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mulching-machine

MRweedsMRweeds Posts: 22
in Tools and techniques

My "stock pile" for composting is getting out of hand!  I intend to buy a garden mulcher but perhaps hire one first to get an idea of how much it can handle.  Has anyone bought one?  If so what experiences do you have? Petrol or electric?  The one I need will have to be able to take branches from various fruit trees, conifer hedges etc in addition to the usual soft stuff that piles up.  I'm gearing up for more homemade compost but thats a story for another thread..........

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 26,160

    Will this be what I know as a chipper/shredder? If so I'd recommend it. Petrol. Assess the largest diameter branch you'll want to put through. Max size of branch is usually written on the machine. What they don't do well in my experience is soft wet growth.

  • Alan4711Alan4711 LincolnshirePosts: 1,632
    Hi Mrweeds im also looking for help with a shredder and don't seem to find anyone whose actually happy with any of them,they seem to clog up with green or wet stuff ,im looking for one that will take green stuff and Hydrangea type clippings so i can mulch, even the BnQ chap couldn't give me any good guidance on it except don't buy a Bosch they get returned more than others it seems,so im still looking so ill keep my eye on this question good luck Mrweeds Alan4711
  • CluelessGardenerCluelessGardener Posts: 878

    I'm also looking for a green clipping shredder but also can't find one 

     

    James

  • MrsGardenMrsGarden Posts: 3,951

    Same here. Always store the branches etc until dried out. Would be better if could do it on same day as cutting.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Leicestershire, UKPosts: 9,866

    It doesn't matter what make/model, the only way to shred is to have two piles of stuff, one green stuff and one dry stuff.  You need to mix them while shredding, so that about 80% is dry matter and 20% wet.  In other words you need to feed in 4 parts dry matter with one part wet matter.  That is all there is to it.  By following this rule of thumb, I can shred for several hours without blocking my Alko.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Alan4711Alan4711 LincolnshirePosts: 1,632
    many thanks Bob, Alan
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 14,806

    I've got a bosch shredder which chunks straight pieces of dryish stuff. Also an alko which I chuck all the bits in. If there is too much wet it will clog, but I add some newspaper every now and then, or as Bob, says, mix the wet bits with some dry.

    You don't stop doing new things because you get old, you get old because you stop doing new things. <3
  • MRweedsMRweeds Posts: 22

    Ok, thanks all.  The petrol models able to take up to 50mm are a little out of my much right now I discovered.  Searching second hand now so will let you know how I get on.

  • MRweedsMRweeds Posts: 22

    Thanks Smokin - very helpful.  Definitely getting petrol and the largest capacity I can afford.  Its amazing how much needs to be disposed of!

  • TonyscreenTonyscreen Posts: 10

    Get your self a petrol one and try to keep the blades as sharp as you can if your chipping.

    If you buy one get spare blades and that way you can get them sharpened but while you have a spare.

    We had a joiner sharpen ours on a motorised sharpener.

    The amount of stuff you can get through is amazing and we used it in the compost and as mulch on beds.

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