Where can I find a leaf shredder
Renata Boyle
Posts: 74
I have already filled two 1 ton builders sacks with leaves, I want to shred them so I can carry on collecting/speed up the process.
All I can see online are the suction collectors - I don't need to use this as I am knee deep in leaves and it literally takes me minutes to grab armfuls and drop them in the sacks. Mowing our lawn to shred in winter isn't an option as it turns into a bog this time of year and would be difficult to collect anyway. Main leaf fall is on our large drive so sweeping is very easy.
I saw something that looked ideal, not a heavy duty chipper that costs a fortune called the 'worx - WG430 Leaf mulcher' but doesn't appear to be available in the UK which is a shame as I could just chuck handfuls of leaves into it.
I've read that the 'quiet garden shredders' are not so useful for leaves because the crush and cut mechanism has virtually no effect on something that is already flat or has a high moisture content, i.e. leaves. I can't find another product in the UK that works using whip cords (which is how the Worx product works).
I have even contemplated dropping handfuls of leaves into my office shredder but I don't want to be standing there all day!
So, my question is, if anyone DOES shred their leaves, what machine do you use?
Many thanks for any replies.
Posts
Sorry can't help directly with the question, but the image of you dragging a huge bag of leaves into the office and dropping them into the paper shredder did make me laugh.
Any of the rotary shredders, rather than the 'quiet' one's, would handle leaves as long as they are mixed with dryer branches. How even they would cope with the quantity you have is more open to question.
I wonder if one of the blower / shredders might not be the best solution. They aren't hugely expensive, and the work should be quick as you already have the leaves in bags. As they are designed for the job they are probably less likely to jam up than a conventional shredder.
I saw Monty Don just tipping the leaves onto a level area, path in this instance, and run the lawn mower over them. I suppose you could do this several times to really shred the leaves up.
I've got an old Black & Decker leaf sucker/shredder. It sucks the leaves up, shreds them and then they go into a bag. The shredded leaves are bulkier than the non-shredded leaves. They do rot down a bit quicker, but in my opinion there's not much difference.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
For the last few years I have used my lawnmower to collect / shred the leaves from my ornamental cherry tree in the back garden as I mow the lawn. I have even been known to use the mower to "vacuum" the drive rather than sweep up the leaves at the front - works a treat!!
I started doing this after seeing either Monty or Alan T doing it on Gardener's World.
I got my shredder on freecycle. Perfect working order. I like others, mow up leaves with the mower.
I've got 12 builders' dumpy sacks filling up and also 2 bays about 5m x 5m , made with chicken wire. All of which are filling up nicely.
I dunno if i can mention a different gardening magazine? (Tut tut for buying it) but the latest issue has a feature on shredders.
There's a very helpful guy by the name of Fred who runs the Fred in the Shed website.
He's given me excellent advice on many purchases and I've never been disappointed.
Have a look at his site and drop him a line, he usually responds very swiftly.
http://www.fredshed.co.uk/homepage.htm
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I run over my leaves with the lawn mower.
Many thanks to all those who replied ...
LOL KT53, I can't believe I was getting that desperate ... when I mentioned the validity of using a paper shredder to my husband he just looked at me is if I was crazy, he then said "follow me to the garage", I duly did and he then holds up one of those leaf blower things with a bag !!!
That man has been listening to (but apparently not) to me banging on about how am I doing to shred all the leaves - so, when he decides to actually help me we are going to hoover up the leaves I've collected and see how well they shred that way.
Pete8 - thank you for that link, I am going to look there now.
a1154 - go on, mention the other magazine - I'm sure GW wouldn't mind
Hostafan - I've never heard of Freecycle, is it like Ebay?
Once again, the GW friends have come to my rescue - I will be posting the results of the sucking up/shredding day (after I have slapped my husband upside the head for not telling me we even had one).
Pete - just looked at Fred's site and regarding shredding leaves he says 'Don't do it'!! He recommends the bagging or leaving in a pile method lol. Have written to him anyway asking some specific questions about turning them/watering etc so hopefully he will respond, x