Garden Shredder

Hi.
Am a new member to this site and was wondering if anyone has any advice regarding garden shredders.
There are so many around that I'm just finding it very confusing and I don't want to buy something I will later regret.
The material I will be shredding will be mainly 'Laurel' branches and general herbaceous material.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Many thanks,
Pix

 

Hi Pix and welcome to GC

Can't help you with the shredder I'm afraid but hopefully someone will be along soon with some advice.

 

hi PIX, I think you can put herbaceous stuff on the compost heap but not laurel this will take a lone time to break down, usful for mulch.
dont know much about shredders the other members will give you advice on this. I am thinking of getting one myself soon.

 

We've had a McCulloch MB390 2kW shredder for about four years and have been very pleased with it. It will handle branches up to around 3cm thick. It's reasonably quiet in operation and easy to move around the garden.

 

Pix welcome realy depends on the thickness of the materal that you want to shred on what kind of shredder you require sorry can,t be any more help

 

A lot of herbaceous stuff is too thick or tough to go on compost heap. For instance if I cut down most of mine soon it would take an age to compost - it needs shredding. How big max are ther laurel branches you are going to put through?I am also considering one. I want to increase the amount of organic material going through the compost heap. I reckon shredded material would help open up the quantity of lawn mowings I put in and the kitchen waste does tend to pack down a bit. At present the tough stuff such as herbaceous plant canes and cpress hedge cuttings together with bush and tree pruinings goes in the green bin....but I want to be able to recycle "in house" so to speak.
How much am I likely to have to pay for one that does not easily jam up?

 

Shredders are great, but over the top unless you generate a lot of waste. Look for one with a separate feed for branches (my preference) and with a 2200 watt power rating. Read through this site for info.

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/garden-shredder.asp

 

Hi and thanks to everyone who answered my 'shredder' queries.
My situation is similar to yours Geoff - can't put laurel clippings in the compost bin, so am forced to let the council have it in the green bin.As there are so many of these, it takes me quite a few weeks of 'bin filling' to eventually get rid of them.Herbaceous stuff that I cut down in the spring is too woody to break down quickly. Anyway - why should I give perfectly good material to the council when I should be able to recycle it myself! Should save me a fortune on various fertilisers!
Have read good reviews of the BOSCH AXT-2000-HP , has anyone got one of these that can tell me otherwise before I buy one?
PS. (This model is �£180 in Argos - about 15 quid cheaper than anyone else).
Thanks again.

 

I've got a problem getting rid of dead cats. Would a 2200W model do?
See my posts in Tools etc and Pests etc (probably deleted) Re Cats!
Nik

 

Grow up Nik you are beggining to get boring

 

Pix Bosch is a good make I think it will serve your needs

 

I agree, Walnut - I'm pleased with my Bosch shredder - and it's not too noisy. There are two types of shredder, I think: ones with a rotating blade and ones (like mine) with a helical screw which crushes the waste against the sides of the tube. And that's the only issue with my Bosch - green, sappy waste like leaves is sometimes hard to get through. I have to feed woody material with it to get it to pass down the tube. It does sometimes choke on it, though. For predominantly leafy stuff, the blade type may be best.
Hope this helps!

 

There's another thread on this subjext in the general gardening section....

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002614

Looks like a few people like the helical screw Bosch one