DIY Works
During our ongoing testing, we analyse the shredder’s cutting performance, ease of feeding debris into the opening, construction quality and usability.
Archie Rich/DIY Works
Archie Rich/DIY Works
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest garden shredders (for this article), we are continually testing the latest models from top brands in the UK. This means that when we notice a brand has released a new and improved model, we will attempt to buy it and put it to the test where applicable.
As well as our testing and experience using a range of garden shredders, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the shredder’s cutting capacity, collection, construction and blade quality, supplied accessories, portability, usability, ease of assembly, warranty and value.
Garden Shredder Buying Guide
Garden shredders are an essential tool for reducing large piles of garden debris ready for composting. They are available in a range of types that include petrol or electric-powered machines that are suitable for multiple branch sizes.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding garden shredders.
Why Shred Garden Waste
Whether you are using a hedge trimmer to cut overgrown hedges, clearing dead leaves or doing other gardening tasks, you’ll need to get rid of the waste. The best way of doing this is to use a garden shredder to cut the large debris into hundreds of tiny pieces.
The benefit of the debris being far smaller is that it can be easily recycled as they take up less space in the bag. You can also reuse the trimmed waste within your compost or as insulation around the base or roots of other plants.
Electric vs Petrol Shredders
The majority of homeowners will be choosing an electric garden shredder due to the convenience it offers. However, the main drawback is that the cable length can restrict how portable the shredder is compared to the petrol alternative. However, this can be easily solved by using a good extension lead to expand how far away you can use the machine.
Petrol garden shredders are more powerful and rugged, which is a requirement for gardeners or enthusiasts. However, they will require servicing and will cost far more than the electric alternatives.
Cutting Mechanism
There are three main types of cutting mechanisms used within garden shredders. These include impact, roller and turbine cutters that all offer different types of performance.
Impact Shredders
Usually, the cheapest and nosiest type of garden shredder is the impact shredder. It uses a spinning blade mechanism that is capable of cutting debris into very fine pieces. However, it is only suited to soft garden waste and may need a replacement blade after 1 or 2 years of regular usage.
Roller Shredders
With the use of rigid rollers, the roller garden shredder will quietly crush and cut most garden debris. It can pull the waste through the machine, which makes it easier to use but it is more prone to becoming blocked by certain materials. The main drawback compared to the impact type of shredder is that they can be more expensive and heavier.
Turbine Shredders
The best type of garden shredder is the turbine shredder, which combines impact and roller-cutting qualities. The only main drawback is that they often cost far more than the alternatives but it’s a worthwhile investment.
Performance
The performance of a shredder is determined by the torque and speed the motor can deliver. The higher the torque and the faster the blades or rollers spin results in faster debris cutting.
Cutting Capacity
The cutting capacity of a garden shredder refers to the maximum branch diameter that it can cut. This metric only refers to cutting wood and not dead leaves or other green garden debris. In terms of what to expect, the majority of high-performing shredders will easily cut 40 mm and above.
Portable Design
Most garden shredders will be transported around the garden and elsewhere, which means that they need to be easily portable. An easy-to-grip carrying handle and wheels that can roll easily on all terrains are essential design features.
Many of the high-performing garden shredders will also weigh over 20 KG, which may be difficult for some people to move. Another factor to consider is the dimensions as it must be able to pass through garden gates or manoeuvre around patios.
Types of Garden Waste
Every garden shredder is designed for grass, leaves and soft or medium wood. You cannot place any rocks, cement or bricks into the shredder because it will damage the cutting mechanism. It’s also advised that you avoid putting any soil or damp grass into the shredder because it can clog the blades or rollers.
Collection Box
To collect all the cut garden debris, you will require a collection box or bag at the bottom of the shredder. These are either optional extras or integrated into the design. As with a lawn mower, you will not want it to fill up too quickly but you also don’t want it to be bulky too.
It’s also worth pointing out that if you are on a budget, you technically don’t require it as you can simply place a rubbish bag or container at the bottom.
Conclusion
Garden shredders are an essential gardening tool for cutting down garden debris, twigs and small branches. They are available with electric and petrol-powered motors that spin the sharpened blades for shredding.
All of our recommendations are suited to a range of budgets, which include both petrol and electric garden motors but depending on the types of garden debris you plan to shred will determine the type of shredder that you’ll require
If you require further information regarding our garden shredder recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
