How to choose a garden shredder for branches and grass – the best models

At the dacha and garden plot periodically it is necessary to do cleaning – remove leaves, haulm, stems, trim shrubs and trees. Everything that is softer and smaller goes on the compost heap. Larger branches and stems are disposed of by taking them somewhere or burning them. A garden branch shredder can solve the issue. It grinds branches and plant waste into a fine fraction, which will rot in the compost heap or can be used as mulch.

Purpose and features

The purpose of the garden shredder is to crush branches and vegetable waste into small pieces. The size of the pieces in each of the brands is different. Not only that, but it can also vary between different models of the same manufacturer. Conventionally, garden shredders can be divided into three categories:

• For branches. A garden shredder for branches copes well with the processing of wood waste. Some of them can even chop small trunks (up to 7 cm in diameter). But with the chopping of grass or vines, they may not cope well.
• For grass. Grass shredders, on the contrary, are good at processing any grassy waste, but branches can grind only small and fed in small batches.
• For branches and grass. Have, as a rule, many blades (vertical and horizontal) that process everything that is fed to them.

When choosing one, you should be guided by what kind of waste you have more of. If you have a vegetable garden and shrubs on your plot, your choice is a weed shredder. Their blades are designed so that they do not clog when processing dry or fresh plant components. If, on the other hand, the plot is set aside for a garden, then you need a branch shredder. When choosing, pay attention to the maximum diameter of the processed waste. Well, if there is both a vegetable garden and a garden, you need a universal, which will cope with both hard branches and grass.

Device of the garden shredder

Garden shredder is a housing in which the motor and shredding system are hidden. To the upper part of the body is attached a funnel for feeding the processed raw materials. It can be wider or narrower – depending on the purpose. A wide funnel is more convenient for feeding grass residue and leaves, and a narrower funnel for branches.

Shredded waste is poured out from the bottom from a special hole. There are units with a plastic tank, there are units with a soft bag. With a plastic container it is more convenient to use, but it increases the size and weight. The soft container for recycled branches is a bag. It does not take up a lot of space and does not add mass, but it is not as convenient to use. There is a third option – without a container at all. In this case, you can choose according to your taste or use both types.

Selection criteria

The choice of any technique is a matter of responsibility and not easy. It is necessary to take into account many criteria. In the case of the choice of garden shredders, it is necessary to consider not only technical parameters, but also such subjective indicators as the convenience of transportation. The device will have to be moved around the site – to the place of accumulation of waste, roll up / roll out of the shed for storage, so the location of handles for transportation and the size of the wheels are important.

Technical parameters

The first step is to choose a device by technical parameters. The selection of the model depends on the purpose and the tasks that must be solved. If branches will prevail, you need one type of unit, and when there is a lot of grass and leaves – quite another.

Engine type and power

Garden shredder of branches and grass can have an electric or gasoline engine. Devices with an electric engine weigh less, work quieter, have no exhaust. But their mobility is limited by the length of the cord and the presence of connection points. There is still the possibility of using an extension cord/carrier. The power of electric garden shredders is 2-5 kW. Usually these are household models with not the highest price tag.

Garden shredder with a gasoline engine can move to any point, but it is heavier, and the structure itself is more massive, since the engine is larger in size. To its weight, you must add the mass of fuel to be poured, and this is the weight of the ready-to-work unit. But the engines are more powerful. These models are much more expensive – the price starts at 750$, but they are more productive and can be used by enterprises.

Performance depends on the type of engine and its power. It is necessary to look that the declared capabilities (maximum diameter of recycled branches) was confirmed by the engine capacity. The average indicator is 4-6 hp.

According to reviews, a useful feature is the possibility of reversing. Reverse allows you to correct an unfortunate branch, which blocks the shaft. This speeds up and facilitates work, but the cost of such units is slightly higher.

Type of cutting part

The size of the branches to be processed depends on the type of cutting part. It comes in three types:

• With two or more blades. The simplest models are equipped with two knives that stand in a horizontal plane. Such models grind mainly grass and small branches up to 2,0-2,5 cm in diameter. More complex are equipped with four or six knives and they can stand in the vertical and horizontal plane. Such already cope with more serious tasks.

  

• With a worm-type crusher. In these models, the cutting part is similar to the screw that stands in the meat grinder. Only it is put, mostly vertically and has a smaller number of turns. Garden shredder with a cutting part of this type works faster, copes well with dry and freshly cut branches of larger diameter (about 4 cm). It is also good when working with grassy residues, but grass can stick to the screw or wind up on it, so that periodically the knives have to be cleaned. Garden shredders of this type are universal. Examples of popular models are the Bosch AXT Rapid 2200.

  

• Cylindrical cutting unit with a large number of knives. This is also known as a “multi-blade cutter”. This is a unique Bocsh development not found elsewhere. Universal garden shredders are equipped with it, so if you need such a model, you will have to choose between this cutter and a worm cutter. Knives of this type cope with fresh or dry branches, plant residues. Only vines can be wound up, and even then only if the knives are blunted. Such knives are on the BOSCH AXT 25 TC.

  

• Cutting shaft. The more powerful crushing unit allows you to grind even thick branches and twigs. This is what garden twig shredders are equipped with. The maximum size of processed twigs is 5-8 cm. This is a speech about household models, because semi-industrial and industrial can cope with thicker ones. The problem is that they and the size, and cost, have the appropriate.

  

The choice of the type of cutting unit is determined by the tasks you need the machine for. Pay special attention to this, so that you do not regret the purchase.

Ease of use

There are many parameters that you also need to take into account when choosing a soda shredder. They only seem insignificant, but they affect how comfortable you will work. And that’s no small thing. Here’s what to pay attention to:

• Dimensions, more specifically the height of the unit when assembled. Rastrub, in which it is necessary to put the waste, is located very high – at a height of one and a half meters. For people of low height, this is a critical indicator.
• Location of transportation handles. In some units, the transportation handles are located very low – at ground level. Dragging equipment of considerable weight bending low is not the easiest thing to do.

  

• Wheel width. The wider the tires of the wheels, the easier it will be to move the unit around the site. After all, it is not always possible to move it along the paths. More often it happens the other way around – it is necessary to drag it along the inter-rows, grass or digging up the ground. This is where the wide tires come to the rescue.
• The shape of the hopper, the presence of a protective canopy. When working with a garden shredder, there may be situations when chips or pieces of twigs fly out of the socket. The presence of a visor on the receiving hopper at least on one side will allow you to work more or less safely (protective glasses are still needed).
• Weight. This parameter is not very often paid attention to, but in vain. If processing will be engaged in women or people in the age, the weight of the unit is important.
• Noise volume during operation. The normal indicator is 70-80 dB, with everything else you need to work in special headphones.

All these minor details affect the work, and this is important, since it is usually necessary to engage in overwork for hours. Being in an uncomfortable position or transporting the machine bent, it will not be work but agony.

Models and reviews

The choice of technical parameters is nothing compared to the choice of manufacturer. In this case, there are two benchmarks: brand awareness and owner reviews.

Well-known manufacturers

A brand is good, but equipment of well-known brands costs a lot. Choose from brands. Garden trash shredders produce such well-known firms:

• Bosch
• Viking
• AL-KO
• Wolf Garten

From these manufacturers you can take any unit, only carefully read for what purpose it is designed – more for branches or grass. For example (according to the owners’ reviews):

• Bosch AXT 25 D garden shredder Bosch AXT 25 D copes well with dry branches, and with freshly cut branches you have to mess around for a long time.
• Bosch AXT 25 TC copes well with large branches at the factory settings. In order for it to handle small branches and vines properly, you need to tighten the adjustment all the way up.
• Bosch AXT Rapid 2000 has excellent reviews – it cuts branches, but it is not very friendly with grass. Passed well lapnik, bushes, even young trees.
• Bosch ATX 18-35. Power 1800 watts. Has an auger as in a meat grinder, and the field is another knife. Chops coarsely, but copes well even with branches 45 mm in diameter.

But if you pick up to your tasks, they all have excellent reviews. As well as Vikinga (150, 250, 350). Vikings are generally recognized as omnivorous, as they grind everything: cones, lapnik, corn, sunflower, old flower stems, raspberry and blackberry trimmings, lying leaves and grass. But they are high, especially the 250 and 350 model.

Reviews on models of unknown brands

Of the lesser-named and cheaper have shown themselves well:

• IKRA MOGATEC EGN 2500. Chops everything and very quickly, the fraction is small. But, until the knives get dull. New in the usual can not buy, only in service centers.
• MacAllister 2800 watts. Processed even the remains of boards, the chips are large – 2-3 cm. Dried branches cut faster, fresh – slower, some of them remain crumpled short sausages. The size of branches up to 4 cm. When working, the noise level is high – 99 dB.
• Stiga Bio Quiet 2100. Works quietly, grinds into pieces of 2 centimeters long, if the branch hit horizontally, longer pieces pop out. The kit comes with a bag, but it is not even on what to hang, put up a drawer. In order not to accumulate recycled material on the lower grate when working, it had to be cut with pruning shears. In general, the design is taken from the Bosch 25 D. Conclusion based on the results of work, who needs to grind the haulm – look for another machine.
• Skill garden shredder. With willow branches up to 3.5 cm in size it coped well. With dry currant branches it was worse – they are very branchy. When working with dry branches, the productivity drops.
• Gasoline shredder of branches Earthquake 9060300. Has two receiving hoppers – for branches and large, and for leaves. Worked for the season for 35 hours. Disadvantages – large and heavy, it is still normal to roll, but it is problematic to load into the car, it rattles a lot, so you need glasses and headphones. Three types of knives – two disks. The first with straight, the second – with triangular and L-shaped.
• PATRIOT. So far has worked for 3 days (almost full light). Normally chops branches and young trees. Branches tightens itself, but the force is not too great.
• Sterwins 2500. During the season made about 200 buckets of mulch. Processed raspberries, cherries, irga, plum, apple trees, turf, willow, bubblegum, birch. During continuous operation every 15 minutes the thermal protection is triggered. After cooling down, you can work again.

There are probably other not too expensive and normally working garden shredders, but before buying them carefully read as many reviews as possible. Take into account only those that are given with their own photos and details.

Shredder Zubr ZIE-44-2800

In conclusion, we want to share our experience of using the silent electric branch shredder Zubr ZIE-44-2800 by compiling a mini review. The device looks good and quite convenient. Four points of support make the device stable, and wheels – mobile. For clarity, we disassembled and looked at what’s inside.

Pros

• Copes with the declared thickness of branches.
• Fast operation.
• Cuts both wet and dry branches.

Cons

• expensive;
• clogs when chopping small branches with leaves;
• no stopper between the plate and the blade;
• small handle for moving;
• support sleeve of the cutter vapa is made of silumin and is not lubricated.