Garden shredders of branches: description, types and popular models

A garden shredder of branches is a convenient and practical version of the tool that allows you to turn the raw materials obtained by pruning trees and shrubs into useful fertilizer. It can be used to solve the problem of recycling such waste without much effort. Powerful knives of the device easily grind thick stems of herbaceous plants and harder clippings of tree branches. In this way, even large quantities of raw materials can be safely processed.

The wood shredder is an excellent alternative to the disposal of plant waste by means of removal, incineration, and composting pits. A completely eco-friendly, safe and functional device can easily cope with the processing of the required volume of branches, while not creating problems associated with storing the cut off excess crown. Its name is often transformed into more familiar options for the English-speaking environment: chipper, garden shredder. But the essence remains the same: the unit turns wood and shrub growth into finely chopped waste, which can later be used for mulching the soil.

Among the features of such a unit, the following points are usually noted:

• the presence of a durable metal or polymer body (combined options are possible) - it is attached to the frame for greater stability, in addition, a wheelbase can be used, which provides ease of use and transportation of the shredder;
• the power unit on electric or gasoline traction - the first is more environmentally friendly, but requires connection to the network; models with internal combustion engines are optimal for autonomous work in gardening on large areas;
• using cutting mechanisms for optimal performance and efficiency;
• the presence of a convenient hopper for feeding raw materials directly to the grinding blades; usually has a funnel-shaped structure that facilitates the process of moving branches;
• use in the design of a receiver or an attachment under the bag, where the cut raw materials are dumped; in addition, chopped branches can be dropped directly onto the ground.

Since the garden shredder of branches is arranged quite simply, the principle of its operation is also quite clear. As part of the structure, there is always a shaft to which the force from the motor is transmitted directly or by means of a belt / chain drive. Rotating, it sets in motion the cutting elements and ensures the grinding of the branches fed through the funnel. In fact, it works by analogy with a meat grinder, giving out crushed wood dust at the exit.

It is worth using a garden shredder if incineration or other disposal of plant waste is inconvenient. Large areas with orchards, complex landscaping require regular seasonal pruning of branches, formation of crowns. Here, the volumes of recycled wood can be quite significant. Garden shredders allow you to shred it into small chips, creating conditions for multiple purposes.

• Subsequent disposal. The dust is easily collected in bags and removed. It is convenient to transport, collect and store it.
• Composting. Shredded wood chips rot much faster, turning into a valuable and useful fertilizer.
• Use as mulch. The introduction of crushed sawdust into the soil allows you to make it looser, enrich it with valuable biological components.
• Application for kindling. Pellets for boilers are made from such chips. When firing up the stove, a light and dry wood base allows the flame to ignite faster.

Many people are interested in the question of how to choose a gasoline and electric grinder, if it is possible to buy any of these options. As a rule, household solutions include not very powerful models that operate on the network. Electric drive units consume up to 2.6 kW of energy, have relatively compact dimensions, wheelbase for transportation around the site. A distinctive feature of such models is minimal maintenance, ease of launching the structure into operation.

Unlike an electric unit, petrol shredders are not tied to local use. They are powered by a gas tank, and the system is powered by an internal combustion engine. Since the power of the models of this series is quite high, they also cope with the work more efficiently. The unit is able to grind the trunks of small trees, thick branches, has no restrictions on the duration of operation. But gasoline grinders have their own characteristics.

Thus, they require regular maintenance. The fuel mixture must be combined in certain proportions, the candles must be changed regularly. It is generally accepted that ICE technology is used primarily in a professional environment, since their characteristics make it possible to provide high performance even at low speeds. In everyday life, such models are not very convenient due to their large size and complexity in control and adjustment.

The type of knife mechanism of a garden shredder is the second factor determining its functionality. There are three most popular categories.

• Knife. In them, a disc acts as a cutting element, in the structure of which steel knives are radially located. Rotating at high speed, they crush the feedstock into fragments. The simplicity of the design ensures the affordability of such units. As a rule, they are equipped with electric motors, with high-quality sharpening, knives cope with grinding the stems of shrubs, herbaceous plants with a stem thickness of up to 2.5 cm, but such devices work well only as long as the raw materials loaded into them are freshly cut.
• Milling. These shredders are perfect for use in a professional environment, capable of processing even thick and dry tree branches as part of spring pruning. The cutter mounted on the working shaft has a gear-type design with sharply sharpened teeth of the desired configuration. The internal combustion engine used in the kit provides power supply through a geared reduction gear at low speeds. But milling models are not very suitable for processing freshly cut branches, because they often clog up, "chewing" them and not providing sufficient wood chopping.
• Universal. Created as a kind of milling models, such shredders have paddle knives that form a kind of "basket" that passes both freshly cut and dried raw material mass through itself quite effectively. This category of shredders is the most expensive; a screw-type shredding mechanism can be included in the package.

While ranking the best models of garden branch shredders, it is impossible to do without several brands.

• Bosch. Among the most famous versions of garden shredders here we can mention the budgetary Bosch AXT 250D garden tool with an electric motor. The unit supports the automatic pulling of branches into the loading compartment. The AXT 25TC model shredder features an improved material recycling system and a collection container for shredded materials. Another option - Bosch ATX Rapid 2000, equipped with a compartment for collecting raw materials and capable of grinding up to 80 kg of branches per hour.
• "Patriot". Patriot PT SE24 is one of the most popular models of garden shredders. The power of 2.5 kW is sufficient to ensure the speed of the knives in the range of up to 4500 rpm. The design is lightweight - only 14 kg, installed on a wheelbase, creates a minimum of noise. Disadvantages include a short cord, so an extension cord is required.
• Makita. The brand's lineup is quite wide, but among the electric garden shredders, the UD2500 option can be distinguished. It handles branches with a diameter of up to 45 mm, there is a container for recycled materials. The model is mobile, has a wheelbase for moving around the site.

• Viking. The range of the brand includes models with gasoline (GB) and electric (GE) engines. Among the most popular solutions are the options with the cutter mechanism GE 35 L and GE 105. The second model is universal, it has a grass receiver and a separate feeding opening for branches. The professional versions of the GE 420 and GE 450 are quite expensive, but have separate chambers for soft and hard grasses.
• Champion. A popular brand of garden tools also produces branch shredders. The Champion SH250 model with a 2.5 kW engine is able to cut wood up to 40 mm thick, a mobile wheelbase, a cutting knife mechanism is available. The budget price is due to the minimum equipment - there is no grass catcher in the kit.
• Huter. The ESH-2500 model is considered a budget household option. The low speed of rotation of the shaft - only 4600 rpm - makes it possible to chop up tree shoots up to 40 mm thick. In the presence of a soft start, built-in protection against possible overloads.

Consider what to look out for when buying a garden shredder. First of all, for belonging to one of the main categories. Household models are equipped with an electric drive only, are designed for short-term continuous operation and have a power of up to 1.5 kW. Semi-professional options are equipped with more powerful cutting tools.

The power of an internal combustion engine or electric drive unit reaches 3 kW and allows you to maintain a fairly long continuous operation of equipment. The professional version of the garden shredder is the most powerful and heavy. It is installed on its own wheelbase, equipped with a 5-9 kW motor (three-phase electric motor or internal combustion engine).Such models can easily cope with chopping even large and thick branches, and their use is focused on large forestry, garden and park farms, and the activities of urban utilities.

When choosing the right garden shredder, it is also important to pay attention to several performance characteristics that are not related to the machine's power.

• The hardness of the knives. The higher it is, the more difficult it will be to blunt the cutting edge. There are options with reversible knives - if the blades lose their sharpness, it will be enough to turn the disc to restore their effectiveness. Having a spare kit in the kit will also be a big advantage.
• Noise and vibration levels. These characteristics are relevant for models with internal combustion engines. Here it is better to choose models with noise reduction, which allow you to eliminate discomfort during long-term continuous operation of the equipment.
• Autostart protection function. In models with an electric drive, this moment is especially important, since after an emergency power outage, this moment can play an essential role in the safe operation of equipment.
• The presence of a reverse. If a branch gets stuck in the unit, which it cannot process, reverse feeding will help to achieve the desired effect and free up the working cavity for further operation.

• Adjusting the speed of rotation of the knife or cutter. It is used in professional and semi-professional models, allows you to effectively solve issues related to the processing of specific types of plant raw materials.
• The presence of a hopper for collecting the crushed mass. It is convenient when it has a translucent structure that allows you to control the process of filling the container. In budget options, removable drives made of polymer materials are used, or the ground raw materials are simply dumped through a bell hole. A pallet or other container for collecting waste can be placed under it.
• Type of loading and feeding device. The receiving hopper with a pusher is used in knife models, its bell is usually directed upwards. There are models with a variable position of the feeding element.

For information on how to choose a garden shredder, see the video below.